The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-07

The English papers are very wrathful about the
occupation Of the island of San Juan They
seem to consider it most nsolent as well as I'M
warrantable act, that our troops should have
taken possession of an almost uninhabited strip
of territory which is believed to be our own.
The Manchester Guardian says;
"Thc American Generals exploit seems to have been
nothing more than one of those acts of piracy by
lawess representatives of the United States are accus
toned to settle disputes with weaker and more
neghbors, but which it is time they should be taught
they cannot safely indulge in against powerful and civil
Lied nations
The inaccuracy of this statement is about as
absurd, as the temper which dictated it is foolish.
With the exception of the occupation of Texas,
which many of our countrymen thought unjusti-
fable, we shonld like to know when ''the repre-
''sentatives of the UNITED STATES have ever. in
times of peace, forcbly taken or held the domin-
ions of our neghbors. 1t would have been as
well, it IN making so grave a charge the English
journal had specified some Of 'those acts of
'piracy' in which our Government is saccus-
"tomed'' to engage. But the Manchester editor is
full of fight, and wants the British troops sent out
to show 'the licensed rufans Of the Federal Army
that they have made sad mistake and in such q
frame of mind, he probably does not care to be
particular about facts. The London Post how
ever, is more moderate, as it becomes so respect
able an organ TO be, and only characterizes Gene
raj HARyEY's act as "totally opposed to the first
''principles of public law Now if we are to
understand the ''public law here spoken of, as
it has been interpreted by the statesmen and en-
forced from time 10 time by the armies and navies
e (f,oo+ d ,,+o;,, A.. !.
are as erroneous as those of its Manchester con-
temporary. There is no nation on earth which
has always been so prompt to SEIZE on land or sea-
whatever it claimed title to- as well as great deal
that it knew belonged to Others as England. 1t
has never asserted right against weak or barba-
rous power which it has not backed by show of
such force MS it could conveniently concentrate
around the point where the dispute was TO be
settled. In India, whenever a petty quarrel has
occurred between the English and some rich Raah.
no matter what may have been the cause or the
nature of the demands on either side, as prelmina-
~ step towards an arrangement of the difficulty,
the troops of the former generally appeared upon
the scene, where they usually remained thenceorth.
Thus was province after province added to British
empire in India In the harbor of Copenhagen
the fleet of Denmark was captured after bloody
struggle, and when the two countries were at
amity with each other, and for no other reason
than that England thought if it did not take it
somebody else would. In the days when we were
less strong than now, it was too tedious a busi-
ness to negotiate about the right of search. and
the public law, which then suited England's
views permitted a sailor who was suspected of
being a deserter to be taken by main force from
the deck Of an American vessel. These are but a
few random examples, taken from the many