The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-16
THE NEW AND THE OLD WORLD.


Ever since SO large portion of the New World
emancipated itself from the thraldom of the Old, a
Junior partner has been introduced into the great
firm of nations. There have been two sublunary
worlds, the Old and the New in many respects radi
cay distinguished from each other One is past its
prime the other not yet arrived at, but rapidly APP
preaching to maturity. They differ widely in other
respects-in their geographical positions their eli
mate soil, and productions in their social organ-
zaton; their political institutions; and in the great
fundamental principles of their government. In
short, there exist so many diverstes, SO many
broad distinctions, many clashing interests be
tween the New and the Old World, that it cannot
sonably be anticipated that any cordial cooperation
will exist between them in future without some ma
teria notifications of that system of international
law which has hitherto regulated the intercourse of
European nations. Something must be conceded to
the new and growing interests of people who are
fast spreading over vast continent and the period
is probably not far distant when its inhabitants will
claim to have voice in the adoption of code of in
ternational law--most especially maritime inter
national law-by which the rights of belligerents
and neutrals are to be regulated in future.
Whatever it may be in theory, it is pretty noto-
rious that in practice the law Of nations has been
prescribed and enforced by those who had the pow
or to impose ii ON those who incapable Of
sistance. The present system is exclusively Euro
pean system. Africa, being in state of barbarism,
had no pretensions to be consulted; Asia, having
in later times become little better than vassa Of
Esrope has been coerced into acquiescence by force
and intimidation, OF by intrigue and diplomacy ;
and America having until recently been in state of
colonial dependence, had neither voice influence
in framing that code by which the intercourse of in
dependent nations is to be regulated
Heretofore the law of nations, most especially the
maritime law has been virtually nothing more than
the dication of that power which strong enough
to enforce submission Ever since Great Britain,
by "a succession of struggles with Holland Spain,
and France acquired decided ascendency on the
ocean, maritime international law has been little
else than the exercise of her own will directed to
the furtherance Of her interests. Having tri-
rmphed over all her rivals in succession she became
the great arbiter of the rights Of nations on the
high seas, both bellgerent and neutral and has
ever since usurped the privilege Of debating the
limits in which they were to DO exercised.
Since that period maritime international law has
been nothing but the right of the strongest
The right of search and paper blockades has been
enforced in opposition to the armed neutrality
of the northern nations of Europe and the uni
form protests of the United States, which, though
originally not parties to this code, have been
the principal victims of its practical injustice.
Without recognising its principles or its prac
tice, they have, in every European in which
Great Britain party, been perpetualy placed
in predicament where they We're either obliged
to submit to insult outrage, and wrong, or driv-
en- to the alternative of taking up arms to resist
or avenge them This has been their position from
the first moment Of their independent existence.
With every disposition and every motive to preserve
peace with all the world and with settled policy of
non-intervention in the affairs Of Europe they have
either been compelled to bear all the evils of war;
forced into war as the lesser evil
Justice to themselves as well a due regard to
their peace their interests, and their honor, requires
that they should that influence which is now
gradually forcing itself the attention Of Europe to
procure some modification of maritime international
law which shall place them ont Of reach of the quar-
rels of European nations and leave them at liberty
TO the fruits neutrality
reference of bullying belligerens, the dctation
of a European congress.
To minds accustomed to trace those great univer-
sal causes that battle all the efforts of to direct
or control them, and which ultimately decide the fate
of nations through their inevitable consequences il
must be evident that the occupation of new world
by race Of men equal to those of Europe in all the
substantial elements of civilization in possession of
all the arts and sciences which facilitate material prog
ress ; free from the burdens which have been en-
tailed on the present generation of Europe by the
prodigality of their ancestors and superior to all
their contemporaries in activity, energy, enterprise,
and intelligence must be evident say that such
a people must make their mark on the world and ex-
ercse an influence on its destinies that will be felt
if not acknowledged 1t is scarcely to be anticipated
that nation so c;rcumstanced, the moment it became
conscious Of its position, will continue tamey to
acauesce in a system of maritime law bearing so
hard upon it without some material notifications.
We believe it is not assuming too much when we
saw that the New World constitutes system OF its
own, different from and independent OF that OF the
Old 1t has nothing to do with the family quarrels OF
Europe for the preservation of the balance of power
or the vast projects of England in the East nor is it,