Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-14

There two things more diametricaly opposed To
each other than and In the days when the
military spirit predomnated commerce barely existed
and Whenever the commercial spirit shall become uniyer
SAL war will undoubtedly from off the face of the
elth IL is the essence Of commerce benef. others
in endeayourng to beue, ourselves 1t the essence of
war onct upon ourselves great injuries in order to in.
hct still greater antagonists In the pursuits of
commerce the individual best serves the public by most
electualy promoting his interest; in we are per
petualy called upon Tor sacrifices Of wealth. Of CON fort
and Of life ITSELF aud the public interest i often
brought into the broades antagonsm with the
and prosperity Of individuals The one gives every evil
dcncc OF its perfect adaptation 10 the permanent and
healthy conditions Of human society; the other carries
with t consequences which show only clearly to be
unnatural and anagouistic every principle of welfare
and progress No wonder then, that the confines of
these two opposite aud contrary states there should arise
questions OF the utmost nicely end difficulty, compound
ed Of 50 many elements-lcga commercial moral stra-
tegica and poiticsl-as perplex the casu and en-
barrass the statesman How lar shall allow the bar.
barous privileges and prerogavcs Of break up and
destroy the settled usages and habits Of peace what limits
shall place the reign OF force aud turTor and where
amid the conflict OF angry pass on5, shall still listen TO
the voice Of justice and humanity questions difficult
in themselves, but aggravated cnioId in their difficulty by
the continual progress Of society which rejects 10 one
generation the conclusions Of the last and the COM
mercial spirit more aud more advances tends more aud
more to mitigate the aud maIims concerning
belgcranis which to be found In the decisions
OF our most enlightened judges during tho period Of the
late war There can think, be no doubt that the de-
cisions Of Courts Of Admiralty abo aud learned as
they were eant often very unuy the side Of the cap-
tore, and msy hope that in the present day tho more
enlarged principles OF commercial freedom now prevalent,
will beuehciilly the tone aud temper OF our courts
Of justice.
There is one under the present law which Is de-
servcdly exciting much interest, aud would TO be
Of itilc hardship and irusce,-we aludc the
Of Euglsh merchants domicilcd for the sake OF
trade Ia Russa IL ts understood that cargoes shipped
by these persons from Russian por before war has been
declared are alter the breaking out Of hoslltes liable
To be seized lawful prize by British cruisers just az
much as II they the property Of merchants natives Of
Russia aud subjects Of the Car IL said that those who
resort to foreign country for the purpose OF trade are
to be presumed do in hostile character 70 be sub
euts Of the county in which they reside and to be- IN
fact aihcripg the enemy for civil though for cmi.
nal purposes This being established Il follows as mat.
Of that their property s considered that Of
citizen Of the bclgetent power. and liable seizure ac-
coringly. Thus surprising English merchant residing
odessa or Archangel to ship goods TO EngSnd she
present time, he do without the peril Of having
iheal sesrd by the ships of his country. Now such
a Of the Law this maintain be entirely con-
trary TO and subyersive Of natural justice. what's the
natural inference DO drwn from the residence OF the
merchant OF country in the port oi anntheg Surely
" not thai he has flung of his allegiance aud abandoned
the land OF his birth for that Of his temporary adoption
When an Engsh msehan, goes to Russia Il s not from