New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-11

the inherent peacefulness Of 3 self.soverning in-
dustrisl population.
Among the official opinions Of a subsequent pc.
Rod, the most remarkable are the Instructions Of
J. Q. Adsms in 1s23, to Mr.. Anderson on his de-
parture as Plenipotentiary to Colombia In these
Instructions Mr.. Adams exposed the contrast De-
tween the existing laws regarding neutrals and the
principles Of justice The absolute neutrality OIL
the high sea is prcclaimed-a neutrality which 10
wars, nor priysteeTing nor right OF search nor
any pretext whatsoever should distrust. Accord
ING 10 this view, begerents should be deferred
from carving war into waters not exclusively their
own. Since that period our statesmen unhlnch-
iney followed the example of Mr. Adams uni
formly insisting on the principles he thus laid down
as the peremptory basis of international inter
course, although in their dealings with European
Cabinets, especially that of England they postpone
the cOnsummatiOn of their doctrine
President jackson renewed negotiations in this
spirit-amone other European Powers with Rus
sia--but without success. Although Randolph
CLAY. then the American Charge d'Afaires at St.
Petersburg. wrote that the mutual disposition OF
the two nations required only little time to ma
ture into firm and enduring alliance, based on
the principles in question still that time was more
and more prOtracted Neither Buchanan, Wilkins,
nor Cambreleng could move the Russian Cabinet
TO take d decided step; Nicholas acknowledged
-he merits of the case but was 10th TO ruffie En-
clsnd In the dccidedOppositiOu Of other European
Powers. the most formidable obstacles appeared
the more SO after the conclusion of the Quadruple
Alliance On behalf of Turkey, by which Russia
became in measure maritime ally OF England
Jefferson said rightly that the European Powers
have too many collateral interests to promote so
liberal m object The United States alone has
negotiated for it frankly and freely.
Tie confusion in which the question of neutral
rights is involved is made apparent by the present
war. Some of these rights have been temporarily
conceded BY England, as mark of her cOnsdera-
ton for this country; but the principle that the
FLAG covers the merchandise, and others like 1t, re-
mains undecided, notwithstanding the efforts of Mr..
Buchanan, now in London, and notwithstanding
the united entreates of Sweden, Norway Den
maxi, the Netherlands and Prussia.
The latest diplomatic movement in the right
direction is the treaty concluded last year between
Russia and the United States. This document is
neither broad nor radical but, measured by the
present low standard of politics, is progressive
This formal advance in diplomacy is due solely to
the efforts Of the American Observation-Disclosures
which might long ago have sufficed to bring En-
gland into line but for the colonial spirit of our
general policy. AcknOw ledging, however, the good
we have, We fndtbat seventy years of American
effort in this channel have inaugurated at last
a more or less perfect system of international JUS
tee and comfy to Which history has been hitherto
stranger and which would never have had its
birth amid the treachery and sefshness of the
a.onarchical principles. If we have not actually
achieved our great purpose, we have opened the
way to an international adjustment of the claim,
of neutras, and have drawn from such man as
Sir William MoleswOrth the acknowledgment that
if the present war results in the abolition of pri.
yate warfare on the high seas, it must be con
sidered benefit to the human race
TUT nnNTrST ron SDEAKrQ ar THE