Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-09

led, in the pfogresss OF The war, Vi our IN
| denendence, to the formation Of the cele-
bra,ed coniedcracy Of armed neutrality,
primary object Of which was, to assert the
doctrine that free ships make free goods,
exccnt in the case Of articles contraband !;
doctrine which from the very commence
ment OF our nstionsl being, has been
cherished idea Of the statesmen Of the coun.
TRY.
At one period or another, every maritime
power has, By solemn treaty stipulation, re-
coQnized that principle; and il might have
been hoped that il would come to be uni
versally received and respected as a
rule Of international law. But the re-
lusal Of one power prevented this, and in
the next great war which ensued, that OF the
French revolution, it failed to be respected
among the beligerant states of Europe. Not
withst.nding this, the principle is generally
admitted to be sound and salutary one; SO
much 80, 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 q recog-
Missed international right, but as mere con-
cession for the time being. The co-opcra-
ton. however, Of these two powerful mara
| time nations in the interest of neutral rights,
appeared to me to afford an occasion, invi-
/ ting and justifying, on the part ofthe United
i States, renewed effort to make the doc
| trine in question principle of international
law, BY means Of special conventions be-
tween the several powers Of Europe and
1 America. Accordingly, proposition. en-
4 bracing not only the rule that free ships
i make free goods, except contraband articles
n l,,k, - hn foon hat ,fra /
1 property, other than contraband, though
on board enemy's ships, shall be exempt
i from confscation, has been submitted by
this government to those OF Europe and
i America.
Il Russia acted promptly in this matter, and
a convention was concluded, between that
country and the United Strtes, providing for
the observance Of the principles announced
l not only as between themselves, but also as
! between them and all other nations, which
shall enter into like stipulations. None of
the other powers have as yet taken final ac-
ton on the subject. am not aware, how
ever, that any objection to the proposed stip-
ulations has been made; but, on the con-
trary, they are acknowled 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 encumbered by inudmissable condi-
tons.
The King OF the two Scilies has express
I sed to our Minister at Naples his readiness
to concur in our proposition relative to neu-
1 trail rights, and to enter into 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 additional
!, article, providing for the remuneration Of
Iprivateesing Such an article, for most OBJ
vious reasons, is much desired by nations
having naval establishments large in pro-
portion to their foreign commerce. II it
were accepted as an international rule, the
commerce of nation having a compare
lively small naval force, would be very
much at the mercy ofits enemy, in case Of
war with power of decided naval superb
ority. The bare statement OF the condition
in which the United States would be placed
after having surrendered the right ofresort to
privateers, in the event of war with bellig-
erent Of naval supremacy, win show that
the Government could never listen to such
a proposition. The navy of the first mara
time power in Europe is at lcast ten times
as large as that Of the United States The
foreign commerce ofthe countries is nearly
equal, and about equally exposed to hostile
depreciation. In war between that power
and the United States, without resort on
our part 10 our mercantile marine, the
means Of our enemy to inflict injury upon
our commerce would be tenfold greater than
ours to retalate. We could not extricate
our country from this unequal condition,
oh nptacs ura NJ do
part from our present peaceful policy, and
this country be better situated in war with
one Of the secondary naval powers. Though
the naval disparity would be less, the great
er extent, and more exposed condition of
our wide spread commerce, would give them
like advantage over US.
The proposition to enter into engage
menis to forego resort to privateers, in case
this country should be forced into war with
a great navalpower, is not entitled to more
favorable consideration than would be a
proposition to agree not to accept the ser-
vices Of volunteers for operations on land.
When the honor or the rights Of our coun-
try require it to assume hostile attitude,
it confidently relies upon the patriotism of
its citizens. not ordinarily devoted to the
military profession, to augment the army
and the navy, so to make them fully ade-
quate to the emergency which calls them
into action. The proposal to surrender the
right to employ privateers, is professed!y
founded upon the PRINCIPE, that private prop
erty of offending non -combatants. though
enemies, should be exempt from the ravages
of war; but the proposed surrender goes
but little way in carrying out that principle,
which equally require that such private
property should not be seized or molested
by national ships of war. Should the