The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-12-13

which was to assert the doctrine that
free goods. except in the case Of articles
contraband of war-a doctrine which.
from the very commencement of our ia.
tiohnl being has been a cherished idea
Of the statesmen Of this country. At
one period or another. every maritime
power has by some solemn treaty stipu-
latiou. recognized that principle and it
might lave been hoped that it would
come to be universally received and re-
spected as a rule of international law
But the refusal of ono power prevented
this, aud in the next great war which en-
sued. that Of the French Revolution. it
failed to be respected among the bellig-
orcnt States of Europe. Notwithstapd-
ing this, the principle is generally ad-
mltted to be sound aud salutary one :;
so much 50, that, at the commencement
of the existing war in Europe. Great
Britain aud France announced their pur-
pose to observe it for the prescn, not.
however. as a recognized international
right, but as 4 mere concession for the
time being The cooperation however
Of these two powerful maritime nations
in the interest Of neutral rights, appear
ed 10 me TO afford an occasion, inviting
and justifying. on the part of the United
o'"''E' 'e"c"eu chor' 10 MAKE me uoc-
y. '"o ~ lucSl'o" P''nc'p'e o, 'h'erha-
tiouS between the several Powers of Eu
rope and America Accordingly. a
proposition embracing not only the rule.
'"at itec Sn'PS MAKE zee goods except
, coD ,r"ohnu "r.,c'eS' ou' "iSo the less
cont's''u .,u one '"at heu'ra, propertyoth-
'I VA" c'"''"on"u' 'hopen ON board en-
o",i 'n.lS W t 'Ia'. ne eN'mp, IRON COINS
0".,u"' ,'',' o,0" s"p'',,' 'eu oy ms "oV-
c'"h'"' 10 'hoSo u EaFop' ond Amer
yea
nufsIa ao''d promptly III this mater
ana convention was eoncluied, be,
tween that country and the United
c'"'os' rt'Y'alng i'r tue observance of
'"' '"P'l'cs ann" u"ceu. not only as be-
'We'n themselves, but also az between
'n''n anu an cth"r nations, which shall
cl'cr l"t" llke StipuiationS None of
| o'hcr pow nave as yet taken hh'l ac-
t'on on the SUBJECT, | am not aware,
However MAT any objection to the pro-
posed stiruIatiors has been made; but on
toe contrary they are acknowledged to
ne essential to TIC security Of neutral
c"ihmrrce and The oh'y apparent Oh
s'"clc TO thelr general adoption Is IN the
po'SluliI'y, thnf 1t MAY be cncumbered
uy lnanhllSsloIo c0hd'tlohs
Ire Nihc 81 the lwo S!ciilHs has cx-
pressed to our Minister at Naples his
iead!ncao 10 concur II our proposition
relative to neutral rights. and to enter
l"'o Con'chiinn on that subject.
ne hhg oI PRUSSIA entirely approves
oi the PROJECT OF treaty to the same
elect submitted TO him. bnt proposes
an additional article providing for the
remuneration OF prlvatcering Such an
article Tor most obvious reasons, IS
mnc" desired ny nations having naval
,tlollShmch'S. large IN proportion to
t"''r '"re'su commerce. Ii 1t were a
uoP'eu aS an inte'nA'Ional rule the com
mrree ol nation having comparatively
asma'' naval force wonld be very much
at t"' mercy OF rs enemy, IN case OF war
W''h over oi decided naval superior
n.y. ihc pare statement ot the condl.
non III Wh'ch tue United states would
o. paced after ha'ihg surrendered the
ri5At III" TO resort TO lrIvateer', IN tic
event "t War wilh beil'Gcrent OF naval
supremacy WEI fho" that tins Govern
neh' eou'd never listen to such PROPOSE
Il"h' ! ne navy ~ l. hrst maritime
lcwer II h'"ole Is at least ten times as
la'se aS ''A' oi inc uhl'ed states. he
! i"rc'gh commerce OF the two cHnntrios
Is nearly equal. ana abont equally eX-
| poseH TO hoat'ie depre"atIons In war
between mat power ana the tnIted
S'a'eS' Wi'hoAl resort on orr part to our
me'c'''He marine lhe mears OF our en-
ony 10 ihu'ct l'gofy upon our commerce
Woo'd be 'enio'd greater than ours to re-
''''"'e' we cou'u not cA'rlcatc onr
country from thls unequal cohd'tloh'With
suce an enemy "NiesS we at once depart,
ca from our present peaceful poiIcy, and
became great naval power Nor would
'nls country DC better situated IN war
W.T." W, '"e OF 'he secondary naval powers
| ,nousn .he hH'a' disparity would DC less
tGe i;,. sfee'er extent and more exposed con,
o!''o" "a Our M'oo'St'cad commerce Would
'' ""y u '"el' " i'Ae ao'a"'oGo over
r,. ....
n' l'rPoS'''o'' 10 enter mo engage
llo"'H 10 'o'oso resort 10 priva'crfs' In
oase 't's country snouia be ioIceu into
WA war "''n ero'' na'u! power IS NOT en-
Lieu ., 10 l'2'e 3 i''orao,? ,: CONSIDERATION
."'n No4'u u ! proposition 10 agree ho'
- D0V:P' Tue sc'N'e'S ct volunteers ior
oi'r"'',hs On 'a"u' " nch Tue honor OF
'he fiS"'s ol our country require II 10
assume hOStile attitude, 1t cDEnicntlY