American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-13


mediate adjustment Of the question with
the United States. This request has
been acceded to, upon the condition
that the sums collected after the | 9Th of
juno last, and until the 10th of June
next, from vessels and csrgoes belong.
ing 10 our merchants, are to be cousid-
cred as paid under the protest. and sub.
ject To future adjustment. There is
reason TO believe that an arrangement
between Denmark and the maritime
powers Of Europe on this subject. will
soon be concluded. and that the pend.
ing negotiation with the United States
may then be resumed aud terminated in
= satisfactory manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have
arisen, nor has much progress been
made in the adjustment depending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the
purpose of relieving our commercial
intercourse with the island Of Cuba of
some of its burdens, and providing for
the more speedy settlement of local
disputes growing out of that intercourse
have not yet been attended with any
results.
Soon after the commencement Of the
war in Europe, this government sub
mitted to the consideration of all mar,
thine nations, two principles for the
security Of neutral commerce one,
that the neutral flag should cover enc.
mics goods, except articles contraband
OF war, and the other, that neutral pro.
perty on board merchant vessels of bel.
ligerents should be exempt from con.
demnation, with the exception of con,
traband articles.
These were not presented as new
rules of international law; having been
! generally claimed by neutrals, though
not always admitted by belligerents
One of the parties to the war, Russia
as well as several powers, promptly &C
coded to those propositions and the
two other principal belligerents, Grea,
Britain and France, having consented
to observe them for the present occa
sion, a favorable opportunity seemed tt
be presented for obtaining a genera
recognition of them both in Europe and
America.
But Great Britain and France, in
common with most of the States o.
Europe, while forbearing to reject, die
not atfirmatively act upon the overtures
of the United States.
While the question was in this posi-.
ton, the Representatives Of Russia
France, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia
Sardinia, and Turkey, assembled a,
Paris, took fnto consideration the sub
ject of maritime rights. and put forth a
declaration containing the two p,ipci
pies which this government had submit
ted, nearly two years before, to the
consideration Of maritime powers, and
adding thereto tho following PROPOSE.
tons PrivateeIing is aud remains a.
boIished," and "Block AIDES, in order to
be binding. must be effective, that is to
say, maintained by force. sufficient
really. to prevent access TO the coast!ol
the enemy )" and to the declaration thus
composed Of four points, two of which
had already been proposed by the Uni
ted States, this government has been
invited to accede by all the powers re-
presented at Paris, except CIT. Britain
and Turkey. To the last Of the two
additional proposi,ions--thal in rola-
lion To NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. can certainly
be no objection. 1t is merely the def
milton of what shall constitute the eff.
fcctual investment Of blockaded place,
definition for which this government
has always commended, claiming indem-
nifty for losses where a practical viola
ton of the rule thus defined has been
Injurious TO our commerce.
As to tho remaining article Of this
declaration of the conference Of Paris,
that prvateering is and remains aboI-
ished," | certainly cannot ascribe to The
powers represented in the conference
of Paris, any but liberal and philan,hro.
PIC views in the attempt to change the
unquestiona bic rule Of maritime law in
regard to privatoering. Their PROPOSE.
ton was doubtless intended to imply
approval Of the principle that private
property upon the ocean, although it
might belong TO citizens Of belliger-
ent state, should be exempted from cap.
tore; and had that proposition been so
framed as 10 give foil effect to the pin
ciple, it would have received my ready
assent on behalf Of the United States.
But The measure proposed is inadequate
to that purpose. 1t is true that if a
doPied private property upon the ocean
would he Withdrawn from ono mode of
pIunder, but left exposed, meanwhile to
another mode. which could be used with
increased effectiveness. Tho agrees
i've capacity of great naval powers
would be- thereby greatly augmented,
while tho defensive ability Of others
would be reduced. Through the sur
render Of the means Of prosecuting hos
tllities by employing priva,eors, as pro-
posed 10y the conference Of Paris. is mu-
tnal in terms, yet in practical effect, it
would be the accomplishment Of right
OF little value to one class of states, but