The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-08

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but rs mere concession ior The time being.
The cooperation, however, Of these two
powerful maritime nations in The in,eres,
OF neutral rights, appeared 10 me 10 afford
an occasion, Inviting and jusiiiyihg, on ,hs
part OF the United States, q renewed effort
10 make the doctrine in question q prihci
pie OF International law, by means OF spec
ial conventions between the several powers
OF Europe aud America. Accordingly. .
proposition, embracing not only the rule,
that free ships make free goods, excep, con.
,raband articles, but also the less contested
one, that neutral property, other than con.
iraband, though on board enemy's ships,
shall be exempt from con6scaiion, has
been submitted by this government 20 those
Of Europe and America.
Russia acted promptly in this matter, and
a convention was concluded, between tina:
country aud the United States, providing
for Tho observance Of the principles an
nounced, not only Is between themselves
but also as between them and all other ma
lions, WHICH shall enter into like slipula.
tons. None Of the other powers have as
yet taken final action on the subject. ! arm
not aware, however, that any objection 10
the proposed s,ipulaiions has been made,
but, on the contrary. they are acknowledged
TO be essential 10 the security OF neural
commerce: and the only apparent obstacle
to their general adoption Is in the possibili
ty ,ha. il may be encountered by inadmiss.
ible conditions.
The King Of the Two Sicilies has ex-
pressed 10 our minister nj Naples his readi'
ness 10 concur in our proposition relative 10
neutral rights, and 10 enter into convention
on that subject.
The King Of Prussia entirely approves OF
tho project Of treaty to the same effect,
submitted IL him, but proposes an addition
al article providing for the remuneration Of
privaieering. Such an article, for most ob.
vious reasons, is much desired by nations
having naval establishments, large in pro.
portion to their foreign commerce. II il
were adopted as an International rule, the
commerce OF nation having comparative.
ly small naval force, would be very much
al the mercy OF its enemy, in case OF war
with power Of decided naval superiority.
The bare sialemen, Of the condition IN
which the United States would DO placed,
after having surrendered the right 10 resort
10 privaieers, IN the event Of war with q
belligereni of naval supremacy, will show
aha, this government could never listen 10
such proposition. The navy Of the frs,
maritime power in Europe Is at least ten
times as large rs that OF the United States.
The foreign commerce Of the two countries
is nearly equal. and abou, equally exposed
10 hostile Expectations. In war between
that power and The United States, without
resort OIL our part TO our mercantile marine.
the means Of our enemy 10 inflict injury up.
on our commerce would be leniold greater
than ours to re,alia,e. We could no, ex.
iricaie our country from this unequal con.
d,ion. with such an enemy, unless we at
once departed from our present peaceful
policy, and became great naval powell
Nor would this country be better situaieG,
in war with one Of the secondary naval
powers. Though the naval disparity would
be less, the greater extent, and more ex.
posed condition Of our widespread com.
merce. would give any Of them like ad.
vantage over Us.
The proposition in enter toto engagements
10 fOrego resort 10 privaieers, in case this
country should be forced into war with q
great naval power, is not entitled 10 more
favorable consideration than would DO .
proposition 10 agree not TO accept the ser.
wees Of volunteers for operations on land.-
When the honor or the rights OF our coun-
try esquire il 10 assume hostile attitude,
i, confidently relies upon the patriotism OF
its citizens, not ordinarily devoted 10 The
military profession, 10 augment the army
and Tho navy, so as 10 make them fully al.
cqua,e 10 the emergency which calls them
into action. The proposal 10 surrender the
right TO employ privaieers is proiessedly
founded upon the principle, that private
property OF unofending non'combatants,
though enemies, should be exemp, from
the ravages OF war; bu, the proposed sur.
render goes bu, little way in carrying out
tina, principle, which equally requires that
such private property should not be seized
or mo'es,ed by national ships Of war.-
Should the leading powers Of Europe concur
in proposing. as rule OF International law,
TO exempt private property, upon the ocean,
from seizure by public armed cruisers, a.
we'll as BY privaieess, the United States will
readily meet them upon that bsoad ground.
Since the adjournment OF Congress, the
notifications Of the treaty between the Uni.
ted States and Great Britain, relative to
coast fisheries, and to reciprocal trade with
the British North American Provinces, have
been exchanged, and some Of its anticipated
advantages are already enjoyed BY Us, a.
though its full execution was 10 abide Ger.
tain acts Of legislation not yet fully perform.
ed. So soon as Il was ratified. Great Br.
tain opened to our commerce the iree navi.
CATION Of the river st. Lawrence, and 70 our
fishermen unmolested access 70 tho shores
and bays, from which they had been prsvi.
ously excluded. on tho coast OF her North
American Provinces in return for which,
st Q asked for tho introduction, tree OF duty.
into the ports Of the United States, OF tho
fish caught on the Same coast by British
fishermen.
This being the compensation. stipulated
in the treaty. for privileges Of the highest
Importance and value to the United States,
which were thus Voluntarily yielded before
il became effective, the request seemed 10
me to DO reasonable one; but it could
no, be acceded to, from want Of authority
TO suspend our laws imposing duties upon
all foreign fish. In the meantime, tho Trea.
ssry Department issued regulation, for
asccrtainins the duties paid or secured by
bonds on 6sh caught on the coasts Of the
British provinces, and brought to our mar.
ket by British subjects. after tho fishing.
grounds had been made fully accessible to
the ci,izens Of the u. S.
recommend to your favorable considera.
tioo proposition, which will 30 submitted
to you, for authority 10 refund the duties
and cancel the bonds thus received. The
provinces Of Canads and New Brunswick
have also anticipated the full operation Of
tba treaty.. nv legislative ARRANGEMENTS,