The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-09

power has, by some solemn treaty stipulation,
recognized that principle and il might have
been hoped that il would come to be uni
versally received and respected as rule of
international law. But the refusal of one
pewcr prevented this, and in the next grca,
war which cnsued, that of the French rcvo-
luton, it failed to be respected among the
belligerent States Of Europe Notwith-
standing this, the principle is generally ad-
mitted to be n sound and salutary one; so
much so, that, at the commencement of the
existing war in Europe, Great Britain and
France announced their purpose to observe
it for the present; not, however, as a rccog-
nizcd international right, but As mere con
cession for the time being. The co-opera-
ton, however, of these two powerful mari
tine nations in the interest Of neutral rights,
appeared to me to afford an occasion invit-
ing and justifying, on the part of the United
States, renewed effort TO make tho doctrine
in question principle Of international law,
by means Of special conventions between the
| several powers Of Europe and Amcrcan.-
Accordingly a proposition, embracing not
only the rule that free ships make free goods,
excepting contraband of war on board enc
my ships, shall he exempt from coniisca-
ment to those ofEuropc and America
Russia acted promptly in this matter, and
q convention was concluded between that
country and the United States, providing
for the obser ance Of the principles an-
nounced, not only rs between themselves,
but also As between them and all other na-
tions, which shall enter into like stipula-
tions. None Of the other powers have as
yet taken final action on the subject am
not aware, however, that any objection to
the proposed stipulations has been made
but, on the contrary, they are acknowledged
| to be essential TO the security of neutral
commerce, and the only apparent obstacle to
their general adoption is in the possibility,
that it may be cncunbered by inadmisslble
/ conditions.
The King Of the two Scics has expressed
i to our Minister at Naples willingness to
concur in our proposition relative to neutral
rights, and to enter into u convention on
that subject.
The King Of Prussia entirely approves Of
the project OF treaty to the same effect,
submitted to him. but proposes an addition
al article, providing for the remuneration Of
privateering. Such an article, for the most
obvious reasons, is much desired by nations
having naval establishments large in proper
tiOn to their commerce. Ii il were adopted
As an international rule, the commerce Of
nation having comparatively Il small naval
force, would be very much at the mercy Of
ITS enemy, IN case OF war with power Of
decided naval superiority. The bare state
ment of the condition in which the United
States would be placed after having surrcn-
dcrcd the right Of resort 10 priyateers, in
the event OF a war with a bciligcrant OF ma
val supremacy, will show that this govern
mcnt could never listen to such a PROPOSE
ton. The navy Of the first maratime power
IN Europe is at least ten times - large as
that Of the United States. The foreign com
merce Of the two countries is nearly equal
and about equally exposed to hostile dcpre
datiOns. In war between that power and
the United States, without resort on our
part to our mercantile marine, the means of
our enemy to iniiict injury upon our com
merce, would be tenfold greater than ours to
retaiate. We could not extrIcalu ,oe..
try from this unequal condition, with such
an enemy, unless we at once departed from
our present peaceful policy, and become a
great naval power. Nor would this country
be better situated in war with one Of the Sc
condary naval powers. Though the naval
disparity would be less, the greater exteit,
and more exposed condition of our wide
spread commerce, would give them a little
advantage over us.
The propositions to enter into engagements
to forego resort to priyateers, iii case this
country should be forced into war with a
great naval power, is not entitled to more
favorable consideration than would be pro.
posi.'oh W Ss'ee hoa 70 aeoep' t,'e e'',,ss V.
,S roaIn'ee,a n ~, opato"o u.L, s on 'su ".n
''ie Io,'o' VI WY 's h'o " w, vJ""' -
is"e y W aes'''e 'to'.n. a'.''u ;. ~ ~;
hucn''y ,eles upon 'iio p.'i'oos,' Vi ne wa.
"ehs' no' o'u'"'''! u.'otou W 'i.o n',''ais
p'o'ess'o'', " aus,ncn. 'hc Hhy anu ','e
navy 50 a. W i'sne '''c,' ,u''y Hieiu"e W
~, a,ie emergency "nich os's .ho'h mo 'eNoI'
me P'cpos'' W SUI e,.ue' s s,V r'sn1 " ein.
P'"y P''a',e po'e'u'y 'Vu.uer upv,'
tne Pfihc'Pie' uhI' prNa'e P'oper! Vi u'.oi'
tshdhg hoil'coinoa'ah'.i 'nouen e'ennes,
;houa DC exempt rom ''le 'ssases VI wa, wa,
ou. 'ne p'opGse' u, ,hut s;no;r,o & un;oL iI;''b
r way y, ,a!s ,b", Ju s""h & nr;va,p p,' nronar," "
, ed"rf 20 Ia - f.,aI III
snouu no. w S. ShiS ~ , .''e - "a'o'a.
snnps Vi wa" o"ou'i ,; ."I 'es pJ"e's
hu'oPe eo'Iu. u. p'oPos's, % - 'u.e " ~
aei"a'.I'a' .l ,a' 60 "l;,pro ro puhi;'
upon '''r G.ea "uni ni, %. hn nr;v,,,ors o , ,ho
arlneu oru,ses ~ ,a "e'i aa ~ ,ho,n & 'l'e
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'''ss oro.h s'ounu, I;nr,n. os Coroross ,hO
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ra,.a.'ohs ., '.e .Yat; ne'met', a,; .a' , ,
.eu a''is a" ",ea, @ D.. ";sona e",J ,rao :, & ts
coast COAST ,'Snsrlss' anu 70 reciprocal uau' M'.''
pr''sh Nol'n .N'ne'.N" pr?,'.' n.'
oeeh eHena'seu, anu sunni y, ~ dn'"'p''eI
naVan.aEes M m a,e a.iea.y .,yos,u y Vs. a.
.housl, l's i'il eh.?us'on was 'D aouu rea
tam as's ol lee's;a''on no. u. 'uts p.'p' pa
ee' 30 soon as II was ra'lieu, pIea. niIl-
am opensu 10 gu, :. .oinai,croe ."e I mGe ia' @
.oh VI .ne river ,od 81, La",.m', a" anu W ou'
: -ns1ermei' en'lo.esteu aIeess ~ 'he snoit'
anu pays from winch 'hey nau peen prey,
ousiy eAciuueu, on ''e eoas. Vi hel ioltl t
american provinces ~ re'ucn lor "h'en sli'
, asked LOT the sh.rouuctoh' L & ..eo Vi e.,! ~,
: 10 the ports o' Tue on''eu o'a,es u '.,o ''sl
caught on the same COAST ny Dr.tlsh i.sHrF