The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-25

NEUTRAL RIGHTS.

aseendency the ocean have been invariably sacrificed
the usurped rights Of That power by possessing the
command Of the seas has been enabled prescribe and
enforce system of maritime intervention at law exelu
syey adapted her position and purposes without the
slightest regard 10 the rights and interests of nations
whose policy led them preserve their peceabe relations
with the rest Of mankind BY this IL i.l become
almost impossible for any commercial nation remain at
peace while England was at war, without quietly submit
ting any species of robbery and insult and thus il has
happened that the United States though far removed from
the vortex Of European strife and ambition have in spite
of themselves been forced become begerents in defence
Of their rights neutras
From the earliest period Of their Independent existence
the United States have uniformly opposed the preen
sions OF Great Britain the right of search and the inn
pressnent of seamen and the moment they became
strong enough they resisted il by The result was
abandonment of the right but cessation Of the
practcepary presume from there having since been no
special occasion for enforcing it, and partly from the
vcon that any attempt do would be NJ resisted
by the United States
The war now just commenced and which threatens u-
matey involve all the commercial nations Of Europe
will thus leave the United States the only neutral power Of
any consequence in the Old and the New World This po
sition which places them in most commanding attitude,
the time exposes them 10 the attacks OF European
diplomacy, and calls for warynay ealous-caniion on
the part Of government 10 counteract its seductons
Whatever pretended concessions be made by England
will expected be either paid for BY than
pondne equivalents on their part have for their OBJ
ecs temporary purpose and in ell probability be
scnded when that purpose is answered Their apprehen
sons of Russia removed and there win no longer be
any occasion for practising the magnanimou moderation
which they aspire or to pesevere in their phan
thropc endeavors TO mitigate the evils of war"
Accordingly the Emperor of France 10 the
listening world that in concert with England, he has for
the time being renounced rather waived portion of
his rights beligerent under the law OF nations What
he has renowned il somewhat difficult discover since
he almost all those rights by virtue of which
trail may be arrested, seized and conscaed
der pretencc of breach of blockade eonraband of and
having board dispatches for the enemy In short he
to himself all those rights under which neutral
vessels may be arrested and searched at pleasure the
high seas and if any commanding officer chooses
peet violation intention of violating either Of these
they may lawfully be carried into port and tried by
Of admiralty, subject laws but those it either makes
for ITSELF receives from the higher authorities OF the
State through order in council imperial edict.
On the other hand her Majesty the British Queen has
been equally solicous to mitigate the evils Of war by
cdog the right of sezng and conscatng the property
Of enemy board neutral vessel For the first time
says that great Mentor of the civilized world the London
Times in the history of this country England enters on
war with the admission Of the rights of neutras I"
The declaration Of The 2sth of March announced the
world that her Majesty will for he present waive part of
the belligerent rights Of the Crown &c. &c
Ii thus appears that neither Great Britain nor France
has permanently elnqushed any right held under their own
construction Of the maritime law of nations They have
only waived the right of search in particular cases and
that of selling and conscating the property enemy
in neutral yessenot from any respect neutral rights
or friendly feeling towards the United States as mere
matter OF temporary policy There certain productions
OF Russia such as hemp for example which England
not wen do without and as the London Morning Chron-
Gle says, This relaxation Of rights is of the utmost i'm
portance to commercial interests
In fact the reserved rights Of blockade and contraband
Of war; the whole ground respects the present po
son Of Russia and the other belgerents The only
let inlet TO Russian in the Black sea is at
present eecuay hlocaded and the same is the case with
the Baltic Russia has other port fitted for commerce
but Archangc the White SEN and that too may easily
be bockaded Thus it is obvious that Russia being at
present The only power in belligerent attitude towards
England and France the temporary REIMBURSEMENT Of the
right to seize Russian property board Of neutral
is Of no practical consequence whatever.
The rights of war so far they apply to the ocean
in fact based the wrongs Of peaceable nations The
most liberal and enlightened nations OF antiquity know
nothing Of them Their commerce in great measure
carried by land and the ships Of the desert supers-
ded those Of the The laws Of war regards mari
time rights Of modern origin and formed part of the
policy Of the old feuda system under which no man pos
sessed any rights but those he could maintain by arms
On land the peaceabe cultivation Of the soil was the share
the steecad baron knight and the there was no
right but that Of the strongest The lords Of the land were
the scourges Of those by whom II was made fruitful and
the lods Of the seas the Normans were denominated
were what called pirates To these succeeded
race Of civilized protectors such Drake Crven-
dish and Others who roamed the ocean, committing dep
relations the Spanish possessions South America and
preyng on Spanish commerce at pleasure If under the
sanction at least with the connvance Of their government
There not AT that period any such thing as q mari
time law Of nations recognised and acceded 10 by the
mon consent Of the commercial powers Of Europe That
code was finally established by the naval contests of Eng
land with France Spain and Holland the result Of which
has been the ascendency Of England the ocean and the
establishment Of code 10 suit her position which though
recognised by neurns has been enforced at the
mouth Of the all occasions IN which the inter
ests Of that power concerned The United States have
never acquesced in this system OF maritime law IT Is
not long since what Is called the EARNED neutrality OF the
northern powers Of Europe With Russia lie head was
organized for the maintenance Of neutral rights
An attentive perusa Of the history establishment
this code win show very clearly that 1t owes its birth 10
the prceusons and has been imposed the world by the
power, Of England alone Though submitted to from ne
cessiy by nations incapable Of resisting Il has never
been universally recognised legitimate either in prnc
pie or practice and the temporary posiponement these
preensons to suit particular exigcncy or attain special
purpose At the time the right asserted Is moi
boon ~ exchange for which the United States are called
upon to make any in They are not
called upon as matter Of just reciprocity volunteering