The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-07
THE RIoH,-s OF NEUTRALs.
The Memorial or the Chamber Of Commerce
OF New YORK.

nC u1GmOTh0l Oh tine - SCssA4.AsA -
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE y hhrhhsfNTAfivEs
THE UNITED STATES OF AN. ERICA IN CONGRESS Al
sEMBLED:
Your memoralists beg leave res nectfuliy TO repre-
sent to you honorable body, that they regard til
present time as peculiarly favorable J. Or the forma
ton OF treaties with the great Powers On Europe, b.
which the rights of nentrals shall be recos zed an
established on footing more favorable h. an ma
hitherto been admitted. Your memorialists q, ie'
to this conclusion by the fact that the government,
France Zone Of the great parties in the existing wa
has heretofore admitted and advocated the doctrine
that free ships make free goods, that Russia signal
lied the principle by the armed neutrality of 1880
and the recent proclamation Of Queen Victoria Justly
encourages the expectation that the government OF
Great Britain will meet the proposal with more than
ordinary favor. England in the present war from
the urgent want OF the great staples of Russia Would
find convenience in an indirect trade with that
country, carried ON under the neutral flag con-
venence quite equivalent to the benefit which
Russia would derive from the export of these pro-
auctions.
lessons the pressure OF war on private property and
renders neutrality profitable, the continuance OF
that neutrality would be better insured, and its
strict maintenance be better promoted. 90
Your memorialists believe that in this, or any war
likely to exist the value Of enemies property found
in neutral ships, and condemned as such, would be
small object compared with the danger of provok-
ing war with the neutral powers which detention
VI suCu property WOulu ndZufu.
1t involves that act of war most liable to miscon-
structon and abuse, the right of search; not to be
expected TO be relinquished without yielding up the
principle OF capturing enemies goods in neutral
ships; and not TO be exercised without certainty
Of abuse, and probability Of provoking additional
wars.
Especially do your memorialsts believe that the
present bellgerents would not voluntarily increase
the too probable hazard Of a war with America on
this point. Your memoralists are of opinion that
period has arrived in the history of the world, when
war can be carried on with efficiency without mate
rally interrupting the commercial intercourse of
nations, except when the operations of war require
the blockade of ports. The belligerent powers
would generally find great convenience in the I'M
interrupted commerce OF neutrals: and the great
movements Of war, both by land and sea- would not
be embarrassed by it. The begerents would con-
quer by the force of their arms and the strength of
their fleets, while the people of their respective ma
tons would be less restricted in the ordinary pur-
suits and enjoyments of life. The misery indicted
on individuals by the interruption of maritime
trade, should be equally subject of adherence, as
the conscation or destruction the property of in
divduals on land. 1t adds little to the power of
war; but adds greatly to its calamties and the pro-
gress Of civilization and humanity demands that the
evils OF war should be nitigated by every possible
means.
Your memoralists believe that the Government of
the United States could, in the existing war; exert
powerful influence in bringing about more full re-
cognition of neutral rights, and in placing the com
HiciSe vi vi iOotillp more llVOfaDc
than has heretofore been allowed. Your memorial
lists recall with pleasure the fact that the Grand Sultan
first practically carried out the principle that free
ships make free goods. France, Sweden, and Hol-
land adopted the principle by their treaties Of l77s,
1882, and 1883. Russia and the Northern Powers
asserted it by the armed neutrality Of 1880 and the
United States in all their treaties with the maritime
states of this continent have adopted the prn
ciplc The parties of the present war, and indeed
the maritime powers OF the world, have favored the
principle, and England alone has hitherto opposed
its universal adoption.
Your memoralists beg leave further to call the at
tenton Of your honorable body to the subject of the
Of the Of prvateers in maritime war;
This power Of annoyance by the weaker maritime
power is one which cannot fail to be felt by England
and to be greatly Objectionable to her. To obtain o
full acknowledgment of the principle OF neutral
rights above presented it might well be conceded by
the United States that the fitting out OF private ships
OF war should he nterdicted.
Your mcmorialists believe that the government of
the United States could exert powerful influence
among the maritime nation on this subject and that
by Of treaties with the leading powers the evil
might be removed. In the event Of war in which
the United States should be engaged they would be
able from the structure OF their ships and the habits
of their seamen and the extent of their coast send
abroad larger force Of prvateers than any other ma
ton, not even excepting Great Britain. This well
known fact would give to this government great
influence in negotiations to be opened for their sup
preston, for they could offer an equivalent for what
should be relinqushed to them.
Your memoriaists are well aware that If priva
teers were suppressed the United States would lose
1re powerful means of annoying their enemies in
time OF war; especially il that war should be with
nation OF widely extended commerce.; while on the
other hand, they would be strengthened in their
navy by the brave and enterprising seamen who
would otherwise man the privateers. This power,
however would be exerted chiefly in the destruction
of property not pertaining to the government Of the
enemy, but to individual merchants and others ,who
in this way, may suffer distressing and running
losses. On the other hand, in waving, by treaty,
this mode of destruction of enemies property the
merchants Of the United States would be saved
from losses by the privateers of the enemy
thus restrained by treaty: and from the widespread
commerce Of America covering every ocean, they
ore in this respect more exposed than any other ma
ton in the world.
Your memorialists have not dwelt upon the demo.
ralizng tendency of the privateering system which
is in other an authority plumber at dscre-
ton, from the love Of gain This needs only to be
alluded to, and as to which no doubt can rest in the
mind of any man and they have not brought to
view tie licensed piracy which has so often depre-
dated on merchant ships, under the cover of COM
missions granted by belligercnt Powers to foreign.
ers. This glaring evil would be at once removed IL
by treaty among the leading maritime Powers priva
teering should be suppressed.
Your memorialists beg leave to present to your
consideration the treaty negotiated by Franklin on
the part OF the United states with the Prusslan gov
eminent, in the year 1876, evidence that in the
early part Of this nation the suppression Of prva-
teers subject regarded Of great Importance.
Your memorialists therefore pray that the sub
jects herein presented may in the interests Of COM
merce and humanity, receive your favorable consi-
deraton, and such action from your honorable body
as shall not only relieve neutras from the harsh and
dangerous right of capture and of search, but also
prevent honorable war from being assmated to
piracy and private plumber and lessen the horrors Of
war in the evils which it inflicts peaceful COM
merce. BY order Of Chamber of Commerce.
Y. PERT, President.
EDWARD G. BoGFRT, Secretary,
New YORK, April 20, 1854.
Origin OF she Question OF Neutral Rights,
CHAPTER l.
Spanish Policy of Colonial Neutrality-suspicious.
T5coty wth Holland IN l675-Restricfion upon
Nsitrais in he War IF Cso-o7-War Of Spanish
SsUcessior--SeUile Treaty Of l72o-Search Of Eng
isi Vesseis by Spain and Erance-Wv Of 1856
62-7Se R'sle Of l75G-7reaty Of England AMI
Holland IN 1764.
The commencement Of another general European
war has revived the necessity anticipated at the
peace Of is5-but which it was scarcely hoped could