The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-20
LATEST MAIL NEWS.
EEuTaALs AND BELLlcERENTs.

In the House OIL Representatives on Thursday
the Speaker presented copies Of correspondence
which has passed between this government, and TO-
reign governments upon the subject of the rights
accorded by declaration or otherwise to neutrals
and the rights claimed by helligercnts in the war
pending between certain European powers.
The irss is from her Britanic msjestys minister
to Mr. Marcy, dated April 81, 1854 announcing tina,
her msjesty's government, being desirous to les
sen as much as possible the disastrous conseauen.
ce resulting from state of warfare have resolved
for the present not to authorize the Issue Of letters
OF msrque ami gives the declar alton of the Queen
on the subject, which has been published hereto
fore The letter also states thst the allied govern
ments confidently trus, that neutral governments
will sincerely exert every effort to enforce upon
their subjects citizens the necessity of observing
the strctest neutrality aud concludes with the fol.
lowing
"Her Britannia Majcstys government entertains
the conf lent hope that the United States govern.
ment will receive with satisfaction the announce.
ment of the resolutions thus taken in common by
the two allied governments and that Il WILL in the
spirit OF Just reciprocity give orders that no prya.
itsr under Russian colors shall be equipped or
yictualed, admitted with its prizes in the ports
ut the United States and also that the citizens OF
the United States shall vigorously abstain from ia.
king part in armanents of this nature. or 10 any
other opposed to the duties OF strict nsi.
trsiity.
The mex, Is from the Count de Sartiges to Mr..
Marcy, making a communication in similar terms
Mr. Marcy replies to both of them, that he has
submitted their communications to the President,
and received his direction to express to her males.
tvs government his satisfaction that the principle
that free ships make free goods, which the United
States have so long and strenuously commended for
neutral right and in which some of the lead
iDs powers of Europe have concurred, is to have
hqualifed sanction by the practical observance OF
i'm the present war by both Great Britain and
France, two Of the most powerful nations of
Europe.
The Presidents qualification, he says would have
been enhanced if the rule alluded to had been an.
nounced as one which would be observed in all flu.
ture European wars. The unconditional sanction
of the ruleby the British and French governments,
together with It's practical observance in the pres
ent war, would cause it to be recognized through
out the civilized world general principle of in
ternational law. This government has labored for
It's recognition as neutral right from it's very com
mencent, and it has been concurred in by foreign
powers as sound and salutary principle. To SET
tie the principle that free ships make free goods
except articles contrabaud of war, and to prevent
it from being called again in question from any
quarter or under any circumstances, the United
Sates are desirous to unite with other powers in
declaration that it shall be observed by each here
alter as rule of international law. Mr. Marcy col
Guides as follows:
The undersigned is directed by the President
T. state to her majestys minister to this government
that the United States, while claiming the full en-
Joynent OF their rights as neutral power, will OBJ
serve the strctest neutrality towards each and all
the helligerents. The laws of this country impose
severe restrictions not only upon its own citizens
but upon all persons who may be residents within
auy OF the territories of the United States against
rq1ipping privateers, receiving commissions or en-.
sting therein, for the purpose Of taking part in
shy foreign war. II is not apprehended that there
will be any attempt to violate the laws but should
the Just expectation of the President be disappoint
ed, he will not fail in his duty to use all the power
With which he is invested to enforce obedience to
them. Considerations of interest and the obliga-
lions of duty alike give assurance that the citizens
OF the United States will in no way compromise the
neutrality OF their country by participating in the
contest in which the PRINCIPAL powers of Europe
are now unhappily engaged"
Next follow documents from various European
governments relative to the subject among them
letters to Mr.. Marcy from the charges datiares Of
Denmark, and of Sweden and Norway, in identical
terms, informing him that the sincere desire of
those governments, severally, is preserve intact
the relations of friendship and good understanding
which now SO happily reign between them and all
the governments of Europe
Mr.. Marcy replies to each that "the government
and people of this country" feel deep solcitude in
the events now trauspiring in Europe, not only on
account of the general anxiety they occasion to
those powers more nearly exposed to the menaced
erils, hut aleo as having most important Interior
bearing upon the United States
Theconcludng document in the seriesis letter
from Mr. Marcy TO Mr. Seymour, Minister to Rus.
Ella, dated May 9, 1858, in which he says:
I'll is the settled purpose of this government to
Europe will give no cause TO either begerent
party to complain, and it sincerely hopes neither
will give this country any ground for dissatsiac-
ton. The danger OF misunderstanding is much
less with Russia than with Great Britain and France
believe, however these latter powers are desi.
rOus TO pursue fair and liberal course towards the
United States You will observe that there is sug-
geston in the enclosed for convention among the
principal maritime nations to unite in a declara-
tion that free ships should make free goods except
articles CUntraband of war | have thrown
out the suggestion to Great Britain and France to
adopt this rule to be observed in all future
wars Should Russia, Great Britain and France
concur with the United States in declaring this to
be the doctrine the law of nations do not doubt
That the other nations of the world would at once
give their consent and conform their practice to
1t If fair opportunity should occur the President
requests you to ascertain the views OF his majesty
the Emperor OF Russia on the subject"