The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-16
Coming Events Cast their Shadows
Before.

We observe that our own government
is endeavoring, through its minister at
London, to arrange with England new
maritime code satisfactory to both ma
tions This code, it is said, will form the
basis of Instructions to all our ministers
resident at the Continental Courts, to be
communicated to them, in case of con-
Aict upon the ocean, which can only take
place between Great Britain and France,
and her allies This code, we presume,
will supercede all former but now some
what tattered and obsolete codes in rela-
ton to neutrals
The common maritime law of Europe,
as to neutral vessels, was universal prior
to 1850, but was afterwards modified on
several occasions by special treaty For
merly, England, as the great power on
the ocean, stronger than all the world
combined, dictated and explained mari
time law to suit her own interests. Sir
WILLIAM ScoTT, the highest authority on
international and maritime law, laid down,
during the contest in 1901, certain propo-
sitions as to the right Of search and visit
-confscation Of all property withheld
from visitation-the true character of
blockade-and definition of contraband
of war. The resistance to those rights,
so-called, first took the name Of armed
neutrality; and Russia, Sweden and
Denmark, proclaimed the principle that
free ships make free goods, that the flag
covers the merchandise, and that block
ade must be actual by an adequate force,
and not merely nominal.
OF course, England protested; and,
subsequently, the new doctrines were
abandoned by all the powers except the
United States. The war of 1872, with
England, was the consequence The
French, in lS00 however, acknowledged
the new code by treaty with the United
States, and the principles of the armed
neutrality were revived. Thus, in 1900,
the Danish frigate Freya, refused to allow
a search of her convoy, and she was
therefore captured by the English vessel,
taken in and condemned The late
sPUNKY resistance of the United States to
visitation and search of suspected slavers,
by British cruisers,-familiar to all-sets
forth, clearly, the opinions and feelings
of the two governments in regard to this
delicate and unsettled subject 1t is in
deed, then, a matter of vast Importance,
both to England and the United States,
that some understanding should be had
as to what will be satisfactory in case
England is involved in maritime war,
and her commerce exposed to the hazards
of capture, Should Americans be the
carriers of England, and difficulties arise
as to the rights Of neutrals, it is essential
that there be no chance for quarrel left
open between them. On the contrary, if
basis can be laid, whereby, in case of
collision between this country AS A NEU-
TRIAL, and the cruisers of France, because
we are the carriers of an enemy's goods
and thus the United States be forced into
the fght-it is we say good move for
England to get us for maritime ally
rather than an enemy.
The general maritime confederacy re-
ferred to above, gave great umbrage to
Great Britain. 1t was argued, and truly
too that under the new code of free ships,
free goods DC, the victories of the
British navy would 60 for nothing, and
that France in neutral vessels, would Sc
curely regain all her commerce; under
neutral flags she would import what she
wanted most, and in short render abor-
tive all attempts of her superior at sea, to
cripple her resources.
At this moment, England, looking for
ward to the possibility that the united
navies of France and Russia may require
all her men and ships, seeks in the NEW
code, once so heartily condemned by her,
Tor thOse very dement's she was 80 anxious
to deprive France of in 1901. Thus it
is sl-whateyer the law may be, might is
the Jaw at last; and interest, not justice,
the polar star Of nations as well as of in
dividuals Our own country may reap a
rich harvest from the present revolution
airy European war; and if matters can be
arranged with England, the wealth of the
world will be poured into our lap without
risk of war. So it is, that the changing
necessities of the hour will bring our
proud old enemy England, to accede to
the modern code Of neutral and maritime
rights, and fix this one great step in the
.uTauI 40 -'l.r I'd