Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-01-24
Senator Sumner On the Trent Affair

the positions bat first, in view Of the policy
Of this government since lis organic .tion, the
seizure Of these two old men and their two
younger associates, without taking the ship
was wrong, because a naval officer has no right
to constitute himself judicial tribunal; sec
ond.y, that if the Trent had been taken. it
would not have been held condemned Oh ac-
count of these two old men," inasnIurh as
neutral ships are hce to carry all persons who
are not really or apparently in the military Or
=! naval service Of the enemy; and thirdly, That
dispatches are not cOntraband Of war These
positions be clahortcd and sustained by eopi-
ous extracts from the diplomatic cnrrespon-
dcnce which our authorities have had with
/ foreign governments; and closed his speech
with the following general summing up:
"Mr. President, let the rebels 60 Two wick
cd men, un9rateful TO their country, are let
loose with the brand Of Cain upon theic fore
heads. Prison doors are opened, but princi-
pies are established which Will help us 10 free
other men, and 10 open the gates of the sea-
Never before in her active history has Great
( Britain ranged herself on this side Such an
event IS an epoch Nor,,s secloruua nascifsr
UrdO. To the liberties of the sea this power is
now committed. To a certain extent, this
cause is now under her tuiclary care If the
! immunites of passengers, not in the military
or naval service, as well of sailors. are not
directly recognized they are at least implied ;
while the whole pretensiOn Of imprcSsment, 50
long the pest of neutral commerce, and opcr-
ating only through the lawlces adjudication OF
a quarter deck, is made absolutely impossible
Thus is the freedom Of the seas enlarged, not
only by limiting the number Of persons who
are exposed TO the penalties of war, but by
driving from it the most offensive pretcnsious
that ever stalked upon its waves 10 such con-
clusion Great Britain is irrevocably pledged
Nor treaty nor bond was needed 1t is suGi-
cicnt that her late appeal can be vindicatcd
only by IL remuneration of early, long-coniin-
ued tyranny. Let her bear the rebels back
The consideration is ample; FOR the sea became
free as this penient Power crossed il, steering
westward with the sun, on an errlnd of Iibcr-
alton. In this surrender, if such it may be
called our Government docs not cveu "sioop
10 conquer" 1t simply lts itself to the height
Of It's own original principles Tho carly el-
forts of It's best ncgOtiatOrS the patriot trials
of its soldiers in an unequal war-have at
naughty, invites Us 10 practice upon those prin-
ciplcs which she has 50 sircnuusly opposed.
There are victories of force Here is vic
tory of truth. II Grat Britain has gained the
custody of two rebels, the United States have
secured the triumph Of their principles. If
this result be in conformity with our cherished
principles, it will be supcrhous to add other
considerations Of policy; and yet | ventura to
u5sgcst that estrangrd synpaGhies abroad
may be secured again by an open adhesion to
these principles, which already have the sup
port Of the Continental Governments of En-
rope, snarling for years under British prclrn-
siUns on the sea. The powerful organs of pub
lie opinion on the Continent arc with us NJ
llautclruille, whose work on the Law of Ma
tiUus is the arsenal Of arguments for ncutrals,
has entered into his debate with Il direct prop
usilion for the release Of these cmmisarcs as
testimony 10 the true Interpretation of inter
national law. And journal, which Of Itself
is an authority, the Rerue des Dcur 1Iondes.
hopes that the United States will let the rebels
go, simply because ii would be Triumph Of
the rights Of ncHlrulS to arply them for the
advantage Of nation which has ever Opposed
and violated them But this triumph is not
enough. The sca-god will in future use his
trident less but the same principles which
LED to the present Tenunci ton Of carly pre-
/ tensions, naturally conduct 10 vet further
emancipation of the sr;I. he work of mari
lime civilization is not yet finished. And here
TWO nations, equally endowed by commerce,
and maj ching each o,hcr, while they surpuss
all other nations, in peaceful ships, may glo-
riouSlY unite in setting up new pillars. which
shall mark new triumphS, rendering the ocean
a highway of peace, instead Of field Of blood.
The Congress Of Paris, in 1856, where were
assembled the rleniputcntiarits Of Great Brit
alan, France, Ausriu, Prussia, Russia, Sardi-
tia, aud Turkey, has already led the way
Adopting thu cal ly policy OF the United Slates
often proposed to foreign nations, this Congress
has authenticated two important changes i'll
restraint Of beIIigcreut rights; fist that the
neutral flag shall protect the enemys goods
except cunlraband ofwar; and secondly, that
neutral goods, except contrabuEd Of war, are
not Liable to capture under an eneny's flag
This is much.
Another proposition, that privatecrng
should be abolished, was detective in two re-
specs first, because it left nations free tc
employ private ships under pubic commits
] sion as ships Of tue navy, and, therefore, wa,
nugalory; and second y, if not nu+atory. il
vas 100 obviously in the special interest .
Great Britain, which, through her commanding
navy, would TINS be left at W Il 10 rule the sea
No Change can be practicable which is no
equal in its advantages to all nations; for tht
J Equality Of Nations is not merely Il dry dog
p, m; Of international law, but vital aliona
sentiment common 10 all nations This cannu
+ be lOl gotten; aud every proposition must bt
brought sincerely 10 this cqqitabc test. Bu
p there is Il way in which privatccring can b.
, eff ctiycly abolished without any shock to tht
Equality Of Nations. y simple proposition
that private property shall enjoy the same i'm
muEiy Oh the ocean wicA it now enjoys Oh
=, land, will at once abolish privatcerin2, and re
: licve the commerce Of the ocean from its g eat
est prrils; so that, like commerce on land, i
shall be undsturbcd except by Illegal robber!
!, and theft. Such u proposition will operat
= equally for the advantage Of all uaiiUns. o.
= this account, and in the policy Of peace, whcl
our Government has always cultivated, it ha
been already presented to lUlcign GovernmInti
bv the United States. You have not forgottel
! the important paper in which MIR. Marcy db
:, This service, or The recent eturts Of Mr. Sewur
J in the same direction. In order TO c0mplet
the efficacy Of this proposition, and still iurlhc
~. to Danish bclligerent prstensions,. contraban
:, of war should be abolished, so that all ship
!, may freely navig ,te the ocean without being
= exposed to any question as to the character o
i persons Or things on board.
e The Right of Search, which, on the occur
/ renee Of war becomes an tomnipre.en tyrar
/ ny, subjeciing every neutral ship to the arhi
tr,r,, ;r,-.sion nFpvnrv helirprpnt rru ispr yOuI