Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-06-21
For the Standard.
tut tHt OtH
To the Editors Of the Standard:

Standard.
To the Editors Of the Standard:
learn from correspondent in South America,
that our former fellow-citizen, Mr.. PHno WHITE.
now Minister Resident at Quito, and who was spe.
claly commissioned as plenipotentary to negotiate
a treaty with the government of Ecuador in relation
to neutral rights &C., has finally succeeded, after
somewhat protracted negotiation in concluding
Convention with the Executive Authorities of that
Republic, whose stipulatons are understood to be
similar to those contained in the treaty between the
United States and Russia, not long since ratified at
Washington in which latter instrument it is known,
the broad and bene6cent maxim, that I" free ships
make free goods" was laid down and established as
a settled principle of international law.
appears by reference to the records of our for
egn intercourse, that the early statesmen of Re-
public were not only among the foremost of dplo-
matists in procaiming this enrolling sentiment to
the world, but were the very first to give it the per-
manence of principle Of national law. So early as
1852 just after our country had emerged from Col.
onial dependence upon Great Britain, three among
the most illusrious of our revolutionary fathers
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas JEFF
terson-who were commissioned by the "Continen-
tai Congress for the purpose, concluded treaty of
friendship, amity and commerce, between the United
States OF America and the King of Prussia e. Fred
erick the Greatly one of the most powerful poten-
tates of his day-in which, for the first time, i: is
believed, in the diplomatic history of the world, the
liberal and enlightened principle that Stree ships
make free goods" was Incorporated into solemn
compact between two nations
That important act of those great men and revered
patriots, served as the nucleus of philanthropic
and progressive system of measures, as marking the
policy of our international relations which is now
coming to be acknowledged by the principal mari
time countries of the world as the simplest, the
safest and the wisest which any people ever adop-
ted. Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with
all nations entaDgling alliances with none" is the
axiom which those earliest and most profound of
our dplomatsts established, and which still serves
as the broad basis upon which the international code
of our country rests
Cherishng an undying gratitude to the ilustrious
fathers Of our national existence, from whom we
have inherited the priceless boon Of free and liberal
institutions and who inaugurated for our guidance
foreign policy that challenges the admiration of an
enlightened world, it is peculiarly fitting that We,
their political progeny, who are the immediate bene-
fcaries of all those blessings should be jealous and
eeaseess in our labors to extend and perpetuate
tnem Tor the benefit Of succeeding generations Of
feemen And it must be gratifying to every patriot
and phanthropist to learn that the efforts Of our
natonai government to induce all nations to acoui
esce IN course Of policy alike benefcent andmag-
unanimous with regard to ae1tral commerce, have