Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-11
free goods, except contraband articles but also

the less contested one, that neutral property,
other than contraband, though on borad enc
my's ships, shall be exempt from conhscation,
has been submitted by this government. to those
Of Europe and America.
Russia acted promptly inthis matter, and
convention was concluded between that coun-
try and the United States, providing for the
observance OF the principles announced, not
only as between themselves, but also as be-
tween them and all other nations, which shall
enter into like stipulations. None ofthe other
powers have asyet taken final action on the
subject. l aiti hot aware, however, that any OBJ
lection to the ptoposed stipulations has been
made but, on the contrary; they arc acknowl-
edged to be essential to the security ofneutral
commerce and the only apparent obstacle to
their general adoption is in the possibility, that
it may be encountered by inadmssible condi-
tons.
The King Of the Two Settles has expressed
to our minister at Naples his readiness to con-
cur in our proposition relative to neutral rights,
and to enter into a convention OIL that subject.
The King Of Prussia entirely approves ofthe
project Of treaty to the same effect; sub itteH
to him, but proposes an additional article provi-
ding tor the Remuneration of privateerns Such
an article, for most obvious reasons, is much
desired by nations ha, ing naval establishments,
large in proportion to their foteigi, eotiti,ercc.
1t it were adopted as an international rule, the
commerce Of nation having comparatively a
small fiasal force. would be very much at the
mercy Of its enemy, IL case ofwar with pow
err Of decided haval upcriority. The bare
staeefsient Of the condition in which the United
States would be placed, after having surrender
ed the right to resort to privatcers, in the event
of war with belligerent of naval supremacy,
will show that this government could never
listen to such proposition. The navy Of the
first maratime power in Europe is at least ten
times as large as that of the United States
The foreig commerce ftEc two tothtties is
nearly equally exposed to hostile dcpreda;ions.
In war between that power and the United
States, without resort on our part to otr nter=
santile marine, the meaiis Of our enemy to in
flict injury Upon otir commerce would be tenfold
greater than ours to retaliate. We could not
cxtricatc our country frcm this unequa. condi.
tlon, with such an enemy unless we at once de-
pared from our present peaceful policy, and
became great naval power. Nor would this
country be better situated, in war with one OF
the secondary naval powers Though the naval
disparity would be less, the greater extent, and
more exposed condition Of our widespread
commerce, would give any of them like adj
vantage over us.
The proposition to enter into engagements
to forego resort to privateers, in case this eot'n
try should be forced into war th great natal
power, is not entitled to more favorable consd-
GRAFTON than would be proportion, to agree
not to accept the services of volunteers for OPP.
erations on land. When the honor or the rights
of our sountry require it to assume a hostile
atti.hde,it confidently relies upon tho patriot
ism of its citizens not ordinarily devoted to the
military profession; to Argument the army and
the navy, 50 as to make them f.tly adequate to
the enc, gency which calls them into action.
The proposal to surrender the right to employ
privateers is professedly fotndcd upbn the
principle, that private property Of unoffend
ing non ccmbatants though enemies, should be
exempt from the rayages Of war but tire PRO
posed surrender goes but little way in carrying
out that principle, which equally requires that sucq
private property should net be seized or molested
by national ships Of war. Should the leading
pOWcIS Oh Europe SOuCui III YOPOs"S, uiuC VI.
law, to exempt private property, up
on the ocean, from seizure by public armed cruis
sers, as we'll as by privateers, the United States
" i'll readily meet them upon that broad ground.
Since the adjournment of congress, the rat
i6cations of the treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, relative to coast fish,
cries, and to reciprocal trade with the Brit
ish North American provinces, have been ex.
changed, and some Of its anticipated advanta-
Bes are already enjoyed by us, although IT'S
full execution was to abide certain acts Of leg.
islation not yet fully performed. So soon as it
was ratified, Great Britain opened to our COM
mercc the free navigation of the river St.
Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmolestcd
access to the shores and bays from which they
had been previously excluded, on the coasts
Dt her North American provinces in return for
which, she asked for the introduction, free Of
duty. into the ports Of the United States, of the
FISH caught on the same coast by British fisher
men, This being the compensation stipulated
in the treaty. for privileges Of the highest i'm
portance and value to the United States, which
we're thus voluntarily yielded before it became
,onable one; but it could not be acceded to from
want Oh duthoTUy u suSpenu OUT laws iWpos-
ne duties upon all foreign fish. Inthc mean
line, the Treasury Department issued a resd-
alton for asccrtaining the duties Paid or secu-
ID by bonds on fish caught on our coasts of the
British pro, inces, and brought to our markets
~ British subjects, after the fishing. grounds
,ad been made fully accessible to the citizens
# the United States. ] recommend to your
favorable consideration proposisitis n which
will be submitted to you, for authority to refund,
he duties and cancel the bonds thus received. !
The provinces of Canada and New Bruns-
wick have also anticipated the full operation
If the treaty. BY legislative arrangements, res
,ectivcly. to admit, free Of duty. the products
# the United States mentioned in the free lis,
# the treaty and an arrangement, similar to
hat regarding British fish, has been a.ade for
iuties now chargeable on the products Of those
provinces enumerated in the same free list, and
therefrom into the United States;
for refunding which, will. in my |
judgement, be in like manner entitled to your
favorable considerations.
There is difference of opinion between the
United States and Great Br tan. as to the boun-
larry line of the Territory of Washington adj
dining the British possessions on the Pacific,