The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-09-11
Vol. 8.

Great Britain aud ell her SominiOns IN the
four quarters Of the globe"
Such are the desherate, curious notions OF
Mr.. Pickering, relative 10 the question on
the law Of nations arising from the late en-
gagcment, and they are the only ones CON-
,ained in his voluminous communications,
which intend TO expose, my single object
being 10 wipe off from the first pages Of the
history OF our navy, the. filth which the last
degree Of political wickcdness and extremity
OF faction spouts upon them. l shaH not,
however, take the useless trouble to refuto
their erroneous principles and the unsapport-
ed arguments SET up 10y Mr.. Pickering. 1t is
unnecessary TO make regular attack a.
against enchapted castles and chimeras, those
deceplions will vanish and those phanloms
disappear before the powerful lights which
shall borrow from the history, the laws and
,hc statutes Of Eng land (; from the law Of na-,
tions, from existing treaties between ncutraX
powers and from the ordinances, rules and
customs Of the maritime nations relative to-
the present case.
In matters of maritime affairs and domin-
ion Mr.. Pickering ought certainly 10 receiye
as evidence those rules by which the political
and judiciary system OF Great Britain have
always been determined, and as they suit adj
mirably our purpose they must be heard.
The Naval superiority of England has for
several centuries eScited her government To
claim the jurisdiction Of the seas which SUR
round the British dominions. John Seldeny
celebrated English civiiian, author OF the
treatise, entitled " DE Dominic Maris," pub
lishcd in London, in 8 volumes, folio, IN the
year 1916, Reports, that under Edward the
first, the sovereignty Of England over the
seas which surround her Empire was acknowl-
edged by the majority OF the powers OF Eu-
rope and by several of them used on the same
principle as Il was In England. The Repub-
lick Of Venice claimed the dominion OF Adj
riatick, and the famous marriage OF her Dos
ges with that sea, which was performed in
throwing into ii a wedding ring, ives merely
an act Of possession which was SO far rccog-
nized tha, several Kings of Hungary, Em-
pcrours of Germany and Kings OF Naples
have applied to that government 10 obtain
the liberty Of navigating the sea with their
vessels. The Danes on the same principles
continue 10 render all the nations going in or
out of the Baltick their tributaries. The
Swedcs pretend also to the dominion of their
seas. The Turks insist on the same fight,
| and prohibit yet the passage OF the Black
sea, except TO some iaycurca nations under
certain restrictions and the Spanish and the
Portuguese, from the beginning OF their set
dement's in America have kept gnarda cestas
on their coasts, TO prevent iDdlsc,iminatcly all
the vessels who had not speclfck, licenses
from approaching them. In conformity to
those prevailing opinions among several ma
tions, James the first, in the year GOA drew
line around the coasts Of his donlinions
within which he declared that hc should not
suffer any power 10 pursue his enemies, nor
even chat any armed vessel should cruizc or
lay at anchor TO watch tho vessels OF England
or those of her friends going in or corning
Oh, Of her ports.
Charles the I'd maintaincd by bis procla-
nation, dated ibe 9Th Of February 1907, the
principles already established by his predc-
cessors, and ordered his men oi war 10 APP
prehcnd and seize all foreign vessels hover
ing and roying near his harbours or coasts
with view TO hinder or disest the com-
mercc, in order to bring the trespasseis 10
cohdign punishment.
Those principles have been confirmed and
applied to the dominions of England in A.
me,ica by the treaty OF peace and neutrality
between the crowns Of France and G. Britain
concluded at London, November l6, 1886.
BY that instrument, called by the English ci-
vilians fhe american trtafy," both Kings
agree TO retain TO themselves all the domin-
ions, rights and hre-eminence in the Amcri-
Can seas, roads, coasts and other waters
whatever, in as full and omhei manner as of
right belongs to them and they further
s,pulatc, that he compliment Of salufing shaX
BE- haid TO tie sovereignty Of either within
their syafers.
BY another American treaty between Eng
land and Spain, concluded at Madrid, July 8,
1870, the hre-eminenee, right and dominion
4vhatsoever, of both parties, in the American
seas, straights and waters, whatsoever, are
saved by both parties in tho most full and
ampeI manner.
BY the treaty of Westminster, 1878, tho
Dutch have acknowledged the pre-cmincncc
Of England on the British seas, and havo