The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08

powers, and even with England herself The very
delicate arrangements about our policy toward her
enemies, (and we should never have known any
power as the enemy OF another) were liable to oc-
casion perpetual Misunderstanding either from acct
dental or unconscious nringements, or from varying
rules OF Interpretation. Cur prsilanimity also en-
conraged her to further encroachments and invited
others TO initiate her example. We incurred the
guilt and danger Of bad faith in breaking the treaty.
OF IT'S, to which we yet vigorously held France,
in which We guaranteed protection to French pro-
perty In our vessels We incurred Justly her dis
pleasure and suffered the natural result in the re-
vival against Us of the decree of search for British
property, and in The seizure and condemnation of
our vessels by the Directory. The consequences eff
false position were felt at every step. We got
more and more involved in the web of European
difculties, and standing their ground had to use
struggle of independence" could relieve US, and
that was inevitable from the day the Jay document
of renewed vassaage was ratified.
1t is certain that no public measure the part of
people this treaty. Unbiased by the doubts and
tremors which agitated the Administrations their
quick appreciation of the real results of this docu-
ment condemnedit it, in the settled convictions Of two
thirds, perhaps much greater proportion yet of
the American people. Indeed, alarm and indigna-
ton at the surrender of our undenable rights,
seemed to be almost a universal sentiment. Meet
ings against 1t commenced in Boston, where the ad-
ministraton was in particular favor, and where it
was never, on any other occasion, disagreed from,
and spreading to all other cities and chief towns,
even to the villages rolled up tremendous
weight of public opinion to the capital Jeffer-
son led the opposition, attacking the treaty
with all the weight of his forcible invective, as
crouching, submissive and incomplete. The Repre-
sentatives shared the full sentiment Of the people,
Positive friends, the treaty could be said to have
none. Its warmest advocates could hardly favor it
but as choice of evils. The surrender Of the north
west posts was grand salvo to our wounded pride.
Anxious as he was for peace, Washington hesitatei
much ere he decided in favor of the treaty His in
fuence, alone, carried it through the Senate and
was barely able to effect that result Such mill
stone would have sunk the administration of any
other man to the lowest depth of political per-
dition. The truth is, Washington was not in the
habit OF contemplating largely the commercial as
pect Of our politics. His policy looked rather in
ward. A race for supremacy on the ocean was not
within the range of his views. Though wishing to
secure the esteem of other nations he was not par
cuary anxious to enforce their respect. 1t is true,
he did greatly advance the nation in the eyes of the
word but this was owing, inferiorly, to his estab
fishing government of order out ofapparent chaos,
and superiority, to the payment of our large foreign
debt, and the extrication OF the new government
from slough of financial embarrassment In point
of respect to tenacity of rights and energy in
repelling encroachment, we had most decidedly lost
ground in that administration. The government
had acquired abroad a character for imbecility,
which was supposed to be an inherent vice of the
system, which ii SO conspicuous under head like
Washington, must leave it perpetuay defenceless
against oil outward attack
Between 1875 and 1897, France disjoined from the
united to her own cause, Holland Spain and the
Italian States. Prussia and some minor German
States became neutral, and the Emperor Of Germany
slgnifed his desire to resume the same position 1t
was certain that the Republic would not be humili.
ated, and sure that course would be the occa-
sion Of more trouble yet.
In September 1876, Adet, the successor of Genet,
and of mlder spirit, presented to our govern.
ment, in anticipation Of the ratification of the Jay
treaty, remOnstrance, insisting the mutual du-
ties Of neutrality. His position was impregnable.
OF what account was it to France to consider the
United States friendly or neutral, If she did not
maintain neutral's rights? Why should she wish
the privilege to embark her property in vessels Of
the United States, when these sunk from the rank
Of the safest to that Of the least safe Of all modes of
carriage? United States vessels were bound, when
ever met with French property by British armed
vessels to give it up without the slightest attempt
at defence. French vessels were free to fight for
board according to the treaty set aside by the
United States Adet's communication was unan-
swered. He made several other appeals during
the year 1916, and after years effort,
reply. Mr. Pickering, the Secretary Of State,
succeeding jefferson and Randolph, who had retired
chiefly on account Of their non-agreement with the
foreign policy Of the administration in his answers
acknowledged that the treaty Of ITS did expressly
stipuate that free bottoms should make free goods;
that therefore, we were at perfect liberty to carry
British goods without any French interference. But
this was not to be taken as general rule, although
of course the stipulation was designed to make It,
per force, general rule. The great object OF the
stipulation in the presumption that other par
ties would be found to infringe upon it., and that
against their claims must be upheld by the united
force Of the two countries But says Mr. Pickering,
this stipulation is an exception to the universal
rule; so that though French vessels may not touch
British vessels may freely take French property SO
found. The treaty Of 177S is simply disqualified
ton Of France to uphold her rights, and we mag
unanimously enforce the sacrifice We discover in
hast Nd <nf
tions, 1awparamount overriding the solemn cove
nants of nations with each other but we discover,
also, that it utilities only part of such treatyit
relieves us OF the performance OF our stipulated en-.
gagement but it leaves the other party fully bound
to their part of the contract. Certainly this was
very crooked reasoning for gallant and fair
minded soldier.
France, and the countries in alliance with her,
were endeavoring now to shut out British goods
from the continent and from their colonies.
prohibition made by Spain, in 1897, frustrated
number of American voyages from England to
Cuba March I'd, 1897, France ordered the seizure
of all neutrals having British goods board, the
goods to be condemned, the vessels paid freight
and demurrage, and released. This code to be re-
pealed rs soon as French property in neutral yes
sells should be protected by the neutral respected
by the belligerent. There was very little severity
against neutrals in this decree compared with the
acts of England, which it was designed to re-
taliate.
In February Of the year 1877 England effected
a commercial treaty with Russia. Trade with each
others enemies was fully guaranteed, the only ar
tices contraband Of war being warlike Instruments
&c. Great Britain had not, after all one system at one
time in regard to neutral subordination. She was
very mild to Russia, because Russia would not yield
to what the United States had accepted. Compare
the above lone exception to the complete freedom
of trade, with the bloated dimensions of contra
bandism in treaty! Yet, if we mistake not, the
Jay treaty promised US equal privileges with the
most favored nations. Did, then, the definition Of
contrabandsm given to Russia, supplant that &C
corded to us? No.
Now came further fruits Of the Jay capitulation.
Incensed by willingness to derive profit from the
sacrifice of her rights and virtual alliance with
England as a disguised belligerent, the French
Council of Five Hundred, in January 1903, proceed
ed to the extremity Of ordering the seizure and con-
fscaton of any vessel containing any article Of Brit
ish produce or manufacture. Under this and other
DEGREES, we paid for bad faith to France, in
the amount Of six hundred and fifteen vessels and
caTgoes captured prior to 1900. Victorious on the
continent they had determined to force the United