Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-12-12


liberal and phianthropic views in the
attempt to change the unquestionablc rule ef
maritime law i'm regard to priyateerinr- -
l1eir proposition was doubtless intended to
. imply approval OF the principle that private
property upon the OCEAN, although it might
| belong to the citiz'us Of u belIigerant State,
should bee exempted from capture and had
tbat pop)'it'un been SO framed as to give
full effect To tlc principle, it would have
received Wy ready assent on behalf Of the
United States.
But th' measure proposed is inadequate to
that purpose. 1t is true that if adopted,
private property upon the ocsIn would be
Withdrawn from one mode Of plumber, but
Ielt exposed, MEANWHILE, to another mode,
which could be used with increased effective
ness. The aggres i've capacity of great naval
powers would be thereby augmented, while
the defensive ability Of others would be
reduced. 1Nough the surrender Of the means
oil Prosecuting hostilitics by employing
nri'atcers, os proposed by the conference Of
Paris, is mutual in terms vet, in practical
elect IT would be the REIMBURSEMENT OF a
riSht OF Itila value to one class of states,
but ol essential Importance to another and
FAR larger ct,s. II ought not to have been
anticipated that measure, 50 inadequate to
the accom- isameut of the proposed object,
and 20 unequal in lt5 operation. would receive
the as 'nt ui all maritime powers Private
lr'rry would be still left to the depreda-
tIou7 pi che public armed cruisers.
! have expressed readiness on the part Of
tins government, to accede to all the princi-
pies contlinrd In the declaration Of the
conference oI PARIS, provided that relating to
the abandonment Of prylteernr can be SO
amended as to effect the object for which, as
Is presumed, It was intended, the immunity
OF private property on the ocean from hostile
capture, To eject this object, it is proposed
to hdd to the declaration that "pryateering
Is and remains abolished the following
amendment "Aud that the private property
ol subjects and citizens Of u bollgerent on the
high seas, shall be exempt from seizure by
the public armed vessels Of the other bclli-
serHht. except 1t he contrloand. Ihls
amendment h1s been presented not only to
! The powers winch have asked our assent to
! the decilrttipn toah)llSh prlyAteering. hut to
| all other maritime states. Thus lar 1t has
not been rejected hv any and is ityorably
entertained ty oil which have made any COM
mun'cation in reply.
Several Of the governments, regarding with
| favor the proposition Of the United states,
| nave delayed d'inltive action upon II, only
Tor t.'' purpose OF consulting with Others
| parties 90 the conference Of Paris. have
Wv O., ''.''' W. ''''''- "'" - '''v
the tmI Ieror ol EuSNla has entirely and
| explicitly approved OF that modiheau'n' ana
VIII coop rate III endeay2rlns to OBTAIN me
assent of other powers; and that assurances of
a similar Inrport have been rerelyed IN
relation to the disposition OF the Emperor OF
tn" French.
The present aspect OF tins important sub
i,ct allows us to cherish the hope that prin
! cipIe 50 humane IN It's character so Just and
| equal IN its operation, so essential to the
! prosperity ol commercial nations' ana 50 con-
s1nant to the sentiments OF tins enlightened
period OF the world Will command the appro-
baton OF all maritime powers, ana thus be
/ iHc'il'Fd'e' INTO lle c''' Oh IH'clu"Vloh"l