Washington sentinel., 1855-01-10
Wasbingtnn gsntinsl.
From the London Times.
The Presidents Message.

The annual Message of the President Of the
United States presents a striking contrast to
the interests and events which at this time so
powerfully affect the Governments of Europe,
and it materially differs in tone from the ad-
dresses previously delivered by President Pierce
We observe with satisfaction that he now alb
stains from any attempt to irritate and excite
the feelings of the American people against
foreign countries, or to raise pretensions incon.
sistent with the rights Of other States; while a
very considerable portion Of the Message is de-
voted to an elaborate exculpation Of the Amer
lean Government from the censure Justly in
Cured, both at home and abroad, by the out.
rageous attack Of the Cyane on the undeiended
settlers and traders of Greytown. The princi-
pal interest of the United States in the present
war arises from its effect on their own position
as neutrals, and the statements of Mr. Pierce
on this subject are not without importance.
The measures taken by the French and Eng
lish Governments at the commencement of
hostilities were Of a nature to disarm the re-
monstrances of the neutral maritime States,
and to extend the fullest protection to their
trade, even in the produce Of the belligerent
countries II seems, however, that the Cabi.
net Of Washington availed itself of this oppor-
tunity to urge upon the belligerents the per-
manent recognition by general agreement of
the principles OF maratime law which have
been admitted by way Of exception in the pre-
sent contest, and in fact, to- revive the engage
ments of the armed neutrality of 1850. The
Emperor of Russia expressed his readiness to
comply with the proposition, circumstance
the less to be wondered at as the result of the
present war already shows that Russia is abso-
lutely dependant on neutrals for the mainte-
nance of her maritime trade, and convention
has accordingly been concluded between Rus
sia and the United States on this point. The
King of Naples has likewise expressed his
readiness TO adhere to the doctrine Of free ships
and free goods and the King of Prussia ac-
companied his assent with q suggestion for an
additional article to the convention renouncing
altogether the practice OF privateering. To
this proposal the American Government de-
murs, and, although the example Of all the
beligerents in the present war has prescribed
that most barbarous practice of maritime war
fare, Mr.. Pierce still appears to regard it as one
Of the most essential resources to which the
American Government could have recourse in
the event Of hostilities with one of the great
maritime Powers. At the same time he adds,
that if the leading Powers of Europe concur
in proposing, as a rule of international law, to
exempt private property upon the ocean from
seizure by public armed cruisers as well as by
will readily meet us on that broad ground. To
that result we have no doubt that the practice
Of modern warfare is gradually tending, for
it is impossible to maintain any permanent
system between the ancient and absolute rule
, of the sea, which subjected enemy's property
to capture under all circumstances and the
concession of freedom Of trade by private per-
sons of all nations during war, except in 80 far
as trade may be restricted in contraband OF
war or by the rules Of blockade. This country,
as great naval Power, might lose by such a
concession Of one mode of harrassing the enc.
my; but this country as great trading Power
would gain infinitely more in a war with such
maritime States as France and the United
States by securing her own mercantile commu-
nications; for the grand results of war are to
be attained only by the successful employment
Of the public forces, and not by the seizure OF
private property. No greater proof could be
given of the amicable relations of this country
with the United States than the conclusion OF
the treaty which opened the navigation Of the
St. Lawrence settled the Fisheries dispute and
removed all restrictions from the trade between
the British North American colonies and the
American Union. Although some Legislative
measures are still required in both countries to
give foil effect to this treaty, it has at once
been carried into effect az far as circumstances
would allow, and the beneficial results Of the
measure are already felt by the subjects Of the
British Crown as well as by the citizens of the
United States. The relations of the American
Government with that Of France are briefly but
not dscourteously adverted to, and the Difficult
ties which had arisen out Of supposed affron,
TO the French consul in California and TO Mr.
Soule on his way through France to Spain ap
pear to have left no serious impression of an
unfavorable character. No direct allusion j:
made to the affairs Of Cuba, and the late change:
in the government Of Spain, suspended fol
time the negotiations with the Cabinet q
Washington on this and other subjects; but
Mr.. Pierce expresses desire that suitable ar
rangements may be made " for restoring har
mony and preserving peace between the two
countries, An expression which implies thai
their present relations are not entirely harmo
nious or pacific. 1t deserves to be remarked
that the American government claim, ms a mat
ter Of right, exemption from the payment Of
the Sound dues to the Danish Government, and
this claim is made at time when the princi.
pie of these dues is strongly contested by Prus-
sia and some of the other North German States.
For several centuries these dues have been
more or less a subject Of contention between
Denmark and the Maritime Powers, and ii
would be desirable that the question should be
equitably adjusted. The American Govern.
ment gives notice Of terminating its exist
ing commercial treaty with Denmark, in order
TO bring these claims under review. We
shall not follow Mr. Pierce into his attempt
TO defend the unwarrantable attack upon Grey
town, which has already been judged in every
part Of the world as it deserves. The effort
made to wipe off this stain from his Admins
tration, is proof that the guilt Of the transac
ton is not unfelt by its authors; for, although
they profess TO describe the unfortunate inhabi
tants of Greytown as adyenturers, who repud
ated the control of every power whatever, it is
not unknown in the United States that many
Of them were American citizens, and that their
claim to occupy Greytown was at least as good
as many Of the pretensions advanced by Presi
dent Pierce himself Greytown was, in fact a
free town, likely to rise into commercial i'm
portance by its position on the San Juan de
Nicaragua. AS one Of the termini Of the pro.
jected canal, il was under the express proteciion