“The carefully prepared speech which Mr. Sumner delivered
in the Senate yesterday is an important contribution to
the stock of current information on an important question
of public law. The arrest of Mason and Slidell has not
before been discussed with so much breadth of research.
Mr. Sumner’s luminous speech is a remarkable example of
the advantage of historical knowledge in the discussion of
public questions.…
“It is creditable to Mr. Sumner that he has been able to
present so conclusive an historical argument in opposition
to the view of this subject taken by legists and publicists
so able and erudite as Mr. Everett, Mr. Cushing, Professor
Parsons, and Chief-Justice Bigelow, of his own State, and
most of the public journals in all parts of the country.
The error of these writers has consisted in an undue
deference to the British admiralty decisions,--decisions
against whose validity on the points involved in this
controversy our Government has always protested.
“Mr. Sumner’s argument plainly sustains Mr. Seward in
his surrender of the Rebel commissioners, but not in his
delaying to do so till they were demanded by the English
Government. The thanks of the country are due to Mr. Sumner
for his convincing argument that the national honor has
suffered no detriment by their surrender.”