The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-07

sells bound 10 France iao0n WI" PN.
sufs were intercepted by the other oeiseren' pow
ers France retaliated, and the result was 'he al
most total destruction of neutral commerce. pu'
the policy Of Russia was totally changed under the
pmneror Paul and the armed neutrality oil the BAL
~. ,,.s ,yas renewed in 1900 This league was
soon dissolved By the thunder oil the British cannon
:, con.nbagen. and by the sudden and violent death
of Paul which took place almost simultaneously with
Nelson's attack on the Danish fleet The maritime
convention of 1901 was concluded between Great
Britain and Russia on the basis Of compromise Of
the extreme pretensons Of begerents and neutrals.
Mr. w has demonstrated that this treaty so far as
il contains relaxation of the primitive law OF ma
tons, ought to be considered conclusive de-
termination of the so long contested principles
respecting neutral commerce aud navigation
Yet this did not prevent the Emperor Alexander,
when he quarreed with England, after the lombard
ment of Copenhagen, and the carrying off the Dan
ISL fleet in 1907 from proclaming anew the prin-
ciples Of the armed ncutralty--that monument of
the wisdom Of the Empress Caiharine, and engaging
never to depart from that system" Nor did it pre-
vent Great Britain from declaring anew those prn-
ciples of her maritime rights against which was d.
reced the armed neutrality under the auspices of the
Empress Catharine." So that these questions seem
delivered to eternal controversy since there
few Governments honest enough to respect, when
they themselves engaged in war, those princi-
pies relating to the freedom of the flag, the benefit Of
which they claim whilst neutral,
The Congress Of Vienna did not deign to bestow
moments attention these important points Of the
maritime law of nations. 1t was too much occupied
with remodeng the political map of Europe-wth
the partition of Saxony and Denmark--wth settling
the final doom Of Poland, Venice, and Genoa-wth
the re-constructing the Austrian and Prussan mon
archies and organizing the Germanc confederation,
and with erecting new barrier against France, by
creating the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The va
rious questions arising out of these arrangements
fully and satisfactorily discussed by the author, who
has also clearly explained the regulations prescribed
by the Congress for ascertaining the rank of public
ministers respectively, relating to the freedom Of
navigation the great rivers and the prospective
abolition Of the African slave trade He then pro-
ceeds to consider the various cases of Intervention
by the great European powers, either Jointly sep
arately since the Congress of Vienna in the internal
affairs Of other States the Intervention of Austria,
Russia and Prussia, in the Neapolitan revolution of
1922; Of Great Britain, between Spain and Portugal
in 1896; the quadruple alliance of 1884, between
Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal for the
final settlement Of the affairs Of the Peninsula; and
lastly, the Intervention Of the five great European
powers in the Begic revolution of 1880 He clearly
shows how difficult it is to extract any consistent
principle from the conflicting precedents crea-
ted by these various transactions, and infers
the danger OF endeavoring to incorporate into the
International code general right Of interference
whenever and wherever any particular power strong
enough to enforce II, may hoose TO consider its own
safety, honor, and Interests njurlousy affected by
The changes which another nation may think fit to
make in its own internal constitution The policy
ayowed by the government of the United States as
regulating lis conduct during the civil war between
Spain and her American colonies, was founded on
the true principles of international law Il declared
that If The European power did interfere in favor
OF the mother country, the United States would not
interfere IN favor OF the colonies. But they would
not allow the holy alliance to extend its political sys
TEN to the American continents. alt was impossi-
Bile, said President MONROE, that the allied pow
ers should extend their political system to any por-
ton Of these continents without endangerng the
peace and happiness Of the United States. Il was,
therefore, impossible that the latter should behold
such lnerpositlon in any form with indifference a.
Soon after the peace Of Basic in 1895 between the
French republic and Prussia the celebrated German
philosopher, KANT, published his project Of perpe-
lual peace, based a general confederation OF
States, wherein the people participated by their re-
personalities in the exercise Of the legislative power
t.aN.. -, r.
people" says he, "coud never declare war without
decrceng against themselves all the caamities and
all the burdens of war; whilst under constitution,
where the subjects not citizens, declaration Of
war may easily be determined, because il cost. no
thing TO the sovereign who is the proprietor and not
a member Of the State" Rants project was com
bated by llege another German philosopher, who
has since become still more celebrated. Mr.. w
has enriched his work with Translation Of passage
from Hegels Philosophy Of Jurisprudence, relating
TO this subject. This writer contends that war
ought not to be regarded as an absolute evil, but
merely as an unavoidable accident, the origin Of
which may be attributed 10 the passions Of princes
and people, to acts Of injustice SC, which will inc
vitality occur in the progress Of human affairs
War is q state Of things, In which the moral
health Of nations is preserved by action, as the
electrical storms agitate and purify the atmosphere
Perpetual peace, even il it could be realized. would
produce similar state Of moral stagnation among
tie different nations of the earth. History test6e,
that war loriifes the manly virtues Of people, and
strengthens the external power Of State, by direct
ins their activity against foreign nations and thus
preventing domestic dissensions. Perpetual peace,
we're II ever so desirable, never be realized al
least by any Of the means which have been hitherto
proposed. Take that, for instance, proposed by
hant, and which was designed by the Holy Alliance,
perpetual league Of sovereign States agreeing to
settle their controversies by mutual arbtrat.o Iii,
evident that the observance OF such a compact, not