The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-12-24

Negotiations entered INTO for The pur
pose OF relieving our commercial inter
course with the Island oI Cuba of some
ct its burdens, and providing for the
moie speedy settlement of local L sputes
growing out Of that niercoLrse, have not
Yet been attended with any results.
S"n after the coinmen, enrnt of the
late war III Eur pc, this government sub
United To the CONS drraiiun Of all mari
'i"ie nail"ns, t"" principles for the secu
rty ot neutral commerce {; one, tha' the
neutral flag should cover er emies' goods,
except articles cnntrabanJ of war and
the ther, that neutral property on board
merchant vessels OF belligereuts, should
bc exempt from condemnation, with the
exception of cou,raband articles. These
were moi presented as new rules of intel
national law having been generally
claimed by neu,rsls, though not always
admitted 10y belligeren,s. One ot the
parties 10 the -Russia-as well rs
several neutral powers, promptly acceded
TO these propositions and the two other
principal b.lligcrents, Great Britain and
France having consented To observe them
tor the present occasion, n favorable op.
portunl,y seemed TO be presented for ob.
tanning general recoun tion of them
both III Europe and America.
But Great Britain and France. in com
mon with most Of the States Of Europe,
While iorebearing to reject, did lot affirm
aIlvely Act upon the over,ures of the
Uuit-d States.
While The question was in this position,
the Representatives Of Russia, France,
Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia,
and Turkey assembled at Paris, took into
consideration the subject Of maritime
rights, and put forth a declaration contain
ing the :wo principles which this govern.
in"nl had submitted, nearly two years
before, to the consideration Of maritime
powers, and adding thereto the following
propositions "Privateering is and re-.
nains abolished" and "Blockadcs, in or.
der to be binding, must be effective. ,ha,
Is {" SAY, maintained 10y force, sufficient
really To prevent access to the coast OF
the eneny;' and to the declaration thus
CONFUSED Of four points, two of which
had already been proposed 10y the United
States, this government has been invited
I" accede 10y all the powers represented
At Paris, except Great Britain and Tur-
key. To the last Of the two additional
propositious-t in relation to blockades
there can certainy y he no objection
1t is merely tue definition Of what shall
constitute the effcctual investment OF p
blockaded place definition for which
this government has always contended,
claiming indemnity for loses where a
practical violation Of the rule thus de-.
fined has been Injurious to our commerce.
AS to the remaining article Of the decla-
ration OF the conference Of Paris, "that
privatecrins is and remains abolished,"-
] certalnl y cannot ascri5e 10 the powers
represented in the conference Of Paris,
and h"l liberal and phlsn,hropic views
III the attempt to change the unques,ion-
able rule Of maritime law i'll regard to
prvstesring. Their proposition WAS doubt
less intended to imply approval Of the
principle that PRIVATE property upon the
ocean although it might belong TO the
citizens Of n heligerent State, should be
exempted from capture; and hal that
proposition been 80 framed as TO give full
effect to the principle, it would have re.
ceived my ready assent on behalf Of the
United States. But the measure propo.
sed is adequate to that purpose. 1t is
true, that it adopted, private property up.
on the ocean would be withdraw from
one mode OF plunder, but left exposed,
meanwhile, to another mode, which could
lie used with increased effectiveness. The
aggressive capacity Of great and naval
powers would he thereby augmented,
While the defensive ability Of othe,s would
bs reduced. Though the surrender Of
the means Of prosecuting hostiIities by
employing privateers, as proposed by the
conference OF Paris, is mutual in terms,
yet, in practical effect, it would be the
accomplishment Of right Of little value
TO one class oS States, but Of essential i'm,
portsn,e to another and far larger class.
IL ought not to have been anticipated
that n measure, so inadequate to the ac-
complishment Of the proposed, object, and
so unequal in its operation, would re.
ceive the assent of all maritime powers.
Private property would be still left TO the
depredations of the public armed cruisers.
nave expressed readiness on the
psri Of This government, TO accede TO all
the principles contained in the declaration
Of the Conference of Paris, provided that
relating 10 the abandonment Of privateer.
ing can I've so amended rs TO effect the
object for which, rs is presumed, il was
intended. the immunity of private prop
eug on the ocean fon hostile capiure. To
eftrc, this ohjrct, il Is proposed TO add to
the declaration that "privateeEing is and
remains abolished" the following amend
ment :, sand that the pivai. property of
subjects and citizens Of beiIigerepi on
the high seas, shall he excerpt from sci
zure by the public armed vessels Of the
other belligerent, except il be contraband."
This amendment has been presented not
only to the powers which hayo asked oar
assent 10 tho declaration 10 abolish priys
,ss<iug. but TO all so,ber maritime S<A,es.