Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-12-13

upon the acquisitions of this countrvsin every
instance hanarab!y obtained. or would feel them,
selves justified in imputing advancement to a
spirit of aggression, 10 passion for political
| predoniinance.
Our foreign commerce has magnitude and
extent nearly equal 10 thai Of the first nlaratie
power OF the world, and exceeding. that OF any
other. Over tilIs great interest, in whic! our
merchants only. but ali classes of citizens at
least indirectly, coneerned. 1t is the duty oil
| the Executive and Legislative branches OF gov
| ernment to exercise a careful supervision. aud
! adopt proper measures for its projections. The
policy which have had in View in regard to
| THIS interest embraces ITS future as well as its
| present security.
Long experience has shown that in general
when the principal powers Of Europe are engaged
IN xaf, the rights of neutral nations are endan-
gered his consideration has eti In the progress
of the war OF our independence TO the formation
of the celebrated cou.ederacy of armed neptFaIi~
ty--a primary ohiec. of which was to assert the
doctrine that 9 free saps make free goods ex-
cept IL the cases of articles eontraband of war
| doctrine which from the very commencement
| ofoars NATIONAL being, has been cherished idea
| of this county, Fug sec aH
/ At one period or another every power has by
some solemn treaty stipulation recognized that
| principle, and it might have been hoped that ii
| would come TO be universally received aud re-
speeied as "a rule OF international law. But the
refusal of one power prevented this, and al the
next great war which ensued--thaf ofsthe French
Revolution-it failed 10 be respected among the
beiigerants of Europe. Notwithstanding this. the
principle is senetaIly admitted to be sound and
salutary one: so mnch so. that at the commence
ment Of the existing war II. Europe, Great Brit
ain aud France announced their purpose To OBJ
serve it for the present not howeyer. as recog-
nized international right, bat as a mere eonces-
sion for the tine being. iaq AaE' fze sf
The cooperafIon, however, of these two power
ful maritime nations in the interests of neutral
rights appeared to me afford an occasion merit
ing and siustilyins on the part OF the US "a re-
newed effort 10 make the doctrine in question a
principle of international law bv means Especial
convection between the several powers of Europe
and Amerca. Accordingly, proposition, EN-
hraeing not only the rule. that free-ships make
free goods except coniraband articles. but also the
less contested one that neutral property other than
contraband though on board enemies ships, shall
he exempt from confiseation has been submitted
by this Government to those of Europe and Amer
ica.
Russia acted promptly in this matter, and a
convention was concluded between that country
and the u. S, providing for the observance of the
principles announced. not only as hetween them.
selves, hut as between them and al other nations
which shall enter into like stifulatious.
y
formal action upon the subject | am not aware
however that any objection TO the proposed stip>
uation has been made: but on the contrary, they
are Acknowledged to be essential TO that security
OF neutral commerce and the only apparent oh
staele to their general adoption IN the possibii-
II that it may be encountered hy inadmissibie
conditions The King of the Two Sicies has
expressed 10 our Minister at Naples his readiness
TO concur in onr proposition relative TO neutral
-, -
ject- The King Of Prussia entirely approves Of
the project Of treaty to the same effect submitted
to him. bat proposes an additional article provi>
ding for the rennnciaton of privateerng.
Such an article for the most obvious reasons. is
much desired by nations having naval estabish~
ments large in proportion 10 their foreign cons
neFce. If 1 were adopted as an international rule
the commerce Of a nation having comparatively a
small naysl force would be very much at the mer>
cv of its enemy in case OF war with power of
decided naval superiority ',he barestatement Of
the condition in which The Z. s wound be placed
after having surrendered the right 10 resort 10 pri-
watering in the event of war with a belligerent
Of naval superiority, shows that tais government
could never listen to such aproposition. The ma
w of The first naratime poyrer IN Europe IS al
least ten time as large as the U. S.
The foreign commerce Of the two countries is
nearly equal. and about equally exposed TO hos
Tile jepredations. In war between that power
and the Uui1ed States, without resort on our part
to the mercantile marines, the means of our enemy
TO irAict injury upon our commerce vonld be ten
fold greater than ours to retaiiate We could not
extrica-e ourselves from this uneqnaed condition
with sn,h an enemy unless we at once departed
from our present peaceful policy. and become a
grent naval power. Nor woad this country be
better situated in war with one OF the of the sec
ondary naval powers. though the naval disparity
wotd be less.
The great extent and more exposed condition
of cur wide and general commerce would give
anv Of hem like advantage over rs. The pro-
position 10 enter INTO engagements to forego re
sort to privateers m case this country should be
forced into with great naval power, is not
entitled To more favorable consideration than
would he a proposition to agree not o except the
service OF volunteers for Operations ON land, when
the honor or rights of orr country require us 10
ASSUME hostile attitude 1t confidently relies
upon The patriotism ofits citizens not ordinarily
devoted 70 the military procession 10 augment the
army and the navy SO as 70 make them fully ade-
quate to the emergency which calls Them into ae-
ton. The proposal 70 surrender the right 10 en-
ploy privateers is prolesSesllv lounded upon The
principles that private property of uneiIrndine q
non cornbattants though enemies. should he ex-
empt from the -rayages OF was, bat the proposed
surrender goes but little way in carving out the
pyiaciple which equality required; that such pri-
vafe properly should not be siezed by national
Ships Of war. ~ g T-
I Should the leading powers OF Europe concur in
the proposition. as rsle otinferuariehai law to
Except pgvafp property upon the ocean from seiz
Mre by p,hhr armed cruisers as weH as bv pri-
.cateeT< the United States viii readily meet them
upon that broad ground
Since the adjournment of Congress the ratifica
tion OF the treaty between the United State and
Great Brtaa. relative TO the Coast Fisheries and
the Reciprocal trad. with the British n. AmeFi-
can Colonies. have been exchanged and some Of
ats anticipated advaatases are aiCeady -enovea by
uS. although It's fuil execution awaits certain acts
of legislation not vet t9llF performed
4 50 Soou as Il was ratified Great Britain opened
70 our commerce the free navigation Of the St
Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmolested ac-
cess to the shores and bavs from which they had
been previously exclt}eti IN he North American
pgoviaces; IN return for which Size ASKED FOR the
Introduction. free OF duty, iRto the ports OF the
United Sata;es of the fish canght on the same by
British iishermfn. This being the compensation
stipulated in the trea for privilages of the high
a>t iflrortaHcc and vatae 10 the Tinted States,