The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-12

On (which had hifcauv Doeh- -pfUpOseu Dy
g, United States, this government has beeni
III vited to accede by all the powers represent,
IN ut Paris, except Great Britain and Turke
n To the last Of the two additional propos
ie tions-that in relation 10 blockades-thel
rs can certainly be no objection. II is mercl
o the definition of what shall constitute III
4 eiractual investment of blockaded place.
r definition for. which this government has a
y WAYS contended, claiming indemnity for los
l. es where a practical violation of the rul
'e thus defined has been injurious to our com
mercc As to the remaining article Of Oh
declaration of the conference ut Paris, tha
n plivateering is and remains Abolished
certainly cannot ascribe to the powers rep
j resented in the conference Of Paris, any bu
: liberal and philanthropc views in the at
!. tempt 20 change the unquestionable rul,
of maritime law In regard to privateering
, Their proposition was doubtless intended tc
0 imply approval os the principle that privat,
property upon the ocean, although il nigh,
r belong 20 che citizens of b,lligcrent State
/; should be exempted from capture and had
: that proposition been NJ framed as 20 Civ
full cilcct to the principle, At would have re-
, teiyed my ready assent on behalf OF the
, United States.
But the measure proposed is inadequate
, To that purpose Ii is truo that u adopted
: private property upon the ocean would b,
; withdrawn from one mode OF plundrr, bu,
lefs exposed, meanwhile, TO another mode.
which could he used with increased effective
ncss. The aggressive capacity OF great naval
powers would bc thereby augmented, will,
the defensive ability of Others would be rc-
duccd. Though the surrender Of the means
of prosecuting hostilities hy employing pri
ydteers, ~ proposed by the conferences Of
Paris, is mutual in terms, yet in practical
effect, it would be the REIMBURSEMENT 0f IA
right of little value tO on, class OF States.
bat of essential Importance another
and far larger class IL ought no
to have been anticipated trait a measure, $,
inadequate to thc accomplishment of thc
OBI ct,nnd so unequal in its operation, would
receive the assent of all maritime powers
Private property would bc still lett to the
depredatiJDs of the public arnsl cruisers.
have expressed u readiness on the part OF
this government, to acccdc to ull the princi-
pies contained in the declaration OF Paris,
provided that relating to the abandonment
Of priyatecring en- be ~ amended as TO ef.
feet the object for which, us Is presumed III
was intended, the immunity of private prop
erty on the ocean from hostile capture. To
effect this object, 1t is PROPOSED to add to the
declaration that priyateerlng is and 70.
mains abolished" the following amend
ment; "And that the private property Of
subjects and citizens Of beligcrcnt on the
high seas, shall be exempt from seizure by
the public armed vessels of the other bcllig
erent, except 1t be contraband.' This
amendment has b en- presented not only to
the powers which have asked our assent 10
the declaration TO abolish privatccring, but
to all other maritime States. Thus far il has
not been rejected by any, and is favorably
entertai. ed by all which have made any
communication in reply.
Several OF the governments, regarding
with favor the proposition Of the United
States, have delayed definite action upon it,
only for the purpose OF consulting with 9th.
ers, parties % the conference OF Paris.
have the satisfaction of stating, however,
that the Emperor of Russia has entirely und
explicitly approved Of that notification and
will cooperate in endeayoring to obtain the
assent Of other powers and that assurances
of q similar purport have been received in
relation to the disposition of the Emperor OF
the French.
The present aspect Of this important
subject, allows us 10 cherish the hope
that principle 20 humane in its character,
30 just and equal in its operation, 50 essen
tial to the prosperity ofcommercial nations,
and 80 consonant to the sentiments OF this
enlightened period of the world, will com.
mand tho appreciation Of all maritime pow
ers, and thus be incorporated into the code |
of international law.
My views on the sublcc: are more fully
set forth in the reply of the Secretary Of
State, u copy of which is herewith trans
mtted, to the communications on the sub |
ject made to this government, especially TO |
the communication OF Franco.
The government of the United States has
ut all times regarded with friendly interest
the other States Of America, formerly, like |
this country, European colonies, and now
independent members of the great family of |
nations. But the unsettled condition oi \
them, distracted by frequent revolutions, and
thus incapable of regular and film internal
administration, las tended to emblrrIss oc.
casonally our public intercourse. by reason
,f wrongs which our citizens sull,sr nc their
hands, and which they are slow to redr'ss.
Unfortunately 1t is against tho Republic |
OF Mcxlco. with which IL is our special de-
sire to maintain god undcrs anding, that
-uch complaints are mos, numerous
although earnestly urged upon its attention,
they have not asy"t received the considers.
ton which this government had right to
expect. While rcparatiOn for past injuries
has been withheld, Others have been added
The political condition of that country,
however, has been such as to demand for.
he rance ON tho part Of the United States
! shall continue my Efforts to procure for the
wrOngsOf our citlzcns that redress which il
Indispensable to the continued friendly asso-
ciation of the two Republics.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Mica
rigua, in the curly part Of tn present year,
rendered il important that this government
should have diplomatic relations with thar
State. Through its sterritory had been OPEN
cd one OF the principal thoroughfires ac,oss
1 NbV ioshH'' eSh"'NNiHS -NOftu -DitU
America, on which vast amount of prop.
srty was transported, and 10 which our cit.
liens resOrted in great numbers. IN passing
between tho Atlantic and Pacific coasts d
the United States. The protection Of both
required that the G1sting power in that
State should biHyS .srded Us responsible
government; Kits minister was accord.
ingly received. But he remained here only
a short time. Soon thereafter tho political
Affairs of Nicaragua underwent uniayorable
change, and bacame involved in much un-
ccrtainty AMI Confusion. Diplomatic rep
rescntatiycs from two contending parties,
have been recently sent To this government
but with the imperfect information possess
cd, II was not possible 10 decide which was
the government de Jado; and, awaiting
further Developments, hare refused to re-.
coiye either. So n st -r-- ir \
Questions OF u most serious nature are
pending betwcen the United States and Re.
public Of New Grenada. The coyernmcn,