Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-10

Mr.. SUMMERS SPEECH on the Trent case
delivered in the federal senate, yesterday
states that case, and then goes into an elabor
ate discussion Of the old doctrine and practice
of our government in regard TO neutral rights
on the ocean. Alter discussing the question
carefully, with abundant quotations from Off
cial and other documents, he sums up his con.
illusions as follows -.
''If l am correct in this review then the con
clusion is inevitable. The seizure of the rebel
emissaries on board Il neutral ship cannot be
justified according TO our best American prec,
edents and practice. There seems to be no
single point where the seizure is not question.
able unless we choose to invoke British prec.
edents and practice, which beyond doubt led
Capt. Wilkes into tie mistake which he com.
mitted. In the solitude Of his ship he con.
suited familiar authorities al hand and telt
that in following Vattel and Sir William Scott,
as quoted and affirmed by eminent writer's, re.
iniOrced by the inveterate practice Of the Brit
ish navy, he could not err He was mista.
ken There was q better example; it was the
constant, uniform, unhesitatinT practice of his
own country on the ocean, refusing to consid-
er dispatches as contraband OF war-retusiur
to consider persons, other than soldiers or Off.
GERS, as contraband Of war; and protesting al
ways against an adjudication of personal rights
by the summary judgment of quarter deck.
Had these well attested presidents been in his
mind, the gallant captain would not, even for
a moment, have been seduced from his allie.
glance to those principles which constitute
part of our counry'S glory.
MIR. President, let the retels go. Two wick
ed men, ungratetul to their country, are let
loose with The brand of Cain upon their fore
heads. Prison doors are opened but princi-
pies are established which will help 10 free
other men, and TO 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. Novus soeciorum naSciha.
Ordo. To the liberties OF the sea this power is
now committed. To a certain extent this
cause is now under her tutelary care. If the
immunities OF passengers, not in the military
or naval service, as well as of sailors, are not
directly recognized, they are at least implied
While the whole pretension of impressment, so
long the pest of neutral commerce, and oper-
atDg only through the lawless adjudication Of
"a quarter deck, Is made absolutely impossible.
Thus is the freedom OF the seas enlarged, not
only by limiting the number of per.
sons who are exposed to the penalties of
war, but by driving from it the most offensive
pretenson that ever stalked on its waves To
pledged. Nor treaty nor bond was needed.
1t is sufficient that her late appeal can be win.
dictated only by a remuneration of early, long
continued tyranny. Let her bear the rebels
back. The consideration is ample; for the
sea became free as this penitent power crossed
it, steering westward with the sun, on an err.
rand OF Liberation.
In this surrender, if such it may be called,
our government dues not even 'stoop to con.
quer.' 1t simply lifts itself to the height OF its
own original principles The early efforts of
its best negotiators-the patriot trials OF its sol
diers in an unequal war--bave at length pre-
vailed, and Great Britain, usually so naughty,
invites us TO practice upon those principles
which she has so strenuously opposed. There
are victories of force. Here is u victory OF
truth. If Great Britain has gained the custo.
dy OF two rebels, the United States have Sc
cured the triumph Of their principles"