Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-23
THIRTY-THIKD CONGIsESS-1sr SEssI0,
THURSDAY, MAY Is, 1854.
ENATE

s.c Board q! Commissioners on Mexican claims. III
select committee on the suhjcc. had been equally d
yidcd on the merits of the claim.
Mr.. Douglas laid on the table 4 substitute whc
he intends offering for the bill renrganiZug the il
dietary system of the United States. Ordered to b
printed.
The resolution respecting the publication of the ST
nate debates was taken up and debated.
After considerable debate, the resolution author
zinc additional subscription f,r 5,02 copies of tn
Congressional Globe was adopted
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Speaker laid before the House IL message fror
the President of the United States, communicating
in compliance with the resolution adopted on the Il
inst. copies of the correspondence which has passc
between ihiS government and foreign government
upon the subject of the rights accorded by the deca
ration "r otherwise to ncutrals and the rights elaine
BY hc!liSrrents In the war pending between certain
European powers.
ThR first letter is from Her britannia Majesty
Minister 10 MIR. Marcy, dated April n, 1851, in whic
he SAYS:
Her Majesty, the Queen of the United Kingdom
oi Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty tn
Emperor "t the French, being compelled to take VI
arms Tor The purpose of repelling the aggression
His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, upon the Otto
man empire and being dcsirous TO lessen us much
possible the disastrous consequences 10 commerce
:uI;llg from state Of warfare, their Nnjcsties have
resolved, ior the present. 10 authorize the issue
letters OF mnrlue. In making this resolution known
they think IT right 10 announce Mt the same time tn
pruclples upon which they will he guided III ih
course OF This war with regard TO the navigation ant
commerce of neutralS. Her Majesty the Queen o
the United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Irclant
has accordingly published the accompanying declara
ton which is identical with that published by His Ma
jcsty the Emperor of the French.
"ln thus restricting within the narrowest limits the
exercise "t their rights AS bellgerents, the allied 60
Yernnlens confidently trust that the governments OF
countries which may remain neutral during this war
vii; sincerely exert every effort to enforce upon their
}ha sity q oh
strictcst neutrality Her Britannia MaiesIy's govern
ment entcrtalns the confident hope that the United
States government will receive with satisfaction the
announcement of the resolutions thus taken in COM
non By the two allied governments ;lIlt that 1t will.
in The spirit of just reciprocity give orders that no
pr.vateer under Russian colors shall be equipped or
rictnaed or admitted with lis prizes in the ports o.
The Cn!tcd States; and Also TINT the citizens of the
United States shall vigorously abstain from taking
part in ornaments OF this nature, or i'll any other
opposed to the duties of strict neutrality.
Here follows the declaration Of the Queen the
sUhiec already published.
Tie mex: letter is from the Count de Sarges to Mr..
Marcy maxim. communication in terms similar 10
hose oil The part Of Her Maiesty's Ministers.
"Mr Mmcv replies TO both of them, dated April Is,
Si, tha. lac has submitted these communications tO
he President and received his direction 20 express tu
Her Mnic-,v'- government his satisfaction that thc
prncple thu; free ships make free goods, which the
Cui;nh S'n. Lnv" 80 Long """ s."n''o"s', ): '.2nt"I,l
for ncn:Ia righ, and Ill which s"inc" luc leuu
qualified sanction bv the practical observance ui IL I'M
the presp,i, war; bv both Great Britain and France
two OF the most powerful nations OF Europe. Noe
withs.andnr the sincere qualification which tler Ma
je,ty, declaration has given 10 the freSioeni, ~
would have been enhanced if the rule alluded 10 haa
been announced rs one which would be observed nor
onlv In the present. but in every future war IN whic
Grss, Britain shall be 4 party. The unconditional
sanction of the rule hr the British and French gov
ernmen;s together with the practical observance on
;.;, ,i
recognized throughout the civilized world Us gencr:
ul principle Of International lazy.
.It!, tiuvernmen. from It's commencement has Ia
bord for lis recognition as neutral right IL mas IN
-Iora;-d il in many OF It's treaties with foreign pow
France. Russia. Prussia and other nations have
in various ways coucurrcd with the United States mi
regarding it rs sound and salutary principle IN al
respects proper 10 be incorporated into tno nw oi no
iou,. The same consideration has induced ler bri-
,auuc Majesty, in concurrence with the Emperor Il"
.e French 10 present il concession III the pre-.
sent war. The desire to preserve the commerce OF
aeuyals from all unnecessary obstructoiis, WILL IL Is
p:esGncd have equal weight with the DESetel's ~ y,
.sT future war, and satisfy them TINT inc cait's vi
III principal maritime powers while neutrilS 10 nave
irccoguizcd rule of international iaW; are wen
rialsd and should be no longer contested to settle
he principle that free ships make Tree goods, eX-
opt contraband of war; and preserve II from being
question under any circumstances. The United STATES
Ge desirous TO unite with other powers in dcclara-
lion that it shall be observed by each hereafter us a
rule Of international law. The exemption OF the pro,
pcrtv uf ncutrals not contraband from seizure anu
coniscaou when laden on board Of an encmy's YES.
sci. il right now generally regarded as the law OF
Nations The President is pleased to perceive from
The declaration of her Britannia Majesty that me
course 10 he pursued by her cruisers VIII ho' ors ~
iG;0 question in the present war.
The undersigned is directed by the President 10
STAT. TO her Maicsty's minister TO this government,
that the United States, while claiming the full ENJOY
mcnt uf their rights neutral power, VIII observe
ae ssrictest neutrality towards each and all the bei
scrrnt>.
The laws of the country impose severe restrictions
only upon its own citizens but upon all persons
wh" may be residents within amy of the territories OF
'h" United States, against cqupping privaeers, re-
cciync commissions enlisng therein, tor the pur-
pose of taking part in any Ii is not apprclend-
u that there will he any attempt Ia violate :llc aws,
VII sould the just expectation %! the Prcsident DC
Disappointed he will not fail III is duty to use all me
pwer with which he is Invested to enforce ooeIGhce
;hcm Considerations of interest and the "bgit-
tons duty alike give assurance that e citizens oi
The United States will in way compromise tho neu-
aiy Of their country by participating nthc contest
(which the principal powers OF Europe are now ul-
happily engaged"
Next in the documents follow the British orders III
ogacil aud letters from Mr. Buchanan relative TO the
s.,jcc and replies By Mr. Marcy TO the same. Also
i'n' Mr.. Mason and replies by Mr. Marcy. v;
Among the documents arc letters to Mr. Marcy from
;he charges daffaires of Denmark, and OF Sweden,
and Norway in identical terms norniu. him tina,
lie sincere desire of those governments s'crahs
oprc,ervr nta, sae relations ottricndsiip and good
allcrstandn. which now so happily reign between
d! The governments of Europe.
Mr. Marcy replies to each thatihe Ciorcrninoht ah
c"pc"i this country feel deep socitudc IN the events
n"w transpring in Europe not only on account oi INT
general anxiety they occasion TO those powers I"i'
nearly exposed 10 the Inenaccd evils but also us ,H.
t$ most important ultcriur bearing upon the ohi'
icri States.
,Nr Schroeder, charge 10 Sweden, writes letter 10
w. Marcy communicating copy of the Swedish or
G'nancc relative TO the rights ofthe commerce OF Swe
Gtn.
The concluding document in the series is letter
rom Mr. Marcy TO Me. Seymour, Minister to Russia
"aed AlaE9 1851, III which he says
III Is the settled purpose o this Governmental pur-
sue such acou,se durin; the present in Europe
e>wii give cause 10 either bciiircrcn party to
complain, 1md /. sincerely hopes that neither will give
!s country uuy ground for dissatisfaction. The dan
Ses "i misunderstanding Is much less with Russia
'hAn with Great Britain nnd Francc. believe, how.
er these latter powers are dcsrous to pursue fair
and liberal course towards the United States.
You will observe that there is suggestion in the
enclosed for convention among the principal mari
Hne nations to unite in declaration that free ships
snail make free goods, except articles conraband OF
war have thrown ont the suggestion TO Great Bri.
ah ana France to adopt this as rule TO be observed
~ ail future wars. Should Russia, Great Brtan and
France concur with the United States i'll declaring
.s 10 lie The doctrine of tho law Of nations, do no.
4'uot HAT the other nations ot the world would al
Hce give their consent and conform their practice
H. II fair opportunity should occur, the President
neois You to ascertain the views of his Majesty the
A'nnperor OF Russia on the subject"
Inc documents were then referred to the COMMITTED
vi foreign affairs and ordered to be printed.
NJ: ur stanton of Ky from the select committee ap
SSed to examine tho subject Of military superinten
, over civil government works, reported the es
''''ny taken relative to the national ar1nories; or