Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-01-02
wAsHISeroS, Dec. 90.

Instructions.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 90.
Messrs Mason and Slidell have been
given up to England.
The official correspondence between
our Government and Great Britain,
relative to the seizure OF the traitors
Slidell and Mason, is received.
The first letter from Secretary
Seward to Minister Adams. dated Nov.
S0th. in which he compliments the
latter for wisely speaking and acting at
the Lord Mayors dinner, and also
states he told Lord Palmerston simp-
ly the fact when informing him the life
Of the insurreetion was sustained by
the hopes of its recognition by Eng
land and France, and if those hopes
ceased, the iusurrection would perish
in ninety days.
He reports in the same note the fact
of the. arrest Of Slidell and Mason by
Capt. Wilkes, as a new and unforeseen
circumstance, which is to be met by
the two Governments, if possible, in
kindly spirit.
Lord Lyons had said nothing on the
subject, and no explanations were fur
nished Minister Adams. it being deemed
prudent that the ground taken by the
British Government should first be
made known here, aud discussion be
had here, but Secretary Seward
deemed it proper to state that Capt.
Wilkes acted without instructions, and
the subject. therefore, is free from en-
bsrressment which might have ensued,
il the act had been specially directed.
He trusts the British Government
will consider the subject in a friendly
temper. and it may expect the best
disposition on our part.
The next letter is from Earl Russell
to Lord Lyons. dated Nov. 3Otb, which
details the Trent affair.
He says: "It thus appears thai GER
tain individuals have been forcibly ta-
ken from a British vessel, the ship of q
neutral power, on a lawful and inno-
cent voyage.
"An act Of violence which was an
affront to the British flag, and viola
ton Of International law.
"Her Majesty's Government are
willing to believe the &C. was without
authority, and resulted from mis-
understanding. as the Government of
the United States must be fully aware
the British Government would not al
low such an affront to the national
honor to pass without full repsration,
and the British Government unwilling
to believe that the United States delib-
erately intended unnecessarily to force
discussion Of so grave a question be-
tween the two Governments, Her Maj
esty's Government trusts that the Gov
eminent of the United States will, of
its own accord, offer such redress as
alone could satisfy them-namely:
1.-The liberation Of the two prisoners
and their delivery to Lord Lyons, that
they may again be placed under the
British authority, and suitable apol-
Ogy for the aggression committed
Should these terms not be offered by
Mr. Seward, you will propose them to
him."
Mr. Seward replies to Lord Lyons,
by whom be was furnished a copy of
Earl RusselPs lie tier, stating the dis
patch has been submitted to the Presi-
dent. Mr. Seward states that "the
British Government rightly conjectured
what is now my duty to state, that Cap
tain Wilkes acted upon his own sugges-
lions Of duty, without any direction or
instruction, or even foreknowledge Of
it on the part of this Government. No
directions had been given him or any
Naval officer to arrest the four persons,
or any Of them, on the Trent or any
other British vessel. or any neutral
vessels there or elsewhere. After dis
cussing the whole subject at great
length on all its bearings, Mr.. Seward
says: 81 trust have shown to the
satisfaction of the British Government,
BY very simple and natural statement
of facts, and analysis Of law applicable
to them, that this Government has nei-
ther meditated nor practiced, nor ap-
proved any deliberate wrong in the
transactions 10 which they have called
its attention. and, on the contrary, that
which has happened has been simply an
inadvertency, consisting in departure
by tie naval officers, free from any
wrongful motive, from a rule uncertain
ly established, and probably by the
several parties concerned either imper-
fectly understood or entirely unknown.
For this error the British Government
has right to expect the same repa-
ration that we, as an independent State,
should expect from Great Britain, or
rom any other friendly nation in
similar case
/ have not been unaware that in
examining this question l have fallen
nto an argument, Tor what seems to
De British side Of it. against my own
but am relieved from all en-
on that subject. l had
hardly fallen into the line of argument
when l discovered that ! was really
defending and maintaining not exclu-
lively British interests, but an old,
louored and cherished American
ause-not upon British authorities.
'ut upon principles that constitute
,olicy by which the United States have
developed the resources of continent,