Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-01-21
amer,e, :, one 81 che Great Powers.

America as One of the Great Powers.
The Journal dcs Debats, of Dec. 23d, in
an article on the Presidents Message,
signed by S. De Sacy, makes use OF the
following language:
The political relations between North America
and Europe are daily developing themselves. Com.
merce is the sole cause but what Is the extent OF
the feld which it occupies at this moment, and
what subject does it not affect9 The message men~
tions two subjects which indicate how America
penetrates, day by day, deeper into the heart of
European questions. The frstis the question oil
the payment Of the Sound Dues. Undoubtedly,
at the nstigaion of American ship owners the gov
erument Of the United States taking here contrary
to custom the Initiative makes known to D snmark
that it did not understand that the merchant Tag
of the United States was Obliged 20 recognise these
rights.
The cabinets of Europe have been compelled to
a greater or less extent, 10 follow the course OF
America on this point. In consequence OF the
policy OF the cabinet at Washington, conferences
have been held, negotiations have followed, ana
we are compelled to submit ourselves to the VIII
Of America. The Sound Dues, feudal institution,
for which no propOrtioDate equivalent Is returned,
but respectable from its antiquity, will DE abolish
ed. So far Europeans are concerned, 1t VIII De
at the price of considerable indemnity, but there
is reason to believe that the Americans will escape
! without any indemnity.
| The other subject, which has more general I'M
port is the abolition of the right of privateering IN
/ time of war; as well as a more exact definition OF
what constitutes a blockade. The Congress OF
| Paris, by resolution. which will rebound IN his
tory to the honor of our age, we well remember,
rallied unanimously upon the principles OF mari
| time right for which France, under the Old regime
and the first Empire, had so urgently insisted.
There will be DO more letters Of marque, and the
n utrsl flag will be respected. The United States
taking the lead again in this path of progress and
security for private property, have demanded that
not only shall blockades be defined with the utmost
eXactness, thus dong away with all paper DOCK
| ades but that vessels of war shall no longer eGer
else the right of making reprisals upon commerce:
| This complete assimilation between war on iahu
and naval warfare, far as private properly Is CON
cerned, has received the assent OF Russia, ahu as
we are informed by the message OF President
Pierce thltof the Emperor Of the French, although
the official solution of this proposition Is yet
to take place. Under the present circumstances
on the question of the Sound Dues, the American
Union, as we see. begins to exercise remsrkso'e
infusnce on the definite divisions of the European
cabinets. In fact it enters thus at once into con-
cert with the powers in manner most natterinS
to its self esteem and its reputation, for, as Its at
teTeS Will not iall 10 tel IL us dCIioHo SOSH w "
Div right of control or jurisdiction III cases
Of appeal.
The moment has come when we must ask ourS
selves if il does not concern the whole world that
America should enter into the European system III
an open and official manner. 1t is great Christian
power whose relations have become lnseparaoiy
connected with those of Europe, and which Virtu-
ally fulis the condition of possessing great mill
tary resources on sea and on land. 1t undoubtedly
has distinct interests, but all great powers have
them: and the State which has no special, well de-
fined interests with the TO make them re-
spected will be, for that very reason, but satei-
lite to the others. But the American Union mas
also great and common interests with all oil u.s. Oh
the day on which she took her official place IN the
Congress of European powers, the peace oil the
world would have acquired one precious guarantee
more. and could be secured against many accidents
For the Americans themselves this would be an In'
comparable advantage. If, up to this period they
have not entered into those political associations
which obtain from time to time il the governments
of great civilized States it has beeii from causes
which have ceased to exist. Formerly the United
States were weak, distant and without exterior ms
uence; at present they strong, their extel ior
influence is becoming more apparent, ana oy the
improved facilities of communication, they are no"
only a few DAYS distant from u.s. For themselves,
that isolation which might at first glance seem
charming position, is really filled with disadvah'
tages which, at any given moment, may turn lh'o
dangers.