Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-19
House of Representatives.
NEUTRALs AND BELLIGERENTs.

NEUTRALs AND BELLIGERENTs.
The SPEAKER laid before the House mes
sage from the President of theS United States,
communicating, in compliance with resolution
adopted on the LIST instant. copies of correspond
ence which has passed between this government
and foreign governments upon the subject Of the
rights accorded by declaration or otherwise TO
ncutrals, and the rights claimed by belligerents
in the war pending between certain European
powers
The first letter is from her Britannia maIesty's
minister to Mr. Marcy, dated April "a, 1901, in
v hich he says:
"Her majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain aud Ireland and his majesty the
Emperor OF the French, being compelled TO take
up arms for the purpose of iepelling the agrees
sfons OF his majesty the Emperor of Russia upon
the Ottoman Empire. and being DESTROYS to lessen
as mu n possible The disastrous consequences
10 cun,nlerce resulting from state of warfare,
their males,ies have resolved. for the present, not
10 authorize the Issue ofetters Of marque
In making this resolution known, they think il
right to announce nj the same time the principle.
upon which they Will be guided the course Of
this war, with regard TO the navigation and COM
nierce Of neulrals.
Her majesty The Queen ofthe United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland has accordingly pub
lished the accompanying de laration, which is
identical with that published ly his majesty the
Emperor of the French.
an thus restricting within the narrowest limits
-,
allied governments confidently trust thai the gov
rrnmentS Of countries which may remain ural
during this war will sincerely exert every effort To
enforce upon their suhec orcilizens the necessity
Of observing The strctest neutrality
" Her Britannia majesty's government enter
tans the confident hope that the United States
government will receive with satisfaction the
announcement Of the resolutions thus taken in
common by the two allied governments and that
II ILL IN the spirit OF just reciprocity Civ. orders
that no privateer under Russian coIors shall be
equipped, or viciualled, or admitted with III prizes
in the ports of the United States and also that the
citizens OF the United States shall vigorously abb
stain from taking pat in ornaments OF this nature.
or In in any other measure opposed 10 the duties
OF a strict neut ality."
Here follows the declaration of the Queen on
the subject, already published.
The next letter is from the Count de Sartiges
to Mr.. Marcy. making communi alton IN terms
similar 10 those on the part Of her majestys min
lister.
Mr.. Marcy replies 10 bo,h ofthem, dated April
S, 1854, that he has submitted those communities
lions 10 the President, aud received his direction
10 express TO her malesiy's government his salts
faction that the principle that free ships make free
goods, which the United States have so long and
strenuo, sly contended for ms neutral right, and
IN which some of the leading powers OF Europe
have concurred. is TO have qualified sanrion by
the practical observance of II in the present war
by both Great Britain and France two OF the most
powerful ma ions OF Europe.
Notwithstanding the sincere qualification which
her majesty's declaration has given to the Presi-
dent, il would have been enhanced if the rule
alluded to had been announced as. one which
would be observed moi only in the present but in
every future war in which Great Britain shall be
a party. The unconditional sanction Of this ru le
by the British and French governments, together
with the practical observance of il in the present
war, would cause it 10 be benceforth recognised
throughout the civilized world as general princi-
pie Of international law. This government, from
its very commencement, has labored for its recog
milton a. neutral right II has incorporated