The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-12-09

was 10 assert Inc uOCtIlUe lHdt iieV ehiPn
make free goods, except in the case OF arti-
cles contraband of war: doctrine which.
from the very commencement OF our nation
al being, has been a cherished idea of the
statesmen of this country. At one period
or another, every maritime power has, by
solemn treaty stipulation, recognized that
principle; and it might have been hoped
that it would come to be- universally rcceiv-
led, and respected as n rule Of international
law. But the refusal Of one great power
prevented this and in the next great war
which ensued, that of the French revolt
ton, it failed 20 be respected among the bel
ligertnt states of Europe. Notwithstanding
this the principle is admitted to be sound
land salutary one; so much SO, that at ia
Icomm"ncemrnt of the existing war IN En.
rope Great Britain and France announces
their intention to observe it for The pres,n',
mot. however as recognized international
right but as Il mere concession tor the '!inc
being. The co. operation however, of thee
two powerful maritime nations in the inter.
ests of neutral rights, appeared to me to at
ford an occasion. inviting and justilying on
lie part of the United States, a renewed c.-
fort to make the doctrine III question pr,n-
ciple Of international law, by means of spc
ciu conventions between the several powers
of Europe and America. Accordingly,
proposition, embracing, not only the ra,c
that free ships make free goods, except con
traband articles, but also the less contested
one that neutral property, other than contra
band, though on board enemy's ships, shalt
be exempt from cOniiscaion, has bacn sub
mittcd by this government 10 those Of Eu-
rope and America.
Russia acted promptly in this matter, out
a convention was concluded, between that
country and the United States, providing for
the observance of the principles announced,
not only rs between themselves, but also be
tween them and oil other nations which
shall enter into like stipula'ions. None Of
The other powers have as yet taken final ac-
tion on the subject. l am not aware, how
ever, that any objection TO the proposed stip-
uations has been made; but, on tie con
rary, they are acknowledged to lie essential
10 the security Of neutral commerce and ihc
only apparent obstacle 10 their general
adoption, is in the possibility that it may b.
Irncnmb,rcd by inadmissiblr conditions.
The king OF the two Siciles has expressed
to our minister at Naples his readiness to
concur in our proposition relative TO neutral
rights, and 10 enter into a convention On
that subject.
The king Of Prussia entirely approves Of
the project Of u treaty TO the same cGact,
submitted TO him, but proposes an addition
article providing for the renunciation of pri-
Watering. Such an article, for most obvious
reasons, is much desired by nations having
naval establishments, large in proportion 80
their forrigu commerce. II it were adopted
ms an international rule. the commerce Of
nation having comparatively 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
mont of the condition in which he United
States would be- placed, after having surrpr-
Iderrd the right TO resort 10 privateers, in tie
event of war with beligercnt power OF
naval supremacy, will show that this gov
crnment could never listen 10 such propo-
silon. The navy Of the first maritime pow
Ter Of Europe is at least ten times as large rs
that Of the United States. The forrign
commerce of the two countries is nearly
EQUAL, and about equally exposed to hostile
depredaiions. In war between that power
ard the United States, without resort on our
part to our mercantile marine, the means Of
our enemy TO inflic, injury on our commerce,
would he tenfold greater than ours to retail
ate. We could not extricate our country
from this unequal condition. with such an
enemy, unless we at once departed from our
present peaceful policy, and became a great
naval power. Nor would this country b.
IL