Year: 1862




Despatch. -
The City of Washington brings us the reply
of the English Foreign Secretary to Mr.. Stewards
despatch explaining the grounds on which our
government consented to the rendition q
Messrs. Mason and Slidell. 1t is friendly in


tone, does not attempt to conceal the feeling
If relief with which the decision of our govern
ment was received by the British Cabinet, and
expresses its confidence that it will conduce 70
the maintenance of the most amicable relations
between the two governments. To the form
and manner in which the surrender was made
no exception is taken, nor is there any ground


laid for fresh demands in connection with it, as
the London correspondents of the rebel press
SO confidently predicted would be the case


So far, then, as the Trent affair itself
is concerned, the controversy is at an
end. Not so with the points raised in
Mr.. Stewards despatch in regard to the ef-
feet of this precedent on the international
issues of similar character that may hereafter
arise. Earl Russell states that he and his col
leagues differ from Mr.. Seward in some of his
conclusions; but, inasmuch as it may lead to
better understanding of the legal value of the
points in question, he will embody their objec.
tions in a second despatch, to be forwarded in
few DAYS. In the meanwhile, 1t is intimated
that it would be desirable that the federal
government should issue instructions to the
commanders of its war vessels to take care not
to repeat acts which they are unable to justify


and for which redress would again have to be
demanded This recommendation is mere sur
plusage; for Lord Palmerston and his COL
leagues may well be assured that, whether right
or wrong, until the rebellion is put down, there
will be no disposition on the part of our Cabi-
net to afford them the slightest pretext for
making another domestic party move at our
expense.


Of the nature of the reply which is. to be
formulated by Earl Russell to the recommen-
dation urged by Mr.. Seward, to have the rights
of neutrals placed on some definite basis of set
| tlement that cannot be disturbed by the inte-


rests or caprices of governments merely be-
cause they are powerful, we CLEAN no inkling


from the English ministerial organs. From


Berlin, however, we have statement that is


probably not far from the truth. There it is
reported that Great Britain will not object to
| enter upon diplomatic correspondence for the
| consideration of a guarantee for the rights Of


neutras, but that it will set its face against any
| congress on the question. This is entirely in


keeping with the line of argument adopted by


the English journals on the Trent question-that
is to say, there must be one code of maritime
| laws for England and another for the rest of
| the world. Were the question left to con-
cress of nations, England knows well that she


would be voted down, and she would of course


be compelled to abide by the decisiiQn; and


hence her disincligation to 60 into Congress.
It is precisely in putting an end to this arro-
giant pretension that our government has gained
such great moral victory in the surrender Of


Mason and Slidell. The argument used by the


English journals, that by refusing to give up
these traitors this country would become the
| Ishmael of nations, will now be turned against


themselves. The main reason Of the unanimity


that decided all the European governments to


press upon US the policy Of making this con-


cession to England was, that they felt it would


place her in position Of difficulty on the ques-


ton of neutral rights from which there would


be no escape but by submission on her part


to the public opinion of the world. The con-


elusive arguments put forward in Mr.. Seward 8


despatch will be eagerly seized upon by the


presses of the different European capitals, until


such pressure will be brought to bear upon


the English government that from very shame


it will be compelled to give its assent to the de-


fnitivc settlement by congress of all disputed


points involving the rights Of neutrals. AS a


great maritime nation, and the Power that has


suffered most from the arbitrary Interpretation


by England of the public law regulating the


commerce of the seas, we shall have reason to


congratulate ourselves on having, by a Temporal


ry modification, secured an object so important


to our future security and tranquility. The rem


dition of the "worthless booty" whom we have


abandoned to the tender mercies Of the London


Times and London mob is cheap price to


ray for victory so fraught with benefits