The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1856-12-20

rty OF neutral commerce, one, thai tn
neutral flag should cover enemies. goods
except all articles con,rahand OF war
and the other. that neutral property o.
board merchant vessels OF bsll,yeren,s
should be excerpt from CO ,demna,ien
with exception oE con,raband articles
These We're no, presented as new rule,
OF international law, having been gener
ally claimed by neutrals. though no, al
ways admitted by b,ll,gerents One o
The parties TO the war, Russia. as well a:
several neutral powers, promptly aeoedee
10 these propositions, and two other bel
hgeren,s, Great Britain and France, hay
ing consented 10 observe them for the
present occasioa a favorable opportunity
seemed TO be presented for obtaining d
general recognition of them, both ir
Europe aud America. s
But Great Britain aud Franco. in com.
mon with most OF the States Of Europe
while forbearing to rejee, did got atiirma.
urely act u, on the over,ures OF the Uni.
ted States. While the question was In
this position, the representatives of Rus
sia. FraIce. Great Britain, Austria,
Prussia, SARDINIA and Turkey assembled
at Paris, took into consideration the SUBJ
ject OF maritime rights, and pu, forth a
declarallon containing two principles.
which this government had submitted
nearly two wears before to the considera.
ton oil msritime powers, and added there
to the bolIowing propositions Pnva.
teerlng is, and remains abolished, and
blockades In order to be binding mus, be
effective; that is TO say, maintained by
force sutiicien, really TO prevent acces.
to the coast OF the enemy, and to the de-
claralien thus composed of four points,
two Of which had already been proposed
by the United States.
This Government, has been invited 10
accede BY all the Powers represented a.
Paris, except Great Britain and Turkey.
to the last of the two additional proposi-
tons. That in relation to hloekades there
can certainly be no objection.
Ii is merely the definition Of what shall
constitute the efectual Investment OF n
blockaded place-a definition ior which
this government. has always eon,ended,
claiming indemnity for losses where
PRACTICAL violation OF the rule thus defined
has been injurious TO our commerce.. -
As TO the remaining article oil the deeIar-
alton Of Conference OF Paris-that pri.
watering is and remains aboltshed--I
certainly cannot ascrlbe 10 the powers
represented in the Conference OF Paris,
any but liberal and philan,hropic views in
the attempt 10 change the unquesilon bic
rule Of maritime law in regard 10 prva-
tsering. Their proposition was doubtless
intended to imply approval 70 tie ps,nel-
pie that private property upon the ocean,
although it may belong 10 the tizens oil
a belligeIent State, should te exempted
from capture; and had that proposition
been so far framed as TO give full effect
10 the principle, it would have received
my ready assent on behalf OF the United
States; but the measure proposed is in
adequate to that purpose.
|, is true, ii adopted private property up
on the ocean would be withd rawn from one
mode OF bunder, bu, lel, exposed, mean.
while, TO aGo;her mode which could be
used with increased effectiveness. The
aggressive capacity of grea, naval row.
ers would be thereby augmented, while
the defensive ability Of others would be
reduced. Though the surrender Of the
means Of prosecuting hos,illiies by EN-
ploylng rrivaisers as proposed by the
Conference oil Paris IS mutual In terms.
yet in practical effect 1t would b. the Ie-
lInquishmen, CT a Eight of little value to
cne class OF States, but oil essential i'm
porlance to another aud far larger
c,ass.
it ought not to have been anticipated
that measure SO inadequate % the ac-
compliShment OF the proposed object, and
SO unequal in its operation would receive
the assent OF all maritime powers. Pr.
va,e property would be still lef, 10 the
depredatlons OF the public armed cruls-
ers. have expressed readiness on
the part OF this good to accede to all the
principles contained 10 the declaration oil
the conference Of Paris, provided tia. re-
la.lng to the abandonment oil pfisateer-
lag can be SO amented as 10 effect the
object Tor which, as IS preslu Cd i, was
intended, immunity Of private property
on the ocean from hostile capture. To
tins effect this object It is proposed 10 add
to the declaration That privateefing s and
remains abolished, the following amend
ment: "And that the private properly
of subjects and citizens of beiIlgereut
on the high seas shall be exempt from
seizure by the public armed vessels OF
the other belhgeren,, except IT be contra
band"
This amendmrnt has been presented,
not only to the Powers which have asked
our assent 20 ihe declaration 10 abolish
prlvateerlng, but 10 all The other maritime
States. Thus lar it has not been rejected
by any, and is iavorab!y entertained by
all which nave made any co nmunica,ion
in reply. Several Of the rnmeu,s
regarding with favor the proposition Of
the United States, have delayed dtfnile
action upon il, cny for the purpose oi
consulting with other Parties 10 The Com
ference OF Paris. | have the satisfaction
OF stating, however, that she Emperor Of