The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-29

war San Jacinto overhauled the Trent in the
Bahama Channel, and seized 1.-THE two COM
missioners and their secretaries, in defiance
OF the protest OF the commander OF the Trent and
OF the English mail agent Commander williams.
Admiral Wilkes carried his prisoners to New York,
whence they were removed to Fort Warrep, iu the
harbor Of Boston, by order OF Secretary Seward.
Their seizure created a great sensation throughout
the country, and aroused the widest enthusiasm,
Secretary Welles going far as to formally thank
Admiral Wilkes for his action. But Great Britain
was thrown into even greater tumult, and Lord Pal
merston's Government at once took a decided stand
on the question. In O letter dated November 80,
1861 Earl Russell, the British Foreign Secretary,
wrote to Lord Lyons and after reciting the crcum-
stances OF the seizure, said:-
"Her Najestys Government, therefore, trust that
when this matter shall have been brought under
the consideration OF the Government OF the United
States that Government will, Of its own accord,
offer to the British Government such redress
alone could satisfy the British nation, namely the
liberation OF four gentlemen, and thoir delivery
TO your lOTdship, in order that they may again be
placed under British protection and suitable apo
logy for the aggression which has been committed.
Should these terms not be offered by Mr.. Seward
you VIII propose them to him."
Secretary Seward wrote lengthy epistle in reply
to this, under date OF December &c. in which he dis
cussed the seizure in all its details and with his
tomary adroitness Admiral Wilkes was compelled
to bear the burden OF blame for the SEIZURE having
'aced upon his own suggestions of duty, without
any direction instruction, even foreknowledge
ing the precedents established by Great Britain, Mr.
Seward concluded his despatch as follows:-
"If decide this case inifavor OF my own Govern
ment, must disavow Its most cherished principles
and reverse and forever abandon its essential policy.
The country cannot afford the sacrifice II | main
tain those principles, ana adhere to that policy,
must surrender the case itself. 1t will be seen,
therefore, that this Government could not deny the
Justice Of the claim presented to US In this respect
nation just what have always insisted all nations
that II the safety Of this Union required the deten-
tion OF the captured persons, would be The right
and duty OF this Government to detan them. Bot
the effectual check and waning proportions Of the
existing insurrecton, as well as the comparative un
| Importance Of the captured persons themselves,
| when dispassionately weighed, happily forbid me
| from resorting to that defense.
at would tell little for our own claims to the charac
| ter OF a just and magnanmous people IL we should
so far consent to be guided by the law OF retaliation
to lift up buried injuries from their graves to op
| pose against what national consistency and the
national conscience compel us to regard as claim
| intrinscally right.
''Puttng behind me all suggestions of this Kind
| prefer to express my satisfaction that, by tae adj
| justment Of the present case upon principles con-
| fessedly American, and yet, as trust, mutually
| satisfactory to both OF the nations concerned,
question is finally and rightly settled between them
| which, heretofore exhaustng not only all forms OF
peaceful dscussion but also tRe arbltrament OF war
itself, for more than half century alienated the
two countries from each other, aud perpleXed with
| fears and apprehensions all other nations" -.
Accordingly, the two commissioners, with their
| secretaries, were turned to Lord Lyons, the
! British Minister, on the 2d OF January, 1892 This
discreet action the part of Government doubt
less averted war between the two countries the
position assumed by the British Government
| was enthusiastically supported by the mass
| OF the English people, and had more
| over the endorsement OF several
| other European powers. Although the general
drift of popular sentiment in the United States
| at first in favor OF holding on to the four Rebel
| diplomats, Secretary Seward contrived, by his
| adroitness to satisfy the sense OF national honor
| and, by the course Of his argument, even placed
the British Government in a humiiating position on
the question of international obligations to respect
the flag of neutral and friendly powers In time oi
| war.
Immediately after their transfer to the custody OF
| Lord Lyons, Mason aud Slidell proceeded to Eng
land, where they arrived about the middle OF Janu.
airy. They were treated with great consldera-
ton by the open and avowed enemies of the
| United States, but failed to receive oficia
recognition at the hanus OF either the Eng
lish French Government, although the eX-Em-
peror Napoleon III granted them private and
cordial interview on their subsequent arrival
in Paris. During the greater part OF the wal
| they resided in the latter capital, and
continued their trigues until the close OF the war
, but without material success The war over, Mr..
| Mason returned to the United States without
molestation, and for some time past resided near
Alexandria, Virginia, in comparative obscurity and
without attempting to take any active part In public
affairs. In early life Mr.. Mason married member
OF the historical Chew family Of Germantown, and
for many years involved in a bitter litigation
with other members OF the family concerning the
settlement Of the Chew estate.