Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-09-12
ma: "a or PROGREssIvE CuV1Ls.
EATON.

Those VINO nave eaiciu'iy ''"''
the progress Of civilization for the last
half century, cannot but observe with
a pleasant a,nazement the great moral
victories which have been achieved
over the passions, the PreJudiees' ana
bipotrics Of the nations Of the GARTH
In the United States the changes have
been more marked and radical than
elsewhere: because Of the discussion OF
. free press upon every proposed plan
for social amelioration. That cruel
and revengeful custom Of permitting
the..creditor to imprison the poor debt
Or because he had not the means OF
satisfying pecuniary obligatlon,was at
tackled with the immense artillery OF
free press, and went down never again
70 disgrace the name Of civilization. =
That barbarous and brutal habit OF
decorating the backs Of our offending,
but gallant seamen, with the cato lime
tails, was for long time adhered to
as the only possible method OF preser-
wing that discipline in the pasy essen
tial 10 its efficiency. But II has been
swept away forever amid the earnest
remonstrances of Commodores and
Captains, Lieutenants and MidshIPmcn,
whose chief consequence seemed I"
them to center in the despotic power
which they exercised over their sub
ordinates.
And in respect to the Law Of Ma
tons, the United States have ever been
in advance Of all other Of the civilized
powers in proposing and asser'lngthose
great cardinal and humane rules,
which have so essentially tended to
,nitiyate the evils Of war, and strength
OH the true relations of peace. The
right Of search and Of the Imprisonment
of seamen was considered an arrogant
assumption. to be resisted by the dread
alternative OF war, and that custom
died out among nations. In the field
Of diplomacy our ministers and cabin
cts have been none the less active, III
urging the adoption of the rule that
free ships make free goods, and the al
lied sovereigns of Europe have recent
" adopted the rule put forth by Us, as
binding upon the civilized powers for
the future, and Courts Of Admiralty
in all times OF peace or war, VIII be
bound bv its obligations. This WAS a
great Advance in the highway OF prog
ress, and pleasing proof that nations
recognize the humane doctrines that
while at war, belligerent> should SO
conduct their hostilities as to accom-
plish the desired result with dong the
least possible damage to the persons
aud property Of private individuals. -
This sudden enlightenment respecting
the claims Of Humanity on the part OF
European powers, has embroidered the
United States to put forth another
rule as the only true and safe one Il
be observed In times of war. 1t Is
that all manner or kinds Of privat,
property, Of belligercn, or neutral ma
tons, shall be exempt from destruction
seizure or confiscation, and that only
public vessels belonging to the Navie'
Of the belligerents, shall be liable to b.
attacked and destroyed. This is indee,
sbold proposition coming from Secre
tary Marcy, and will astonisb the al
lied sovereigns BY its novelty and it
breadth. But it is the only true ont
and would permit the wh,te-winge
messengers Of Commerce to speed Q
their way over the waters ofthe Who'll
world, fearless Of the frowning batter
e. Of Gibraltar, or the huge port hole
Of . belligerant Seventy-four. What
sublime spectacle would such stat
Of things pretent While the govern
ments Of two nations were engaged i
the fierce and deadly conflicts Of tn
battle 6eld, upon the land, or the terri
&c cannonade by sea, the inhabitan'
Of those nations would be engaged
ill the intimacics OF trade and con
merce What splendid rebul
would this scene on one hand presen
to the bloody scenes Of war upon IL
other
America has taken the lead, and "
should not be surprised to hear tn
this grand scheme Of peace has be'
accepted by the civilized powers. The
can be but one other rule to make Il
relations Of nations perfect. 1t is Il
cessation Of all war, and the submissit
Of all disputes to peaceful arbitratio
Il must soon come to that, and tn,
those who have so long labored for
peace Congress Of all the civiliz
powerA will have the satisfaction
knowing that their labor are ende
and their names rendered immort
Thsu indeed would that long desir'
rnSllnnninm arrive when spears shall