Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-23
Congressional.
MIR. LIvINGsToN's SPEECH,
(CONCLUDED.l

NtEt To- the advantage To be derived from general
friendly understandings is that which promise TO our
selves and To- the world from the discussion of liberal
rrlncirEs ct International law. Those which are IN
tended To ascertain the rights oneutrals in time of war
ae OF the utmost Importance our interest under the
pacific policy, which, trust, sail always maintain
when can bc done With honor Those which 20 TO re-
ga'ate the conduct of bUlgerCms towards each other
Ia carrying ON the unpioitabIe contest will serve the
Cause OF humanity and rebound the endless cicry o
That nation whose enlightened policy first suggested
anu whose Perseve'ing efforts shall have established
'lem IN the code of Haons, they have always been
eS'aohShcd IN That cOi3prChcs cnlrLtCned self in
te'cst which should be the basis of all law.
Among the most important of those which! regard
tH rights are The restriction of blockadcs, and rcduc
en and proper designation of the list Of articles form
ing contraband OF war, ard the establishment ofjhc prin-
ctpie that free ships make free goods.
Eut the object of general nature be discussed al
tins meeting, which my friend dwclIs with the most
pleasure Is Tie protection of private property the
ocean from seizure and pilGgC; by which | mean not
only lie abolition of ptiyateering, but complete eX
emP'on from capture, whether by public private
sings Placing private property and private industry
90 the sea, upon he footing upon which The humane
principles Of modern warfare have placed il upon the
and making II us disgraceul for an admiral TO enrich
himself by the capture of trader, for General TO
phlage the cottage of a peasant
This IS an utopian project. The rerscverng endca-
vors OF The good and the wise, and those every nation
who calculate lis interest must necessarily prcvail
not perhaps ~ our day, but eventually. Soon and k1te
are comparative terms and great national objects we
must apply them 10 the Duration Of nations; before ours
mas obtained the manhood Of his seng ia, tins honorable
Effort ut IT'S infancy shed glory round IFS name
prolong MS existence and, by essenng the horrors OF
war, give comparative security the weakness that
shaii mark the dec@e OF lis power. Let those " 10
treat this subject the flncul theory of closet pol
cians. let them consider the effect of improvement in
moral feeling Upon tie practice of modern notions If
has Taught them their true interests. Who was the first
ci1ei who introduced the exchange ofrrsoners: What
nation first proclaimed that the public law did not Dcr
mt them To be masSacrcd had until then been the
Inv@rIable law of w.. Who fist sho,yed bv p,ecprt
ana example That women and chiIdre%a were not TO be
hewn asunder, dashed against the walls of capure,I
ctN-tiat conquest was not CXtcrmina tjon-that ose
who escaped the sword should not be sspt under axes
ana saws anu harrows OF IRON" the practice OF
the humane David? Who fist b&ni.bed poisoneJ
weapons and assassination rom honorable war \Ve,o
not sHow TO whom the world is indebted for these i'm
provements their memory is los. in the nirht of ont;
f'iN hut wcu'd not Tie names Of such men and such
nations be held IN reverence bv all the w,rI as tho
greatest heneacto!s of mankind, if lhey were
Anu II NE improvement nov" spoken of sEou!d prevail
G authentic documents hand Gown TO posteriy as is
HGst promoters any ho low es his countr, ho
nor, be inscssGle OF tue glory il ,rouIi attach - ,
name; Ali these improvements were once novelties as
dangerous as tleuretc, as incapable of execution as
'Is' CT 'hry hare prevailed. Why not thi>' Surely
ho' oecaisc THIS Is less reason nd huna
MY, and The mutual interest OF nations
the principle laid down By the gentleman from Penn,
tNN'hif lNtr. HucHANAN that do all the ey il
~ our power to oar enemies in the prosecution of war
WAS mat winch governed and dictated the atrocities
have mentioned. Now among civilized nations il
"oh" be heard with horror. The arguments for cont
uiilS Ito deprCSatIons private prcDertv -, CO, 49,,
port To be founded on our true Interest Tho , -;
oil tis right, salL would deprive us of rnosi eli
c'ent arm against our enemy. But at what expense is
j. u4ai we Obtain lie of This offensive weauou NJ
~. 9' una" me sacrifice Of our commercial marine
" heheFcr our commerce is cut of or crpp;sJ bv do,
eu"'o"s upon ~ 1t Is true that seamen can find
employment IN priyaeers: but # the practice ,yerF in
hehed those seameu would find more useful moro i
h"raole aid more profitable empio, ,nept in tho ,,s
operations OF commences and admitting the greatest en-
~ His Wea pom, what do gain in the contest
~ . "H"nI'ate IL" commerce OF our enemy. but to Il,
t!'ia we must sac'ice our own. No commerce ,. ~
WAYS be guarded on The ocean-tie more extensive ;
is u" more enemies Will Use against il: and IN on T.
war win power which has but a SIMPLE din IS go,
!""rse nave great commerce, that petty power "
sec It's nag lpatlh@ hundreds friyateers caufnr
is sHiS' WINE MS own commerce does not Offer
plank tor your reprisals. So that i'm this warfare l
rr'dYe power to injure proportion to the ,vea ,c
moi TO tho strength of your enemy. The sl;p,- Of a.,
si'iPhg IS an oVermatch for the smear of the oan,
HPPy u's HatcnIaIi! TO tie power with whom i j IN
tented TO make tbs impTCvencnt-taEze oni, ~, . ~
inerCENy the weakest Of them siIouosa ~ a. 90, -, 81
"!e%ico, and the rest of the world neutral sbonj r
"''"E "y 'he restriction Of the laws OF bIockad
by the safety OF our maritime Commerce. AccorIr,
" 'De 'ues "aT a now Practised advenfurers from
al the world viii flock to La Vara Cruz and 'T,,,r,;.
'"u A'aiddo, and every roalstci on tie Coast wont
swarm WIN depTe 'ators OF all languages md all ma
'io9 ready pTusb upon your commerce. Your nv,
were II len tunes as great could not protect in all m
remote seas to which Il extends; and Tie partial ,ofoC
ion Which afforded you d coal more tban the vaynl
OF 'Ae trade Tie same power BY tie practice gilmore
" 'ah nf9ns, would he justified in decIarIrcr ,o,,,
"noe coast ~ state Of blockade and thus chi Oft the
,ea"n'c" you might derive fom neutral commerce.
nl'e your manufactures and produce. would rot il,
f' Tho'>' unless sold at their own price TO for
rgners, because The principle that the fo protects tic
property not beng acknowledged. would prevent vo,r
shipping IN foreign bottoms. Aud what compensation,
Herc'a' vessels to lose. The private shi,s Of var I,
<F' ar" DO loss {" ii:7: for they arc owned and nan
nsn w ''Ggnrrs and no gain you for they are onI
put "' cuisines, 10 hch yogr citizens have no temp
he'ersc '"e case' and suppose our enemy to be a
Coner'al nanon whose sirs cover the sea-: suppose
va" race 10 be at s' unprotected, nj tiat by t,e SUI
P' '',',y' courage, AID enterprise of onr searner
''n K. eat proportion of it is lost Every
"''' ''.' rs lave described, must have a navy ana
- '"D'Dn ~ "r commercial marine, hy throwing
ao"''" "it OF e'ur} must increase his military ma
1i'' &" lHhi' ~ private lofce-tI,at in its torn
"ohId Ie brought 90 bear or yoir commerce. mi - "