The true Democrat., 1856-12-16

)uStfnehI ol peIuillS ones.
 Negotiations entered into for the purposs ., relieving our commercial intercourse with ,b' island of Cuba of some of its burdens. and n. s
 vidipg for the more speedy settlement of loc.l O disputes growing out ol that intercourse b,s
 not yet been attended with any results. Soon after the commencement of the late w,. in Europe, that government submitted to u. consideration of all maratimc nations, two n,i, ples for the security of neutral commerce: on. that the neutral flag should cover eneme, goods, except articles contratand of war:a,i | the other, that neutral property on board mr chant vessels of heliserents should be exenr from condemnation, with the exception of eos | trat and articles. These were not presented
 new rules of international law, having be
 generally claimed by neutras, though not |.
 ways admitted by beligerehts. One of the pn l ties to the war-Russia--a well as seyect
 neutral powers, promptly acceeded to thes l propositlors; and the two other principal bel
 erents, Great Britain and France, having co'
 scented to observe them for the present occaso,
 a favorable opportunity seemed to be present.
 for obtaining general recognition of them boS | in Europe and America.
 1 But Great Britain and France, in comma,
 with most of the States of Europe, while f,
 bearing to reject, did not affirrhatively act unm
 the overtures of the United States
 While the question was in this position th
 representatives of Russia, France, Great Br
 tain, Austria, Prussia Sardaria, and Turks
 assembled at Paris, took into consideration tb
 subject of maritime rights, and put forth da
 claration containing the two principles wbd
 this government had submitted, nearly tvo
 years before, to the consideration of martin. powers and adding thereto the following pm
 position: Privateering is, and remains abolsk
 ed" and "Bockades, iu order to be bindp,
 must be effective, that Is to say, main tained b
 a force, sufficient really. to prevent access t
 the coast of the enemy" and to the decar
 ton thus composed of four points, two of whd
 had already been proposed by the United States
 this government has been invited to accede h
 all the powers represented at Paris, exceg
 Great Britain and Turkey.
 To the last of the two additional propositiog
 that iu relation to blockades-there can ce.
 tainly be no objection. IL is merely the dsk
 hilton of what shall constitute the etfectual ip ,vestment of blockaded place, definition o
 which this government has always contende
 claiming indemnity for losses where practies violation of the rule thus defined has been h
 furious to commerce. As to the remaining art
 cle of the declaration of the conference ( | "'io, tHot IS anu remdlnS aOe
 llshed." certainly cannot ascribe to the DOW
 CTS represented in the conference of Paris, an7
 but liberal and phianthropc views in the at
 tempt to change the unquestonable rule q
 maratime law in regard to privateerng. Thei proposition was doubtless intended to impr approval of the principles that private propertr 1 upon the ocean, although it might belong to tn.
 citizens of belligerent State, should be ex empJed from capture; and had that propositioi
 been so framed as to give full effect to the principle 1t would have received my ready assent on behalf of the United States. But the measure proposed is inadequate to that purpose. ltis true that if adopted, private property upon the ocean would be withdrawn from one mode of pluuder, but left exposed meanwhile, to another mode, which could be used with increased effectiveness The aggres. slve capacity of great naval powers would be thereby augmented, bile the defensive abiliy of others would be Ieduced Though tn, surrender of the means of prosecuting hostiE . ties by employing privateers, as proposed by ! the conference of Paris, is mutual in terms /. yet, Tn practical effect, 1t would be the relm. qulshment of right of little value to one cIas oi States, but of essential importance to anothc :. 1 and far larger class It ought not to haze . been anticipated that a measure, so inadeduab . to the accomplishment of the proposed object { and so unequal in its operation would still re. |, ceive the assent of all maritime powers pr. . vate property would be still left to the depre. : datious of the public armed cruisers. , have expressea readiness on the part of ( thls government to accede to all the prihciuls contalned Tn the declaration of the conference + of farls, provided that relating to the abandon. ment ot prlvateering can be 50 amended as 10 : p at f thp N. aat f.N- was intended, the immunity of private proper. :, ty on the ocean from hostile capture. To et feet this object, 1t is proposed 10 add to the 1. deciaraton that "prlyateering is and remains Q abolished" the following amendment: And Y that the private property of subjects and cir- zens ot abeligereut on the high seas, shall Js exempt from seizure by the public armed yes n seIs of the other beligerent, except it be con- Q traoand" This amendment has been pressn,. n ed not only to the powers which have askA a our assent to the declaration to abolish priva ', teering, but to all other maritime States. Thus ', lar It has not been rejected by any, and i. ia. b vorably entertained by all which have made !, any communication in reply |, l Several ot the governments, regarding withf, favor the proposition of the United States, hayeo delayed definite action upon it. only for theo purpose of consulting with others, parties to thst, conference of Paris. I have the satisfaction o. '. stating, however, that the Emperor of Russis if has entirely and explicitly approved of that f, 1 modification, and will cooperate in endeayor. ing to obtain the assent of other powers; and Il that assurances of a similar purport have been h received in relation to the disposition of tho {, Emperor of the French. h The present aspect of this important srbiec. allows us to cherish the hope that principlsw so humane III Its character so just and equal e It's operation, 80 essential to the prosperity Oisr commercial nations, and so consonant to thsbl sentiments of this enlightened period of thsth world, will command the approbaton of aIth maritime power, and thus be incorporatsd ptofr the code of int national law n,
 My views on the subject are more runv seec forth in the reply of the Secretary of State, nj copy of which Is herewith transmitted to tbt; communications on the subject made to tbpu, government, especially to the communication Obl France. .. The government of the United States has are all times regarded with friendly interest tbsw other States of America, formerly, like thse, country, European colonies, and now indepen. " dent members of the great family of nations Ia but the unsettled condition of some of them, h, distracted by frequent revolutions. and thus n al capable of regular and firm internal admins SC tration, has tended to embarrass occasionally es our puohc intercourse, by reason of wrong II winch our citizens suffer at their hauds aud az which they are slow to redress. bi Unfortunately it is against the republic o,tl Mexico, with which it is our special desire to |, maintain good understanding, that such com. pl p!alnts are most numerous; and although ear SC nestly urged upon its attention, they have not oI as yet received the consideration which this government had a right to expect. While re. tr paratlon for past injuries has been withheld W others have been added The political cond. 2, ''oh oi that country, however, has been susa ae as to demand forbearance on the part of tb e United States. 1 shall continue my eff,rts al procure for the wrongs of our citizens thatre tt dress which is indispensable to the continus ii friendly association of the two republics al
 The peculiar condition of affairs i'm Nicars al qua in the early part of the present year. rss