The Trent affair

Undisturbed relations have not always existed between the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race on opposite sides of the Atlantic. The English colonies in the New World qua...

From the beginning of the secession movement the central aim of the Federal government and of the loyal people of the United States was to preserve the Union. It was the princip...

When the southern states began to secede, the attitude of foreign governments toward them was a matter of much concern to the Federal government. At that time any acts of foreig...

Before the lapse of sixty days after the beginning of Mr. Lincoln’s administration, Fort Sumter had surrendered after a severe bombardment; seventy-five thousand troops had been...

By its own terms the declaration of Paris, as these principles were afterward known, was not to bind any country which did not accede to its terms. The fourth point was already...

During the first half year of the American civil war, the policy of the English government toward that of the United States appeared to be one of studied unfriendliness. The num...

From the very moment when secession began to be contemplated by the southern leaders, it was evident that they confidently expected foreign aid, both moral and material, in thei...

The first agents of the South had spent seven months in Europe without accomplishing anything. It became painfully evident to the Confederacy that those who were then representi...

After all necessary arrangements for their departure had been made, Messrs. Mason and Slidell experienced some difficulty in getting out of the country. A strict blockade of all...

In August, 1861, the United States war steamer San Jacinto, a first-class screw sloop mounting fifteen guns, left St. Paul de Loando on the western coast of Africa where she had...

[2] It seems that a Mr. Hanckel, of Charleston, took charge of them and delivered them to the Confederate agents, Yancey, Rost and Mann, in London. See U. S. and Confederate Nav...

The fact of Messrs. Mason and Slidell’s appointment, the nature of their mission to Europe, and their desire to escape through the blockade and proceed to their respective desti...

Immediately after the Trent and San Jacinto separated on the afternoon of November 8, the purser of the former vessel, thinking doubtless that it would be quite an honor to hims...

It was well understood in England that Messrs. Mason and Slidell had been commissioned to represent the Confederacy at London and Paris respectively. The difficulties incident t...

Before the middle of December, news of the intense excitement which prevailed in England reached the United States. About this time the New York Tribune said: “England is almost...

The forcible seizure of the Confederate commissioners while on board the Trent caused more or less of discussion throughout Europe. The technical right of Captain Wilkes to make...

The president and cabinet having agreed to surrender the Confederate commissioners, Mr. Seward’s letter of reply to the British demand was sent to Lord Lyons without delay. The...

Mr. Seward’s answer conceding the British demand was very gratifying to Lord Lyons. On December 27 he acknowledged its receipt and said that he would immediately send a copy of...

On January 10, 1862, Lord Russell addressed a note to Lord Lyons stating that her majesty’s government had carefully considered how far Mr. Seward’s note and its concessions com...

In any discussion of the Trent case from the standpoint of international law, all purely political phases of the matter should be omitted. That the captured persons were dangero...

After the lapse of a third of a century the course of the British government in the affair of the Trent may be considered calmly and without passion or prejudice. In the absence...