The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08
THE RIGHTS OF MEUTRALs.
Ne Continuation Of the History from the
Herald OF HAY q.

he Continuation Of the History from the
Herald of HAY q.
CHAPTER III.
french Reyolution-P Proposed Transfer of Colonies
10 the United .Statcs--Ssarch and bapressmeat-
Retalatory order Of Ftanco-E1ceFicn Regard
ing the United Stdtes-Brifish Orders against
Neutral Trade tcith the Enemy-United States
Gorcrnnsent Upholds the British Cldims-Peope
Disagree 10Th the Government Jny Treaty, 1874
False Position of The United States-Popsaar OPP
yosition-Ihe Cause of Rupture 10Th Franc,-Re-
neral of Armed Alliance Of NearaLs, lso5-Great
Britain Re'Iounces Rule Of 1866 in 1901.
In 1892 commenced the great war consequent upon
he French Revolution, in which yearly all of Europe
Fas soon engaged against tae republic, Englani
eading the coalition. As ia previous wars, France,
Holland and Spain were obliged to open their own
orts and those Of their colonies to the neutral trade
Great Britain also conceding great privileges in her
wn. At the outset of the contest, France offered
% form with the United States new treaty of al
ance, which should secure to her the guardianship
Ind complete monopoly Of trade Of the French colo
ies during the war; but the proposal was declined
g involving too much danger. The products OF the
Vest Inlia islands, generally being carried to the
United States were shipped thence in American
Fessels under drawback of duties to the North of
Europe principally. Hamburg and Bremen were the
rreat depots whence all Europe was thus supplied
nth colonial products. The manufactures Of the
Continent, received in exchange, were returned in
HE same indirect way to the West Indies. Though
The vessels of the United States visited all the
Stands the two small possessions of Denmark and
Sweden, st. Thomas and st. Bartholomew, both
rec ports, became its leading centres Beside the
Vest India trade, the United States also enjoyed
arge carrying trade to and from the Dutch and
French possessions beyond the Cape of Good Hope,
md were allowed privileges by England in the trade
bf her great monopoly associations, the East India
md Turkey companies; for, ss we have noticed in
he previous wars, Great Britain, though assuming,
against her enemies, that neutrals could have no
rade in war not allowed them in peace, was by no
means inclined to practice or permit the enforce
ment of her own rule against herself. The i'm
mense armies raised in Europe, and the consequent
neglect of agriculture, created likewise great de-
mand for our own products so that the whole bust
Of the United States seemed to be in carrying
their own articles, and those of other parts of the
world to supply the wants of Europe, and returning
3the equivalent to those by whom the supply was
Furnished. The business was Of course highly lu
crative and the prospect lattering. Great Britain
WAS the only other power that could be said to share
the carrying trade with us. Her own commerce &C.
|tually Increased very largely during the war, in
spite of all the efforts of her adversares and
trade with her decreased, although she gave some
to neutral vessels
In the commencement of the war, England re-
newed her attacks on the belligerent, through the
NEUTRAL by searching the vessels Of the latter for
|enemys goods. At the same time, the crews Of the
neutrals were examined, and those known or mere
lily suspected tobe or to have been, British seamen
were forcibly taken. Considerable numbers Of Brit
ish seamen had, certainly, been lured into our
chant service, by the high rate Of wages, but the
vast majority of those impressed from our ves-
sells, amounting to several thousands in all, up
to the war of 1872 appear to have born
citizens, foreigners adopted from other countries
than Britain. The practice SO annoying, England
plead as her right, and moreover absolutely neces
sary to the existence of her navy.
The French Convention, retaliating the attack
upon French property found in neutral vessels,
adopted order May 1898 that their armed vessels
should pursue the same course toward British pro.
perty in neutral bottoms; but by another order Of
May 20, they made an exception to this rule, near
y the same in effect its total repeal, in favor Of
the vessels of the United States. The French were
very friendly to the United States at this time and
hoped they would be induced by this exception, to
force Great Britain to respect their neutrality, in
favor Of French property in their vessels. The ex
ception was also in effect Invitation to England
to abandon or mitigate her illegal practises. In
neither way, was the desired result attained.
On the sth of June, British order in Council
prohibited the carrying, by any party of -four and
al 10 he ~ 20 ;oJ
by French armies and on the 9Th November, an
other order, secretly issued so as to afford good
harvest to operations under authorized the capture
of all vessels laden with the produce Of French
lonies, or carrying supplies of any kind to those
colonies. The almost total destruction of trade on
the part of the United States fully guaranteed by
the law of nations before allowed by Great Britain
and still encouraged as regarded her own colonies,
was the first notification received of this outrageous
edict. To give the order more efficacy, United
States vessels sailing from British ports were
obliged to give security to go to British or neu-
trail port.
Meantime, the perplexity of Washington and his
cabinet was extreme The question was warmly
debated whether the treaty of alliance of IT'S,
which bound the United States to assist France, in
defensive wars in the protection of her West Indies,
obligated to aid her at this time. Without ever
deciding that particular question: the general policy
of rigid neutrality was determined upon, and pro-
clamation issued accordingly-an act which was de-
nounced by the democratic or French party as ille
gal and dishonorable in the extreme. Genet, the
violent French Ambassador, endeavored to involve
MS in the war. although his government proposed to
desire no more than that we should make our neu-
trail rights respected. He commissioned privateers
to sail from ports against British commerce; but
on complaint of the English government the prac-
tice was promptly repressed by Washington, and
compensation was afterwards given by our govern
ment for the captures so made. Genet demonstrated
against the neglect of the administration to uphold
the dignity Of its flag and to protect French pro-
perry in United States vcssels-a point on which
the majority of the people certainly did not concur
with the government. The answer returned was
that the custom of search upon neutrals and seizure
ofenemy property according to the old and esta
blished law OF nations, and that Great Britain had
never assented to the demands Of the Armed Neutra
lily. So singular doctrine, uttered by an American
Secretary, exhibits the extreme tmdity OF the admin
istraton. Firm and consistent, almost to temerity
in all home concerns, the conduct Of Washington
Presidency In regard to all outward relations, was