The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-30
The Proposed new Maritime Law.


WASHINGTON, July 81, 1856.
The Ans,rtr Of Secretary Marcy 10 the French
Proposition 10 Surrcndsr the Right Of Armiag
Prr0feers IN Time Of rVn-Argumenfs in
ing 10 the Trims Of the Paris Convention which
arr Proposed IN Sodium.
Governor Marcy's great state paper on maritime
law and the position of the United States in regard
10 the maritime convention lately concluded in
Pars between England and the leading European
continental Powers, Is now ready and will consti-
tute definite answer TO the proposition, made In
form, by the Count de Sarfiges, on behalf OF his
sovereign the Emperor Of he French. wrote you
couple OF months ago, from Paris. that the Coun {,
who had obtained leave Of absence from Washing
ton till the month Of May or June, was despatched
at an earlier date ~ his post In the United States
TO urge on our government the acceptation Of the
four points constituting the Paris agreement.
The three first points were quite acceptable 10 our
government. containing In substance that which the
United States had been contending for ever since
we had become nation, TO Wit: the recognition Of
the principle that free ships make free goods, that
the goods OF friend are protected even under the
enemy's flag, and that all mere paper blockadcs arc
OF themselves null and void But these three prin-
cpes are in the Pasis convention coupled with
fourth, the surrender OF the maritime Powers besng
parties 70 the convention OF the right Of arming
prya'eers, privilege which the United States can
not forego without surrenderng one Of the most ef
icient means Of aggression we have in our power,
which, though unseen In time Of peace, Is dreaded
by all European powers. and equivalent 70 q whole
feet Of snail vessels, the armng and eguipping o
which would cost the government annually millions
Of dollars
The right TO arm privateefs Il equivalent to
the right Of calling out the militia privsteers-
NE Icing in fact the naval militia Of the country.
with this difference only, that they do not
wait ill attacked, but seek the enemy all over
the globe. and by destroying his commerce strike
ri the very nervous rvywm OF all warlike power I
think Gov. Marcy's paper win exhaust that subject,
and will prove conclusive TO his Majesty, the Empe-
ror Of the French.
II was an act Of decacy on the part Of France
not to allow England 10 press the acceptance Of the
terms OF The PARIS conv nkon on the government OF
the United States. She was certainly able, with
greater show Of dsefesfedpess 70 press Me matter.
buf doubt whether any administration Wi dare to
surrender such powerful means q aggression and
delence as the aiming q privsteers IL 10 sny Euro
peon Power, or 10 ali OF them put together. Pruwin
fustria, Holland Belgium, and all the other ipdg-
nili, ont naval Powers merely do the means cf
protecting their commerce; hut the United States
ere y o di6 rent position. We are growing Power
with the largest commercial marine Of any nation
on the glChe tfvc,tdiug now the commercial navy
Of Great Biitain) and ~ lay up our merchantmen In
time Of war and suffer them 10 rof in or hartoru
wouli be anac OF great folly and supreme pusiila-
nin,ry, utterly Of variance with the ventu eeoue !
werlfe sptii Of our Iecpae and mayinsIs.