The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-11

occasion, she would act on the rule OF free
sb;ps and tree goods--that Is, the immunity
If neutral ships, except in the matter OF
contrahand of war. Meanwhile, the United
States have Instituted negotiations on this
very matter, for the purpose of converting
il into q sort Of convential law oil nations.
Russia and Naples promptly met US, anu
concluded with us treaties recognizing neu-
trail rights. Austria and Prussia MANIFEST.
ed favorable sentiments in that regard, OUT
Great Britain took no notice whatever OF
our overtures, and France, out OF complai-
sance to her ally, was o6fsh in the matter
aud so the thing stood at the end OF tnat
war. But then, England and France, IN
Paris Conferences, came forward with the
proposition that the FIVE great powers rep
resented should enter into arrangements
among themselves in the general sense OF
the overiures which had previously been
made to each of them by the United States,
and which overtures have been actually ac-
cepted by Russia, but with two peculiarlties
in the affair, of most remarkable and extra
ordinary character.
The two peculiarities were as follows
First, they entered upon the Neutral Rights
QucStiOn as III IL Udu OIiHinatSu "A~.-
selves, and had not been previously present
ed to them by, the United States. In the
second place, after agreeing TO the neutral
rights which the United States have peen
asserting ever since the revolutlon-nane-
| ", immunity of neutral ships from any IN
| terruption, except for contraband; immu-
munity for neutral goods, even IN enemy
| bottoms; and immunity OF neutral ships
| from any paper or merely nominal DOCK
ade. After agreeing to all this, they adopt
| ed suggestion made by England, for the
| apparent purpose of striking at the United
| States, although with careful suppression
here as in other parts of the proceedings, OF
| anv actual mention of the United States
| The proposition was--to tender the Neutral
| Right conclusions of the Conference to all
other nations, on the condition that those
| other nations should relinquish privateer-
ing in war.
| Accordingly, France made the tender, and
| the e. S., in reply, made an additional ana
amendatory proposition, that not only
| should plundering by prlvateers be abolish
ed, but that ships of war should not be per-
mitted to plumber private property on the
sea. Before this proposition, which emana-
ted from the late Secretary Marcy, received
"A decisive answer from the powers to whom
| it was addressed, and who seem to have been
considerably taken aback by it, the Buchan-
an administration virtually withdrew it,
having come to the wise conclusion that il
would do no good for England to agree moi
to capture belligerent private property on
the sea, unless with such precautions on the
subject Of the law of blockade, as should
guard against England going to work and
preventing any of the merchants from going
to sea with their ships.
In this state Of the negotiation, -remarks
the Intelligent correspondent of the N. York
Journal Of Commerce, which it will be seer
only affects the rights ofneutrals, and dimin'
ishes the power of belligerents as against neu
trails, bat also goes beyond the question o
neutrals to diminish the power of belligerentE
as against one another, the possible risk is
that in case of European war, the Pari:
Conference, including England, may say t(
the U. States that, as we have not come into
their terms, we shall continue subject as E
neutral, to the old belligerent professions o
G. Britain That's to say, that enemy goods
shall be subject to capture in our ships, ant
our goods be subject to capture on board
enemy ships. That is a risk, however, which
we are chiefly subject to, on the side of Eng
|