Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-31
DEvELopEMENrS or BRITISH POLICY.

DEVELOPMENTS OF BRITISH POLICY.
But few months since the country was startled by an
tntlmaton from the British Minister OF foreign alilr ha
The auncc between England and France contemplated an
active Intervention 10 the political relations os this con
nent The declaration of Lord Clarendon has been In no
respect discreded by subsequent events and the American
people begin to entertain the conviction that our friendly
relations with Grea, Britain upon no stable or secure
basls. .-.
In this temper Of the public mind we may readily appre-
cate the indignation which another menace from the British
Government has provoked throughout the country The
following piece Of intelligence was brought by the last
steamers
"Some excitement w,s produced 10 commercial circles by
Lord Claeudon's announcement 10 the Riga merchants
that alt Russian produce, 10 whomsoeVer oeonglng aud
even in neutral vessels shall bs lawful prizs in the event
Of waE."
1t In defence maritime rights, asserted In the
famous formula that "free chips make free goods that We
wen, to war with Great Britain 1872 That arrogant Power
tanned contrary doctrine and in carrying out its po-
Icy insued flag by exercising the otious r!cat OF
search We resistance 10 this insoent claim and al.
though positive enunciaon Of The right Of search, wos
stipulated In the treaty of Ghent 1t was the universal opin
lon of American statesmen that Great Britain would not at.
tempt exercise aer The taught her in the progress
of the war, and against the public senmon: OF the world
seems however 10 the inoxca.on OF sudden sue
cess in consummatins her political combinations,
sud presuming the cooperation Of France she has
revived her preension 10 maritime supremacy, and now
threatens with repetition of tho outages which pro-
the bloody chastisement of New Orleans In this crss
Government should assume The highest ground and
should submit nfraclion ots neutral right and no In
dignity the honor Of Its flag We should re.assert ard
mantan these just aud essential principles: that the ship
the cago that Gag excludes the right of search
except goods cOn,raband of that seamen are
exempt from impressment and that paper blockade can
! subject our vessels to The hazard of confscaton2
While British Minster is thus provoking the dispeasue
Of this country BY asserting nadmssable claim Of mari
time supremacy, the British reYiving nnd cnfoc-
against American citizens the obsoets doctrine Of per-
petual allegiance bass and preexs of the right Of i'm
pressmenl The London Times Of March 6,h gives re.
port of cuse recently adudcated 10 the Vice Chunceors
court, which II held that "a child born In America,
Of marriage contracted With American LADY, aud with
American doce and under tho protection of American
laws s nevertheless subject OF the crown OF Eogand
The facts of the clearly given 10 the following sue
cnct statement In the Times
THE child was girl 10 her l2th year, and ward OF
Ibis Court. She entitled 10 property worth about
600 (l2 500 which invested in mortgage on pro,
pery the State of New York but was said 10 DO entitled
10 properly IN England Her mother who was an Anne
rcan died 10 1886 and her father, who was British sub-
iec but afterwards became na9razed citizen OF the Uni
father her psterna ss Mary Ann Dawson, with
whom she had lived since her mothers DEATH was appointed
her guardian by the surrogate of the county and city
New York Miss NJ. A. Dawson at the time. proms
ing bring the child in tie United Siates 10 teach her
consider her home and to now her to pay only
occasional visit TO England In the meantime, however,
MIR Frederick Dawson, plernai uncle Of the child had,
unknown Miss NJ A. Dawson been appointed guardian
Of the chd by the surrogate OF Baltimore in the State OF
Maryland, and as Miss NJ A. Dawson heard of this
circumstance she the chds maternal relations In
forming them Of it, saying that as she was not the guardian
of the child, she did consider herself bound by hor
promise bring The child in the Uncd States &C.
Al the instance OF Miss Jay mastnal aunt Of the child
Junction obtained from the Supreme Court OF inc
State New York restrain the child from being carried
OUT of the State of New York; but before service Of the
ss Re s hs
Of October 1882 Miss Jay oStalned from the surrogate Of
the county and city York the appointment of guar
dian The child since her arrival in England had lived
with her paternai relations This admitted at the bar
10 be ceutes, as TO whether the child should bs brought
up in England the United Sta'ee the patena relations
who Engllsh conendiug on me one hana ina. ane
should be brought up exclusively in England and The mater
ps relations Americans contendng on Inc otaer
hand tina. abe should be brought up In the United
Miss lay wo Oy sypoIsp al 'i with hs
OF taking child back to America offered oy he couhse
a. the bar submit any terms the Court might impose
as the child visiting this country.
The guardianship of the ward was assigned TO Mr. Da~
son. 10 conjunction with Miss Jay In the course Of his ar
eument the Vice Chancellor, pronounced opinion which
az was essential his conclusion may be
taken az having reference 10 the circumstances OF The lime
and as being Idle and gatuous menace 10 this country
The ds,um was ths Ths ather of the infant, said the
Vice Chancellor twas British subject, and Is said 10 nave
becn alter many years residence 10 America, naturazed a
citizen of the United States. Being born 10 allegiance tc
the Crown of England this naturalization although con
erred on him the rights of American ezsn did not ab
solve him from his duties deprive him Of his rights as
British subject His child, born In America, OF marriage
contracted with American lady, and with American
domics and under the protection Of American lava Is
er,heless subject Of the Crown of Eoeland"
OF the absurdy of this preposerous claim, we want nt
stronger illustration than given BY the Philadelphia Nor
american.
taking the exac, conditions stated by the
celor namely subject of the British crown, subsequently
naturaized as an American Citizen married TO Amcrcar
lady, and having issue American soil and adopting MI
doctrine that such Issue allegiance to- and s subject
Court of St James is egeman Of Queen Vicorias ant
may, any moment, be dealt with as SUCH Inc iather
mr. hs Hus suar, the law uy
is subjec, of the Crown Of England rather auomaou
position for Ambassador TO occupy II the same doc
rne obtains France young Mr.. Soule had better avoid
visit 10 Paris for subject of Louis Nnpoeons no woue
probably be dealt with by that Imperial parsonage for lezs
majesty n pointing sword at the august bosom OF the EN-
brother Indeed there few Americans ABROAD
either 10 public private capacity who under this sweep
ing theory might not be brought into very serious trouble
| without any special misconduct OF their own"
Gu. people, yiedug the Of foreign influence
susm have prompted and encouraged Groa Britain In t
aggressions upon Russia until alliance has been consum
mated which threatens this country with repetition Of 'h
nsu,s and outrsges Of 1872 In the ador of our sympathy
with the Turk forgot the lesson of history: we forgo
the Armed Neutrality of Caharne aud the protest OF Alex
ander against the right of search and OF mpessment ir
our supd apprehension Of tho march Of Russian conquest
towards the banks Of the Bosphorus unmndful
the growth Of British power Ia the and in
usss TO uphold to,teng empire of remote barbarian
we lie, slip the opportunity of checking the aggrandzemen
of nation which conftonls US at every turn, with angry
frown and insoent aggression With the distribution OF po
tlca power 10 Europe have no concern, but The mari
time supremacy of Great Britain is matter OF vital mo
mcnt 10 American interests.
The public mind Of the connry has been enveoped In
cloud Of and deuson by the Misrepresentation OF the
British PRESS but fortunately the mist OF prejudice Is pass
log away aud Americans will soon learn TO contemplate
the eastern question: Ia Its proper aspect and 10 under
stand correctly It's bearing The interests OF the United