The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-06-28
The Maritime Law.

| England and France, together with all the
principal Maritime powers in Europe. have
through their delegates declared themselves in
favor OF abolshing Privateering, in times OF
war; England and France, have undoubtedly
taken the lead in this demonstration. with a
view OF the immense advantage they would gain
over the United States, in its establishment: as
III case Of war between those nations and the
United States. they would thereby secure them
| selves against numerous and formidable foe
IN the form of American Privateers? To a
country like ours destitute as we are of Stand
ing Armies and Men Of War, our chief reliance
| for immediate protection, is in the readiness
with which hundreds of vessels can be rugged
manned and prepared for service; But read
what the New York Herald says with regard to
if =
Americans do not object to the abolishinr of
prlyateerlng, but do object to the maintaining
OF a navy on war footing in time of peace.
| they are ready to make or meet proposition
for the naturalization Of the high seas. This
spirit Is fully shown in the restrictions yolunta-
rlly assumed by our government with regard to
| the naval force that can be maintained on the
Northern lakes. And it is more strongly exenl-
plified by the small force which it,keeps in com
mission of the high seas.
! We are bold enough to make for our county
! men and government the emphatic proposition
that theAtlantic, and Pacific. and all other
oceans and seas, shall henceforth be neutraliz-
ed, If all and every one of the maritime Powers
| OF the world consent and agree to limit the
number OF guns that each and all can keep afoat
| during peace, to those which would be actually
needed fer the protection of commerce on
the high seas and the police of their own shores
Americans advocate neither public nor private
robbery; therefore we 60 further, and say for
our people, let the laws be '.that aHcommercial
| and unarmed ships shall pass free of capture OF
detention during war" IF they are to fight
they are quite willing, fothers will place them
selves so as to be compelled to do the same. tc
fell the growing trees and build the ships after
| war is declared.
The world may and should know it, that the
American people, through their government
will at all times be found ready to meet, and
honestly to respond to, any fair proposition en-
anating from other maritime Powers, whether
single or united. They are frank and open, bnt
| at the same time, quick and shrewd; they are
therefore, neither to be caioled nor forced into
trap, however nicely arranged or temptingIy
baited, Let France and England once show
| their sincerity by dlsarming and dlsmantilng
their numerous superfuous ships not needed fol-
peace purposes and turning them over by sale
or otherwise into private hands for merchant
men, then America VIII be, at least on fail
footing with them.
Would not any boy. even iffull grown, with
no other weapons than pocket full of stones
laugh at a man with a sword il his hand, who
looking to a probable quarrel, should cunning
" propose that there should be no throwing Of
missiles when they fought? Although ours may
not yet be full grown people, the government
of the United States will doubtless agree to adj
nounce the future use Of privateers if the gov
| ernnlents Of France and England will agree to
sell and dispose Of all superluous public ships
and keep more afoat for the future than
such number of guns as may be agreed upon
as necessary for the protection Of commerce or
the high seas and for the proper police Of theil
own shores"