The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-11-03
Purchnse of Prizc Ships.


The French Consul at the port OF Bos-
ton has given Official notice to our citizens
that the title to ships of hostile .nation,
which they may have acquired By purchase
since the beginning of hostility betweenl
the Allies and Russia, will not be recog-
nized by his government. This ATTEMPT to
erect the peculiar and local law OF France
and to announce the general rules OF inter-
national law, in respect to the purchase OF
belligerent ships by ncutrals on this side of
the water, is one which might intimidate
weak notion, bat will have quite contrary
effect here, though the probability of the
French Government ever being put in po-
sition TO enforce its principles, so far as the
United States are concerned, is very remote
indeed. The Russians having destroyed the
best part of their naval forces, are not like
ly to capture any French ships, and ifthey
did, there would be very bad market for
them.
Some three months since Mr.. CRAMPToN,
now resting under the stigma of having
violated cur territory by assisting in enlist.
ments for the Crimea, called for the opinion
of our Government upon this very question.
Upon the occasion the Attorney General Of
the United States, after reviewing the whole
subject in very learned and mastery man
ner, concluded as follows:
"Upon full consideration, therefore, of
all the relations o. the subject, there re-
mains no doubt, in my mind, as to the right
or citizen of the United States to pur.
chase foreign ship Of belligerent power
and this any where, at home or abroad, in o
belligerent port, or a neutral port, even up
on the high seas, provided the purchase be
made bona tde, and the property be passeC
absolutely and without reserve; and tht
ship SO purchased becomes entitled to bea
the flag an1 receive the protection of the
United States"
Whatever room for doubt there may b,
as to some Of the details IF this opinion o
Mr.. Gushing, as upon the right of purchase
ofbelligerent ships and property while i,
transitU on the high seas-and upon thi
point American jurists have intimated con
trary opinion-upon the main point, or
which position is taken directly repugnan
to that of the French Consul at Boston, W.
believe he is sustained by the most author
itative writers, as we'll as by reason an
good sense.
1t is diflicnlt to justify to an unsophistica
ted mind the distinction which the usage
of war have established between the pri
vate property of an enemy's subjects on th
high seas and the same property in an enc
my's territery. In the former case the pro
perty is seized as lawful prize; in the lat
ter it is respected and remains inviolate.
Perhaps the tendency of the present age
to soften and moderate the harsh practices
ofwar, will result in the abrogation of this
questionable distinction and lead to general
respect for private property, whether on
the ocean or on the land, by all civilized
belegent powers. 1t is matter of just
compacency and pride to Americans that
the efforts of that Government on all sub
jects affecting the common interests of ma.
tons have been uniformly exerted in this
liberal direction; aud it cannot be doubted
that, should difficulties arise between our.
selves and France in consequence of theil
conflicting views as to the legality of the
purchase of belligerent ships by neutral ma
tions, the rights of neutrals will find as here
tofore. an uncompromising and dautles:
champion in the United States.-N