The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-25
NEurRAL RIGHTS, ANp THE RIGHT on SEARCH.

NEUTRAL RIGHTS, AND THE RIGHT OF SEARCH.
This interesting subject is discussed with marked ability
by our correspondent A Retired Statesman In connex-
ion with this article the following from an edto-
rial discussion Of the topic in the Citizen of the 22d
inst, win be interesting!
THE RlaHr or sEARcHHer gracious Majesty the Queen
of England the progress Of the begun, going
waive portion Of her undoubted rights"
She is not going to waive or suffer for moment to be
called in question: her right to and search American YES
sells the high This would never do. True the
American nation did partly bring itself TO believe that the
aforesaid fright Of the British sovereign was disposed OF by
the of lsl2A. Bupeace was made without any renun
citation of the right the part OF Britan ana now no
when all whened by American sails the right TO
make them all lie TO ON the summons of British shiphe
right board them with boats crew commanded by small
puppy midspmanthe right TO overhaul their cargo and
ascertain only whether il has anything contraband OF
war;, Chat is any warke stores or inateria) but also
whose property il swheher bona de British neutral or
hostile property and it, in the opinion of the small midshp
man. there be good hold any merchandise SO found
contraband war; be bona de the property
of the ostensb then the right to seize the same and
have his suspicious tried and cleared by some Brit
courtthese rghts all asserted quite as strongly as
ever; and they will be acted upon.
Let readers compare the following extracts.
The Queen of Engands Declaration the Rights Of Neu
contains these words ~ Her Majesty win waive the
right Of Selling enemys property laden board neutral
vessel, aness IL be contraband Of mar.'
But 1t is impossible for her Majesty forego the exercise
ether right of Selling articles contraband of war;"
Now the said articles in neutral vessel
unless she first searches for them.
But lest there should mistake read the British Attor
ney Generals the declaration in the House of
Commons Goth March
at intended to give did that declaration
give uphe right of searching neutral vessels 1t i'm
possible to give up that right and this country still main
tanned its right to search and to seize vessels which carried
enemys dispatches or articles contraband OF war;"
nd tbao MD Tho
haus of your clpperhe will always know
what is contraband Of war;, and what not Why the At
torney General himself does very well know He says:
"Wth reference to the question what contraband
of war; he really could undertake it Off hand
II was Of the most difficult and complicated questions
very considerable portion of any treatise that law He
might howeyer generally place contraband OF war under
pcabe directly to the purposes Of as
ammunon and secondly articles that capable of be-
ing applied indirectly the purposes Of by enabling the
maintenance of hostilities, such as provisions.
All the details that go make up these two heads the
British officer who has brought your clipper expected to
keep in his head
But the cargo of the said clipper DO manfestly not
contraband of warthat is neither and ammunition
sail cloth, ropes hemp and cordage, nor proy
ionsif short be whale oil, gold yet many other
questions will arise before the responsible officer can bid your
ship pass Is the property neutral property or British
peradvenue Russian and il it purpors to be British
neutral then perhaps it not bona de perhaps it
was purchased before Lord John Russell in the
course of the debate of 30th March, says;
There was doubt that bona fde British property
board neutral vessels would not be liable to seizure Wh
the second portion of the question
contemplation by which license would be granted to
British subjects in the Russian territories to bring away
their de property in neutral vessels notwithstand
ing the existence of blockade.
You it must be all bona d And II the little officer
any suspect eouson Why he must make pro-
vona prize Of the cargo, and bring the clipper into some
British port to be adjudicated upon
This is the principle. free ships make free goods con-
ceded gracou at rate the practice of selling
the goods be. ndor certain circumstanceswaived