The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22
be introduced in the Senate debate.-Despatch
TO the Ne,o York Tribune.
F 0REIGN CORRESPONDENCE
LONDON, Nay 2, 1856.

Il
| The House of Commons has been refractory
since the shameful Encouragement on the day
of the naval review. 1t takes but little to
overthrow an administration already unpopular,
and Palmsrston and his associates have had
| all they could do to keep together and keep in
power. They have already been outvoted in
the House several times, and though upon
measures of comparatively little Importance,
yet we see " the beginning of the end..'
| The notifications of peace have at last been
exchanged by the different Powers, and peace
has been formally proclaimed by the Queen
Next Sunday is appointed day of public
Thanksgiving, and fireworks are to amuse the
people OF London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, in
| few days.
One of the most important subjects for dis
| cussion the past week is the report of Count
| Walewskis speech before the Peace Congress,
on the subject of European politics. The fact
most severely criticised here is that in which he
called attention to the public policy of Belgium
| 1t seems that the freedom with which the editors
| and pamphleteers of Belgium canvass the acts of
Louis Napoleon is exceedingly offensive to that
able but unprincipled monarch. He is not
content with putting his heel upon the pen of
| France. He would have the pen of all coun-
| tries silent as to his vices. Count Walewszi
says;
we SHOulu regret 10 De placed unQer the
obligation of ourselves making Belgium to
understand that it is imperatively necessary to
modify legislation which is not compatible
| with the fulGlment by her Government of the
first of International duties-namely, that of
| not tolerating intrigues having for their avowed
| object to disturb the tranquility of neighbor-
| ing States"
| The press here speaks out in pretty severe
| tones in condemnation of such threats. l am
astonished that the peace press here does not
take offence at such things. 1t is by acquies-
cling in such outrages that it has rendered itself
so very unpopular. Peace with all nations can
be advocated without becoming the defender of
despots. That is the secret of the unpopuiarty
of such really great men as Golden and Bright.
In their eagerness for peace, they have actually
appeared to take the side of wrong and despot-
ism. This the people will not soon forget.
The Government just now is i'll at ease re-
| speeding Australia. The colonists are demand
| ing more and more, until they come little short
of actual independence. TheMelbourne Herald
says:
"The continued and growing want of steam
navigation is want that presses upon us with
appalling interest, when we reflect upon the
vicissitudes of war, and bear in mind the an
nouncements that have recently been made to
US, of the dissentions between the most power
full States, one of which has hitherto remained
aloof from European strife, and of the despatch
of formidable and therefore menacing fleet
| to the American waters-with what justification
and with what probable consequences we can
not guess. Orr Oaon feelings here-without
batting one jot of their loyalty and affection to
the throne of England-are much more inclined
to am,ity Nth the United .Snates than those of
the people IN the mother country. We can I'M
derstand the nature and the pungency of their
former grievances and we can sympathise with
the determination which led them to cast off
the yoke. We have likewise many thousands
of American citizens in this colony who are
identified with us in all our great undertakings,
and who are endeared to US by their circum-
spect and honorable conduct. We look with
horror upon the prospect Of war between the
two nations, of which both parties here would
be the helpless and innocent victims; and we
think it too bad that, under such circumstances,
we should be left to the possibility of receiving
the first intimation of an outbreak from some
Paul Jones, who might bring the news, and
make us pay for his CELEBRITY"
| The treaty of peace has been formally laid
before Parliament, and it differs but slightly, if
at all, from the version | gave you last week.
/ did not supply the fifth, sixth, seventh, and
eighth articles, for they were not published
Those appear now to contain the following pro-
visions-the fifth, general amnesty is granted;
the sixth, all prisoners are Immediately given
up; the seventh and eighth-very important
articles-guaranty the independence of Turkey,
and make her for the first time full partci-
pator in the public lay and system of Europe.
| These articles are exceedingly important, and
compose one of the most satisfactory features
| of the whole treaty.
By the convention, between the different
Powers, respecting the Straits ofthe Dardsnelles
and the Bosphorus, it is agreed that no ship Of
war shall enter those waters in time of peace,
except the Sultan grants irmans for light ves-
sells employed in the missions of the foreign
| Powers.
By the convention between the Emperor of
Russia and the Sultan, respecting the naval
force in the Black Sea, it is agreed that each
country shall only number six steam vessels of
| fifty metres in length, and of no more than
eight hundred tons burden, and four light ves-
sells, of tonnage which shall not exceed two
hundred tons each. The purpose of these YES
sells is to protect the commerce of the Black
| Sea.
By convention between Russia and the
Allies, it is agreed that the Aland Islands shall
| not be fortified.
Perhaps the most important document pub
| lished, which originated with the Congress, is
the declaration respecting the maritime law,
and Il cannot do better than give it to you in
| full.
"The Plenipotentiaries who signed the Treaty
of Paris, of the 3Oth of March, 1856, assembled
| in Conference, considering:
"That maritime law, in time of war, has long
been the subject of deplorable disputes;
"That the uncertainty of the law and of the
duties in such a matter gives rise to differences
| of opinion between neutrals and belligerents,
which may occasion serious difficulties, and
even conAic
"That it is consequently advantageous to es-
tablish a uniform doctrine on so important a
point;
"That the Plenipotentiaries assembled in
Congress at Paris cannot better respond to the
intentions by which their Governments are an
mated, than by seeking to introduce into inter-
national relations fxed principles in this re-
spect.
"The above mentioned Plenipotentisries, be-
| ing duly authorized, resolved to concert among
themselves as to the means of attaining this OBJ
ject; and, having come to an agreement, have
adopted the following solemn declarations:
| 81. Privateering is, and remains, abolished
90. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods,
with the exception of contraband of war.
| SO. Neutral goods, with the exception of
contraband of war, are not liable to capture un-
der enemy's flag.
"a. Blockades, in order to be binding, must
be effective-that is to say, maintained by a
force sufficient really to prevent access to the