The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

marines. on board any ship. or vessel of war;
o. transport OF o. in the service of either Of
| the sud 'ontending parties; or by serving as
officers. sailors, or marines on board any pri-
| vateer hearing letters OF marque of or from
either of the said contendng parties; or by
! engaging to go, or going, to any place beyond
| the seas with intent to enlist or gage in any
| such service, or by procuring or attempting
Ia procure, within Her Majesty's dominions,
at home or abroad, others to do So or by
fitting out, arming. OF equpping any ship or
vessel, 10 be employed as q ship Of war, or
priyateer, or transport. by either of the said
contending parties OF by breaking. or en-
deayOring to break, any blockade lawfully
and actually established by or on behalf of
either Of the said con.ending parties or by
carrying officers, soldiers. dispatches arms,
military stores or materials or any article or
articles considered or deemed to. be contra |
blind Of war, according to the law or modern
usage Of nations, for the Use or service of |
either OF the said contending parties--al per-
sons SD offending will incur and be liable to /
the several penalties and penal consequences |
by the said statute, or by tie law of nations, |
in that behalf imposed or denounced.
And we do hereby declare that all our sub
jects and peI.ons entitled to our protection
who may misconduct themselves in the I
premises viii do SO at their peril and Of their |
own WRONG and that they will in nowise
obtain any protection from US against any
liability or penal consequences, but WILL on
the contrary incur our high displeasure by |
such misconduct.
THE TRENT's GUILT.
Now, there was no shadow Of doubt |
that the Trent was consciously, willingly, !
employed in carrying very important
officers and dispatches for the Confed-
crates rendering them the greatest pos
sibie service, and one which could not
safely be effected i'll vessels bearing their
own flag. 1t was not at all the case of
dispatches carried unconsciously, inno-
Gently, in the public mails of mail
steamers, but just such an interference
to the prejudice of the one and the adj
vantage Of the other belligerent as Brit
ish Courts of Admiralty had been accus-
toned to condemn, forfeiting the vessel
and cargo of the offender.
Great Britain, however, would not see
it in this light. Com. Wilkes's act was
all outrage-an insult-which must be
promptly atoned for at the peril Of war.
Such was the purport Of the language
held by large majority Of her public
lists and journals, and a pcremptory
demand was promptly made, through
her ambassador, Lord Lyons, for the
unconditional surrender of Messrs Mason
and Sldei and their Secretaries. France
seconded and supported the requirement
Of Great Britain, in consdera,e and
courteous dispatch.
This demand Of Great Britain-to the
great disappointment and chagrin of the
Confederates, who confidently expected
that war between the United States and
England must speedily and certainly
ensue-was complied with by our Gov.
ernment-Gov. Seward, in an able dis
patch, basing that compliance more i'm.
mediately on the failure of Capt. Wilkes
to bring the Trent into port for adjudi-
cation OH the legality of his act. whereby
voyage had been temporarily arrested
and two Of her passengers forcibly alb.
stracted.
And thus. at the close of the year
1861. the imminent peril Of war with
that European power most able to injure
rs, because Of her immense naval
strength. as we'll as of the proximity of
her American possessions, was wisely
averted, though it was bitterly felt that
her demand would at least have been
more courteously and considerably made
but for the gigantic war in which we
we're already inextricably involved by
the Shareholders Rebellion.
ITO be eontinued1