Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-06

w .'''9 'Nl"' % "ION "INhVINe 90
main, would look with unlrcndy scnu
mcnts upon the acquisitions tr This coun
try, in every instance honoroby obtained
or would feel themselves justified in impu
ting our advancement to a spirit Of ag
grcssion or to a passion for poIncd pre-,
dominance.
Our foreign commerce has reached a
magnitude aud extent nearly ctual totha
OF The first maritime power ofiho earth
and exceeding that Of any olbr. Over
this great interest, in which nd only oul
merchants, but all classes of citizens a.
least indirectly, are concerned, it is the
duty Of the executive and legislative
branches Of the government toexercise a
careful supervision, and abpt proper
measures for its protection. The policy
which have had in view, 10 regard 10 this
interest, embraces It's future a, well as It's
present security.
Long experience has shoSn, that. in
general, when the principal p,wcrs Of Eu.
rope are engaged in war, .he rights Of
neutral nations are ENDANGERED, This
consideration led, in the ppgress Of the
war Of independence, TO the iormation Of
the celebrated conIederacy Of armed neu.
traIlty, primary object ofwhch was, to
assert the doctrine, that free ships make
Tree goods, except in the case of articles
coniraband OF war: a doctrine which,
from the very commencement of our ma .
honaI being has been a cherished idea of
The statesmen ofthe county,. At one pc.
rod or another, every maritime power
has by some solemn treaty stipulation, re-.
cognIzed that principle and It might have
been hoped that it would come to be uni.
versally received and respected as a rule
oi international law. But the refusal Of
one power prevented this, and in the next
great war which ensued, hat of the
French revolution it failed tobe respected
among the beligerent States Of Europe.
Notwithstanding this, the principle is
generally admitted to be u sound and sal.
u'ary one so muchso, tharthecommcnce.
ment OF the existing war in Europe,
Great Britain and France announced their
purpose TO observe it for the present, not
however, as recognized international
right, but as a mere concession for the time
being. The cooperation, however, Ct
these two powerful maritime nations in the
interest Of neutral rights appeared 10 me
to afford an occasion inviting and Justify.
Iug, on the part Of the United States,
renewed effort 10 make the doctrine in
question a principle Of International law,
by means o! special contentious between
the several powers Of Europe and Ameri.
ca. Accordingly, proposition, embracing
not only the role, that free ships make
free goods, except contraband articles, but
also ;ho less contested one, that neutral
property, other than coniaband, though
on board enemy's ships, shall be exempt
from confiscaion, has been submitted by
the government to those Of Europe and
America.
Russia acted promptly in this matter,
and a convention was concluded between
that country and the United States, pro.
yldlng for the observance fihcprincipes
announced, not only as between them.
selves, but also as between them aud all
other nations, which shall enter into like
stipulallons.-None of The other powers
have as yet taken final action on the sub.
ect. am not aware, however, that any
objection 10 the proposed stiPuIations has
been made; but on the contrary, they are
acknowledged TO be essential TO the sccu.
rity of neutral commerce; and the only
apparent obstacle 10 thdr general adop.
iion is in the possibility that it may be
encumbered by inadmisSbe conditions.
The King OF the Two ScIies has ex.
pressed 10 our MiniSer at Naples his
readiness to concur in cur proposition rel
alive 10 neutral rights, and to enter into a
on that subject
The King Of Prussia entirely approves
Of the project Of treaty to the same effect
submitted TO him, bot proposes an uddi-
.Ional article providing for the renuncia-
ion Of privateerng. Such an article, for
most obvious reasons, is much desired by
nations having naval Establishments, large
n proportion 10 foreign commerce. lfitI
we're adopted as an International rule, the
Of a natiouhaving comparative.
Y a small naval iorce, would be very
much at the mercy Of its enemy, in case
If war with a powerof decided naval su.
,eriority. The bare statement orthe con.
Iilon 10 which the United States would
)e placed, after having surrendered the
ight 10 resort TO pnvateers, in the event
II war with a beliserent OF naval supre.
nacy,wiI show thai this government could
lever listen to such a proposition. The ,
Iavy Of the first lpnriime power in Eu.
ope is at least TEN times as large as that
f the United States. The foreign com.
nerce Of the two countries is nearly equal,
nd about equally to hostiI depre-
aiions. I
In var between that power and the I. (
states, without resort on our part 10 our {