The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16
Our British Cousins.

Our British Cousins.
. The President ON Thursday sent, "a mes-
sage to the Senate, ins reply to Mr.! Sow.
NERs resolution calling on him, if not in;
compatible with the public interest, to fur
nish to the Senate any information in his
possession relative to the proposition by
the British to give aid to the rebellion.
Lord WHARNoLlFFR informs Mr.. ADAMS
that he Ladies' Bazaar gave product of
about 1880, and asks permission for an
accredited agent to visit the military pris-
ons within the Northern States, to distrib-
ute aid to the inmates. He denies that
any political aid is offered, or that any
imputation is meant that the Confederate
prisoners are deprived of such attention as
ordinary rules epjoin. He says: I" You
whose family names are interviewer with
American history cannot view with indif-
ference the suffering of American citizens,
whatever their State or opinion
Mr.. ADAMS replied that it has never been
the desire of General GRANT to treat with
unnecessary or vindictive severity any of
the misguided individuals participating in
this deplorable rebellion; and he should
be greatly rejoiced if the efforts of such
sympathy could be extended to minister to
their mental aid as well as bodily suffer-
ing, thus contributing to put an end to
the war, which otherwise is too likely
to be procrastinated by their English
friends ,.
Mr.. SEWARD replied as follows to the
application received through Mr.. ADAMS {:
MR.. Stewards LETTER.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z, 1854.
| SIR: have received your dispatch of the
| 18th November, together with the papers
| dressed to you on the 18th Of November by
| Lord Wharncliffe, and copy of your answer
| to that letter. You will now inform Lord w.
| that permission for the agent of the Commits
| sion desired by him to visit the insurgents de-
tanned in the military prisons of the United
STATES, tAlu 10 ulSLTlUutc duOuk IucIU b6Vcu-
| teen thousand pounds in British gold, is deal
lowed him.
1t is expected your correspondence with
| Lord Wharncliffe will become public reading
| And the American public will be well aware
that the United States have ample means for
the support of prisoners, as well as for every
other exigency of war. The insurgents who
have blindly rushed into that condition, are
suffering no privations that appeal for relief or
| charity either at home or abroad. The Amer
lean people will be likely to reflect that the
sum thus insiduously rendered as of humanity,
constitutes no large portion of the profits which
its contributors may be justly supposed to have
derived from the insurgents by exchanging
with them arms and munitions Of war for the
culture and production of immoral and ener-
waiting slave labor. Nor will any portion of
the American people be disposed to regard the
sum thus ostentatiously offered for the relief
of captured insurgents as too generous equiv.
alent for devastation and dissolution which
this civil war promised, and which, protected
| by British subjects, has spread throughout the
States which before were eminently happy and
prosperous.
Finally, in view of bic last oficious interven.
ton in our domestic affairs, the American peo-
pie can hardly fail to recall the warning of the
Father of our Country. directed against great
and intimately connected public dangers, viz. :
sectional faction and foreign intrigue
| don't think the insurgents have become de.
based, although they wandered from the ways
Of loyalty and patriotism. think, In common
with oil our countrymen, they will rejoice in
from the grave insult which Lord W. and his
associates in their zeal for the overthrow of
| the United States, have prepared for the VIC
| Tins of this unnatural and heartless rebellion
1 am, dear sir, your obedient servsnt,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.