New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-10
XXXVIITH CONGRESS.
SENATE. .WAsHlrnroY IAN. Q. 1862.
FIRST SESSION.

! VIC q Tug pSuH-f<etttI OHNNs
The 81. provides that all dead letters be returned
! 10 the writer's instead of being destroyed.
After long discussion the Till was postponed Til
| TO morrow.
Mr.. TRUMBULL Rep Illl reported from the
judiciary Comnitlee in favor Of the resolution to eA
| pei Waldo u. JobnsOn, OF Missouri
Mr.. WILSON rep, Macs reported bill to pro
vide for the Signal Department Of the army.
Also, bill for the Organization Of the staff Of the
| Divisions Of the Army.
Also, bill 20 increase the clerical force Of the
once ~ tie Adjnt4nt-General.
| AIr. SHERMAN Qtep., Ohio from the Select
Committee on Compensation, &C., in tie Depart
monts, reported bill.
Also, bill to regulate the compensation Of officers
of the Army.
Mr. COWAN rep, Pa presented a petition from
the homeopathic Surgeons and Physicians employed
In the Army.
Also ill in relction to the appointment Of Chap
iaus in tie Army, and TO allow Jew ish Cbeplains.
Mr. HALE rep. y. H. presented a petition
from citizens Of Pennsy lvana which states as iol-
lows:
'Bz,yta, G,.A sud. have been rsrpetriedo on the Treas
ard tie appointment or M Mcrsau by Ar wee there
fore ak ,lat s,,euts be enscrd prevent tie appoint
ment Of persons " .thout tie statue therefor
Mr.. HALE also introduced bil to punish frand
on he Treasury. The bill provides that any Ierson
obtaining money frauduleuty, b. ponished with -
fine 10 the amount Of money, and imprisonment to
hard lebor Tor not more than ten years.
II any oi6cer of the Government do II he he DIS
charged ard punished, and ever after held ineligible
for any ofico Referred.
Communication vas received from the War De-
parsnent transmitting the report OF the SANITARY
Commission Referred.
The Hon-e resolution III regard to bonded coilee
and sugar, lsid over yesterday, was itaken ~ and
pas.sd by Yeas %; Nays 10.
The communication from the Secretary Of State in
regard 10 the Trent affair wss taken up.
SIR. SUMNER rep, Masr.l-Ar President,
every principle of International law, when justly
and authoritatively settled, beco Des safeguard oil
peace and landmark OF civilization II constitutes
n part Of that code which is the supreme law, above
oil municipal laws, binding TIE Whole common wealth
OF nations. Such settlement may be by General
Congress of nations, at Munster, Vienna or Iarls
or il NAV be through the general acCord Of treaties or
nav be hv prece dent esab shed under such con-
srcuous circumstances with all nations as asserting
witnesses that shall at once become III itself com
handing rule Of International conduct. Especially
is this the case, il disturbing pretensions, long main
tanned 10 the detrment OF civilization, practically
renowned By the Power which has maintained them.
Without any congress or treaties, such precedent
L.s been established. Such a precedent ought
10 be considered and understood IN ts true
character. In undertaking TO explain ~.
I shall speak Tor myself alone; but L shall
sneak frankly, according TO the wise free
dom Of public debate, and the plain teachings OF
history on the QuestiOb Involved, Trusting incerey
that what say may contribute something TO elevate
he homes, patriotism Of the couuy, aud perhaps TO
a.cure that TRANQUIL judgment Which will render tins
urecedent the herald Al not tie guardian, Of interim
iionsl harmony. Two old men aud Two younger assoc
ciaes recently taken from The BTitish mil packet
Trent on tue high teas by order OF Captain Wilkes o.
The United States Navy, and aterwhd detained IL
cnstody al Fort Warren. have been liberated and
placed NJ the disposition of the British Government.
rbis has been done at the instance OF that Govern
Dert courioOusly conveyed, ard founded on TIE a.
sumption thai the original capture OF these men wac
an act of violence that was a'lront 10 the British
GAG. and violation Of international law. This Is "a
simple outline vi TIE facts. But IN order 10 appTe-
cte the valgc Of tits precedent there other mat
fers which must be brought into view. iic'e
two old men were citizens Of the United State,
aud for many year, SeLaiors. one was the
author Of tie Fugitive Slave bill, and the oiLer
WAS the cLief author Of the Gliihustering system
Ivlitb has disgraced our national name aud die.
turbed our national peace. Occupying places OF
trust and power in the service OF tier county, bey
conspired against 1t, aud al last lne secret uHitor
and Commentators became open reteIs lhe Pf.ten'
rebellion now surpassiDg IN proportions ana hi'o III
aickedncss any rebellion Ia history, Was from tue
beginning Quickeued aud promoted 10y Their untlr1ng
energies. That county 10 which they owed love,
honor. and obedience they BETRAYED and gave over
10 violence and outrage Treason conspiracy, uDd
feIt lion each IN succession, have ecied thfonBh
them. The iucslcuatle expenditure "niih nov
ta.k our national resOurces the untold arrangement
of sars 10, only at home but also road, the levy
81 armies almost without hi example, the deyasta-
lion of extended regions OF territory the plumber oil
teacefu shps the ocean, and The slaughter OF lei!
ioW citizens on the inurdero1s battlefield; such are
INC OF he consequences proceC ding Ciie,uy from
them To carry forward Still further the gigantic
crime Of which they were 40 large part, these
Two old men, with their two younger associates,
stole from Charleston on board rebel sieameT and
under cover Of darkness and storm, runhiag the
tockade and avoiding the cfuer5 III thut nelghbtr-
hood succeeded in reaching tie neutral leland oi
Cuba, where with OIen display aud nc kp0Wleoge
Of the British Consul, they embarked OH board The
British mail packet the Trent, bound Tor ~ lholAs'
whence tiey were TO embark for England, Ia when
Kingdom one Of item WAS TO play the part 81 ei"'
bsssadOr Of Tie rebellion, while The oiIer was u
play the same part IN France. The original treason,
conspiracy, and rebellion OF which they were
70 hrinou,y guilty, were all continued On TINS voy,
age which became II prolongalon oil tie original
crime destined stl further excess through thtif
eInbassadoial pretensions, which, II was loled,
vould array two great nations against tue nited
States. and enlist them openly IN beinlf OF
an accused fLiveEClliDg rebellion. While on
their way, the embassldors were ARRESTED
Inv CAPTAIN Wilk6s, Of the United States
steamer San JacintO, an accomplished officer,
already well known by his scientific eAilofa'
tious who on this occasion aced without iEstruc-
lions from bis Government. II, IN tins urrest, be
forgot for a moment the fixed policy OF The Republic
which las been from the beginning like ironiIci
| between the eyfs, and trausccuded the law Of ma
tiors. ne the United States have always declared it,
biz apology must be found in the patriotic impulse
/ BY which be w9s inspired, and the Bn,n examples
which lc could not forget. They were the ebenll q
OF his country, embodying m Themselves the tnPie
essence Of worst euInty-irc1sOn, conspiracy and
reboliin; ard they woe Il pretended embassadoral
character, which, as be well knew, according "a
high British authority, reDceied them liable 10 bc
stopped. H. in tie ardor OF in honest nature, Iapt'
Wilkes erred, he might well say:
"Vho can be vice amazed temperate. and furious,