Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-12-09

definite action on its part, in consideration of the
embarrassment which 1aight result to her Euro
pean negotiations by an immediate adjustment of
the question with the United States This request
has l,een acceled TO upon the condition that the
sums collected on the 10Th of June last and until
the 10th OF Jane next, from vessels and cargoes
belonging to our merchants, are to be considered
paid under protest and subject TO future adjust
meut There is reason TO believe that an arrange
ment between Denmark and the maritime powers
of Europe on the subject, viii soon be concluded,
and that the pending negotiation with the United
States may then be resumed and terminated in
satisfactory manner.
with Spain no new difficulties have arisen, nor
has much uroeTcss been made in the adjustment
Of pending ones. Negotiations entered into for
the purpose Of relieving our commercial inter
course with the Island OF Cuba from some Of its
burdens and providing tor the more speedy set
tlemeut OF local disputes growing out of that in
tercourse have not yet been attended with any
results.
Soon after the commencement of the late war
in Europe. this Government submitted to the con
sideration OF all maritime nations two principles
for the security of neutral commerce one that
the neutral flag should cover enemies goods, eX-
cept articles contrdband OF war and the other,
that neutral property on board merchant vessels
Of Leligerents, should he exempt from condemn
alton with the exception Of contrahand articles.
These were not. presented rs rules of internd-
tionaI law having been generally claimed by lie u
trails though not always admitted 10y LcIi gerents.
one of the parties Of the war, Russia, well as
several neutral powers acCedcd TO these PROPOSE
tigus, and two otter belligeTcnts, Great Britain
and France, having consented to observe them for
the present occasion, a favorable opportunity
seemed to lie presented for obtaining general
recognition of them, both in Europe and America.
But Great Britain and France, in common with
the States Of Europe, while forEeafing to reject
cid not atiirmatIyClv act mon the overtUIcs of
the United States. While the question was in this
position the representatives Of Russia France,
Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, and Iur
key assembled at Paris took into consideration
the subject of maritime rights and put forth a
declaration containing the two principles which
this government had submitted nearly two years
before to the consideration of maritime powers,
ana added thereto the following propositions ::
Privateeriug is, ana remains abolished, 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 craft of the enemy, and to
the declaration thus composed of four points, two
OF which had already been proposed by the United
States this Government has been invited TO accede
by all the Powers represented at Paris, except
Great Britain and Turkey. To the last of the two
additional propositions that iii relation to block
aides there can certainly lie no objection.
Ii Is merely the definition Of what shall cUnSti-
tute the electual investment Of a blOckadcd place
"A definition for which this government has al
" ys cOntenGed, cIaimiI ( indemnity for losses
where practical violation of the rule thus defined
has seen injurious to orr commerce As to the
remaining article of the declaration of the Con
ference Of Paris-that priyateCrng Is and remains
abOli-hCd--I certainly cannot ascrile to the pow
ers represented in the Conference of Palia, any
iuf lberII anu FllGnJhrDpic views m the attempt
to change the unqUeston.hle rule Of maritime
law in regard to pTyateeTing. Their proposition
was doubtless intended TO imply approval OF the
principal that private property upon the ocean,
although it may belong to the citizens of bcIli-
gerent State, should be exempted from capture
and had that proposition been framed as 90
give full effect to the principle it wouId have
ceived my ready assent on behalf of the United
States but the measure proposed IS Inadequate 10
that purpose.
II is true, if adopted, private property upon the
ocean would he withdrawn from one mode of
plumber. but left exposed, meanwhile to another
mode which could be used with increased effect
ivencss The aggressive capacity of great naval
powers would be thereby augmented, while the
defensive ability of othess would be reduced
Though the surrender of the means OF pFOsecUt-
ing hostilities hyemDloving privateers As proposed
Ey the conference OF Paris, j. mutual in terms,
yet in practical effect it would lie the relinquish-
mcnt Of a right of little value to one class of
States Int Of essential Importance to another, and
Il far larger class.
1t ought not to have been anticipated that a
measure so inadequate to the accomplishment of
the proposed object, and 50 unequal in its opera
ton would receive the assent of all maritime
powers. Private property would still lie left To
the dCrreGatiOI- al the public armed cruisers
! have expressed a readiness on the part Of this
government to accede 10 al the principles CON
tanned in the declaration of tine conference of
Paris provided that relating 10 Ihg abandonment
Of priNateerng can lie 50 amended as to effect the
object for which, as Is presumed il was intended
hostile capture. To effect this object, it is pro
posed to add 10 the declaration that priyatCeIing
= and remains abolished. the following amend
nlcnt And that the private property Of subjects
and citizens of hellgcTcut the hi ch seas shall
be exempt from seizure by the public armed yes
sells Of the other helligercnt, except it be contra
band"
This amendment has been presented, not only
Ia the Powers which have asked our assent 10 the
declaration to abolish privatccrug but TO all the
other maritime States Thus far il has not Leen
toll ,-.4 T.
all which have made any communication in reply.
Several of the Governments fc garding with favor
the proposition of the United States have DELAYED
definite action upon IT, only for the purpose Of
consulting with others, parties to the Conference
o. Paris. have the satisfaction of stating. how
ever, that the Emperor of Russia, has explicitly
approved of that modification and Will cooperate
in endcayOring TO obtain the assent of other pow
ers. and that assurances Of q similar purpOrt have
been received IN relation TO the disposition of the
Emperor of the French. The present aspect Of
TINS important subject allows Us to cherish the
nope that "a lrlnClpie so humane IN It's character,
so Just IN Its Intention, 50 Just and equal in its
operations, so essential to the prosperity Of com
merclai nations, and 50 consonant to the senti-
ments OF this enlightened period Of the world.
VIII command the appreciation of all maritime
powers, and thus be Incorporated into the code of
international law.
My views on the subject are more fully set forth
IN the reply Of the Secretary Of State, u COPY OF
which IS herewith transmitted. to the c0mmuni-
cation on the subject made to this government
especially to the communication of France.
The Government of the United States has at all
times regarded with friendly interest the other
States OF America, formerly like this country,
European colonies, and now independent members
of the great family of nations. But the unsettled
condition Of some Of them distracted 10y frequent
revolutions, and thus incapable of regular and
firm administration, has tended TO cmbarass occa-
sionally our public intercourse, by reason of
wrongs which our citizens suffer at their hands
and which they are slow to redress.
niortunatelyit is against the Republic OF Mex
leo. with which it j. especial desire to main
tain good understanding, that such complaints
are most numerous, and although earnestly urged
upon its attention, they have not as vet received
the consideration which this government had
right to expect. While reparation for past iniu-
rics has been withheld, others have been added.
The political condition of that country, however,
has been such as to demand forhearancc on the
part OF the United States. ! shall continue nv
efforts to procure for the wrongs of our citizens
that redress which is indispensable to the contin
ued friendly relations Of the two Republics.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Nicaragua
in the early part Of the present year rendered it
important that this government should have dip
lomatic relations with that State. Through It's