The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-23 00:00:00

has labound for its recagnition as a neutral right. It has incor- firmed his belief in the juFties of seizing the properly o
porated it in many of its treaties withforeign powers. France, enemies, not only on board neutral ships, but the chiphi
Russia, i'russia, and other nations, have in various ways fully of allies. The states of Holland, the Genoese, and the
concurred with the United States in regarding it as a sound Venetians, whose prosperity was founded on the carry-
aei salutary pria•siple in all respects proper to be incorpe- .
Ing trade, held the same principle. Each one of the
rated into the law of nations. The same consideration that
three great nations which in 1780 formed the armed
induced her Britannic Majesty, in c ncurrence with the Em-
peror of the French, to preeeut it as a concession in the pre-
neutrality league swerved from the contrary principle
sent war, the desire "to preserve the commerce of neutrals which it embodied within ten years afterwards. Our
from all unnecessary obstruction," will, it is presumed, have great English statesmen, Chatham in the seven years'
equal weight with the belligerents in any future war, and ear, Pitt and Fox in their say, adhered to the right
satisfy them that the claims of the principal maritime powers, which had now been surrendered. The Duke of Wel-
while neutral, to have it recognised as a rule of international lington also maintaine I it ; and Sir Robert. Peel can-
law, arc well founded and should be no longer contested. To celled a treaty with Portugal, which contained the prin-
settle the principle that "free ships snake free goods," except ciple of free ships making free goods, and inserted the con-
articles contraband of war, and to prevent it from being called verse principle in the treaty substituted. The treaties re-
again in question from any quarter, or under any eircum-
fer red to, on the other side, were only exceptional and spe-
stances, the United States are desirous to unite with other . ,
agreements, which did not affect the general law. It
powers in a declaration that it should be observed by each out'
had been said that the Crown was suite competent to do
hereafter as a rsle of international law. The exemption of
the property of neutrals, not contraband, from seizure and this without the consent of Parliament. And so the
confiscation when laden on board an enemy's vessel, noble earl would have been competent, at the congress
is a right now generally recognised by the - law of of Paris, to cede Malta to Russia, or Gibraltar to Spain,
nations. The President is pleased to perceive from the decla- or sacrifice the Belgian press ; but would it have been
ration of her Britannic Majesty that the course to be pursued justifiable to do so ? Was everything justified which it
by her cruisers will n,,t bring it into question in the present was legally possible for the Government to do ? Then,
war. The undersigned is directed by the President to state as was observed in a former c'ebate, the Crown would be
to her Majesty's -Minister to this Government that the United
competent to summon a regiment of Guards to sit in the
States, while claiming the full enjoyment of their rights as a
neutral power, will observe the strictest neutrality towards House of 1 ears. Parliament had no warning of this
each and all the belligerents. The laws of this country impose great change- -a change never before demanded, except
severe restrictions not only upon its own citizens, but upon in a spirit of bitter hostility to this country. Last year
all persons who may be residents within any of the territories. the noble lord the President of the Board of Trade said
of the United States, against equipping privateers, receiving it was difficult to enforce the right, whilst our ally in
commissions, or enlisting men therein for the purpose of taking the ear took a different view ; that the British Go-
a part in any foreign war. It is not apprehended that there will vernment had waived it, but not abandoned it. If the
be any attempt to violate the laws; but should the just expec- Government at that time contemplated this change, it
tation of the President be disappointed, he will not fail in his would have been more candid, and fairer to Parliament,
duty to use all the power with which he is invested to enforce
to have given them some intimation of it ; but if the
obedience to them. Considerctions of interest and the obliga-
tions of duty aliko give assurance that the citizens of the United matter occurred to them first at the Congress, on the
States willin no way compromise the neutrality of their coun- suggestion of Count Walewski, they had acted with rash-
try by participating in the contest iu which the principal ne,4B and inconsideration. It was strange to hear the
powers of Europe are now unhappily engaged.—The under- I royal prerogative so advanced as it was at the beginning of
signed, ike.—W: L. MARCY. the session as an exouse for another measure equally un-
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