The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-07

the application of suitable Sir James Harris
afterwards Lord Malmsbury) was instructed 10
sound the disposition of the Empress Catharlne, and
for this purpose addressed himself both to Panin,
Chancellor of the Empire, and TO Potempkin, the
reigning iavorite of that princess. The former was
unfavorable to the views of the British government
but the latter opened TO their ambassador the means
of secret conference with the Empress, who consent
ed to propose her armed mediation in the war be-
tween Great Britain on one side and France, Spain,
and the United States on the other, equivalent
for Russia being allowed to prosecute her designs
against the Turkish empire. But the incnations of
the Empress resisted by Panin, who endeavored
to convince her that the true interests of the Russian
state would not be promoted by such an alliance
and an official answer accordingly returned de-
Ginning the British overtures Harris was dscon-
certed by this unexpected result but received as
surances from Potempkin, in the name of the Em-
press, OF unchanged good WILL and an expression Of
the hope that circumstances would soon enable her
to conform her conduct to her wishes.
An incident now occurred which seemed to ia
vor the designs of the British negotiator Two Rus
sian vessels laden with corn and bound TO the Medi
terranean were seized by Spanish cruizers upon the
ground that they were intended to supply the fortress
of Gibraltar. The Empress instantly demanded sa-
tisiaction from the Spanish court and persuaded
by Petempkin TO order. the equipment of fleet at
Constadt, without consulting Panin, which was des.
tined to cooperate with Great Britain against Spain
and her allies, in redress should be refused for
the capture Of the Russian merchant vessels. I he
fitting out OF the feet could not long concealed from
Pann, nor did he doubt its real destination. But he
determined to carry into effect his own views by ap.
parentiy forwarding those Of his rival Far from ap.
pearing to opp0lB the designs Of the Empress he de-
cared that he himself participated in her just indg-
nation at the conduct Of SPAIN and entirely approved
of her determination to require satisfaction for the
injury done to the neutral navigation Of her subjects
engaged in lawful commerce. He would even go
further; he would exhort his sovereign to seize this
opportunity of soemnly announcing to Europe, that
she would not suffer the waged by other powers
to effect njurously the accustomed trade of Russia
tie represented that such course would secure the
friendship and cooperation of all the neutral mari
time powers, and would compel Spain to grant COM
pete satisfaction for the injury she had committed
The true principles Of neutrality sanctioned by the
natural law of nations had been hitherto too little
spected in practice They had hitherto lacked the
support of sovereign uniting sufficient power wis
dom, and benevolence to them TO be respected
These requisites were united in Catharine, and
she had an opportunity Of acquiring new titles to
fame of becoming law-giver TO the seas, of ie-
strainng the barbarous excuses of maritime war;
fare, and of afording to the peaceful commerce of
neutrals such security as it never had possessed
"Ihe Empress was completely carried away by
these representations so Aatterng to her pride and
w.
OF the principles he had developed to be commune
Gated to the belligerent powers the rules be OBJ
served for the security Of Russian navigation and
commerce. and to neutral states the basis of an
armed league to be formed between them for the
protection of neutral m rhine rights.
"Such was the origin of the first armed neutrality
of 1850. 1t sprung from enlarged and benefcent
views of Improvement in the maritime law Of ma
tions hitherto sanctioned by general practice, 1t was
the accidental result of mere court intrigue and Of
the rivalry between two candidates for the favor of
dssolute, ambitious, and vainglorious Cath.
arine herself had very imperfect idea of the i'm
mense importance Of the measure she had adopted
and of the effects il might produce. So ignorant
she of commerce, that shehatered herself with hav-
ing at yindica ed her own honor and shown her
strong regard for her ally Great Britain Pann took
care not to undeceye her, and fearing that his in
triguc might fail, begged that she would not
communicate with any one until the couricrs were
sent off TO the different courts of Europe with the
declaration which afterwards became the basis of
the armed neutrality. But she could not refrain
from saying confdeniaiy TO tie British Ambassador
that there would soon edelivered, in her hame 10
all the belligerent powers, manifesto which would
be completely satisfactory to the British Govern
ment, and condescended 10 give him leave to
communicate thus much TO his court The commu-
ncatioD, which he accordingly made, raised its ex-
pectatons to the highest pitch, and the disappont-
ment was proportionably greater when the British
Government was made acquainted with the real ma
ture of the measures adopted by the Russian cabi-
net."-7Pp. 90, PIP. ga
The principles Of the armed neutrality soon be-
came the object Of poemic controversy among the
public jurists of Europe. They were defended by
the celebrated Neapolitan able GALLr,I, in trea-
tse on the relative duties Of begerents and neu-
trails, published sn 1882. LAmPRED another Italian
public jurist of superior talents sand learning, pub
shed, in 1888, treatise Neutral Commerce in
Time of War. complete analysis of these two
important works is given by Mr.. W., who closes this
third period of his history with an account of Jeremy
BENrHAM's plan for establishing a perpetual peace
between nations, founded on the same basis with that
of Rousseau and ST. Pierre-that Of a general con-
federation of states, with power to adjust all conro-
versies between them by arbitration The fatal de-
feet Of all such schemes u.s. that they furnish eec-
tua security for preventing the league thus formed
from falling under the exclusive influence of its most
powerful members The recent experience both
of the Holy Alliance and Of the Germanc Con-
federation, shows the difficulty Of reconciling
such Amphyctionic considerations with the pre-
servation If the sovereign rights and indie
pcDdence of the costaes of the second order
The right of perpetual superintendent and occa-
sional Intervention, which the five great powers of
Europe arrogated to themselves would have been