Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-11


New York, Dec. 10-Capt. Wilkes re-
port is published. lie says that the govern
meuls Of Great Britain, France, and Spain,
having issued proclamations that the conted-
crate states were viewed, considered, and
treated as belligereuts, and knowing that the
ports OF Great Britain, France, Spain, and
Holland in the West Indies, were open to their
vessels, and that they were admitted to all
the courtesles and protection that vessels Of
the United States received, and that every aid
and attention being given them proved clearly
that they acted upon this view and decision,
and brought them within the international
law Of search and under its responsibilities,
therefore felt no hesitation in boarding aud
searching all vessels, OF whatever nation, l
fell in with, and have done SO.
The question arose in my mind whether
had the right to capture the persons OF these
commissioners, and whether they were amen
able 10 capture. There was no doubt | had
the right 10 capture a vessel with written dis
patches, as they are expressly referred to in
all authorities, suljecting tie vessel to seizure
and condemnation, if the captain OF the vessel
had knowledge Of their being on board. Bat
these gentlemen were not dispatches, in the
literal sense. and did not seem TO come under
that designation, and nowhere could find a
case in point. That they were commissioners
that they were Sent on miSchievOus and trail
torous errandS against our government.
! then considered them as the embodiment
OF dispatches, and it therefore became my
duty to arrest their progress and capture thea
il they had no passports or papers from the
federal COVE nment as provided for under the
law OF nadoms, viz, tGat foreign ministers of
a beiigerent ON board OF neutral ships are re-
qurcd TO possess papers from the otHlr beIg-
crent, TO permit them to pass iIee.
As regards the Trent, the agent 1f the
vessel the son OF the Briesh consul at Havana,
was well aware Of the character OF these per
sons. His iathec had visited them and intro
duced them as ministers OF the con ederae
states on their way to England and France.
They went in the steamer with the knowledge
aud consent ol the captain, who endeavured
afterwards to conceal them, by refusing to
exhibit the passenger list and papers of the
vessel. There can he no doubt he knew that
they were carrying highly important dispatches
ami were endowed with Instructions iumical
to the United States.
This rendered his vessel neutral, a good
prize, and l determined to lake possession OF
her, and send her to Key West for adiudica-
ton, where, | am well satisfied, she would
nave been condemned for carrying these per
sons, and for resisting to be searched. The
cargo was also liable, lis all the shippers were
knowing to the embarkation OF these live dis
patches and traitorous motives and actions 10
the Union of the United States.
for bore to Ize her, however, in Conse
quence OF my being SO reduced in officers and
crew, and the arrangement it would cause in
nocent persons, who would have been put TO
a gr, at loss and Inconvenience, as well as dis
appointment from interruption it would have
caused in not being able to join the steamer