The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-26

this part Of the quesdon-onger than intended have
not pretended to enter here into all the arguments which
naturally belong 70 this great question OF freedom OF
merce. II | shall have induced others capable of
doing justice 10 the subject than TO enter fully
into the ed OF inquiry which my remarks may have sug
gested my object thus far, will have been attained
shan then pass the further history OF British in
consistency on this question and how en,boidened by
their the ocean, of which she boastfuy claims
the sovereignty her shpsowar and cruisers made mari
time laws OF their own for which her judges claimed
authority in the European law Of nations; and regret
add found apoogsts for their decisions and splendid
sopbsnis on this side of the Atlantic
For the present purpose care not what may have been
the customs q England and the European nations gener-
ally in regard to this great principle what may have
been W course Of other juriss who followed Scott and
other English law-makers In pervertng the laws of
search Of blockade of contrabandhe whole code
lawso English abuse. 1t is enough for Amer
can representative speaking to an American Congress- to
the fcp sentatives Of the American peoplet Is enough
for 70 Know that the principle here contend for is
gorioisiy merica, ptinciple or ~hivh Franklin aud
Jefferson the two Adamses Gather and son. Madison and
Pnkney men of all our parties, at all times contended Z
which shone forth in all our first treaties and in many Of
the old Congress resolves and which Ttrust will
make known to the world boldly fearessly the dnati
eaa taD 9 Ae seathat viii assert inoucae yindcate
and establish this law now during the approaching Eu-
ropean and Asiac warfare now, while the American po
ston will be as important that of any of the mighty be
gerens and more than that of any neutral now, when
for the first time in the worlds annals viii be vindicated
by republican people whose aoat exceeds that
Of any nation the globe Sir the manifest destiny Of
country is magnificent if we act up the occasion
which presents itself Assert this law boldly and shall
see France, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark Russia
Prussia all the maritime powers ready and eager unite
with us In the maintenance OF that great principle which
Jefferson cherished the true American doctrine. will
be worth to us than Cuba and the isles that surround
II and our Nag will go upon its missions respected and
honored throughout the world. @t
1t is rumored in the public journals that minister
London has already entered upon correspondence with
the British government looking to the arrangement Of
this whole question by treaty would prefer treaties
question like this there is necessity for them il
looks too much like yielding Let US give notice to the
world what rights and what expect of other
tions in regard to them But if treaty is entered upon
and shall be signed let il be followed up with the notice
said that free ships, free goods was gorously Amer
lean doctrine The journals and resolutions of the first
Congresses show it and to them refer you. Our early
treaties prove it; that signed with France by Franklin
Deane and Lee in l77s; that signed by Adams in the
treaty with the Netherlands in 1882; that signed by
Franklin again. in treaty with Sweden, in 1888; and
that signed by the immortal trio Franklin Adams and
Jefferson with Prussia in 1885 These Of the
| few--immortal names-that not born to die.n
The message OF the President of the United States to the
Congress of i8404 the subject of the right of vista
ton and search claimed and exercised by Great Britain in
the African seas may also be mentioned in this connexon
The ground taken by government in this document
is expressed in decided language will read it:
"The United States consent interpretations the
maritime code at the win and pleasure other govern
ments. We deny the right of such Interpolation
all the nations of the earth without consent We
claim to have voice in all amendments that
code; and when we given understand this in
stance by foreign government that is treaties with other
nations cannot be executed without and enforce
ment OF new principles of maritime police, to be employed
without consent must employ language neither of
equocal import susceptible OF fmsconstructon. Ane
citizens prosecuting lawful the African
under the flag of their country, responsible
the abuse unlawful that flag by others they
rghuy, account of such alleged abuses be interrupted
| or detained on the ocean," ~
This sir is language that like worthy Of an American
Presidents and when such leaders in the cause of
American independence and American rights prooaiming
the principle of free ships free goods when read that
the principles Of neutrality as held by Washington and
Jefferson were pronounced by the English statesman Can
\ ming i'm the House Commons worthy of British
adoption" am not afraid TO follow them
On question Of this kind involving the freedom of
mercc and American rights prefer the lamps to guide
my feet the of those statesmen whose powerful pens
were ready to write whose strong hands ready to
fight and the pnaon Of whose stout hearts beat for
freedom. prefer these TO the Of uriss who, about
the time they decided in favor Of English maritime law, de
cded also that the British common law Of allegiance
law TO the American citizen Give me repeat the opin
ions Of Washington Jefferson Franklin the Adamses and
Madison, great national question involving American
rights and natural justice to the legal decisions Of
1 the highest courts known TO the law
But IL may be asked why press this subject now when
in the public journals of the day that England hy
declaration Of her sovereign has al last to the
American doctrine Of neutral rights and stands to-day
upon the same platform with us-tha free ships make free
goods2n reply by denying thai she has acknowledged
this doctrine undertake 10 say that If she has come
upon our paorm she is there only the beggar and the
suppant and that she will remain there just long
she finds it for her interest not ours arry and not
moment longer and in all this the more reason s there
to my mind why should proclaim our rights boldly at
the present uncure Of European affairs Here is the dec
| laraton alluded to:
/ "DEcLARATIoN.-Her Majesty the Queen of the United
Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland, having been COM
PEELED up in support Of ally i dcsirous Of
rendering the little possible to the powers
/ with whom she remains at peace.
To preserve the commerce OF ncutrals from all
sary obstruction, her Majesty willing for the present. to
waive part Of the begerent rights appertanng to her by
the law of nations.
impossible for her Majesty 10 forego the exercise Of
her right sczng articles conraband Of war; and Of pre-
venting ncutras from bearing the encmys Dispatches and
she must maintain the right Of begeren TO prevent neu-
trails from breaking any effective blockade which be
absbed with adequate force against the enemys forts
Il harbors, coasts.
But her Majesty will waive the right OF seizing
mys property laden board neutral vessel unless be
| contFaband Of war.
ber Macstys intention claim the confscaon
Of neutral property not being copaband ofwar found
board eney ships and her Majesty further declares that
being anxious 70 lessen much possible the evils OF
and restrict its operations 10 the regularly
forces Of the country, Il is not her present intention to issue
letters Of marquc for the commissioning Of prvacers
"WrsTsuSsrrR, March %, 1854"
And here Is more important declaration from the For
egn Office the substance of which, perceive by the last
steamer has become part Of her Maesty late orders in
! FoHEIoS OFFICE, March Is, 1854.
SiR directed by the Earl Of Clarendon to state to
you his ordshp had the pleasure OF seeing the
Instant the depuaon Of merchants connected with the
trade with Russia his lordshp has further considered the
questions put him by the depuaton whether Russian pro
duoc brought the frontier by land and shipped from
thence BY British neutral vessels win be subject TO seizure
by Maestys cruisers and to subsequent conscaon
| the high court of admiralty.
Lord Clarendon concevcs that the question will turn
the true ownership risk In and the de
nT Tho hrh bo