Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-11-27
MY 10 nlaco tint intercourse under the regulation

10 place that intercourse under the regulation
ui public law.
perhaps we had the right, if we had chosen
10 exercise it, 20 a>k to know whether the.
that blJckal,leS. to be binding, must
lie ctlrctual, so sulrmuy announced by the
great powers Of Europe, at Paris, is 10 he
generally eururce, or applied only 10 rartcu-
lar pa ties When the Confederate States, at
YOUR last session, became party to the de-
c!uraiion referring 10 this principle OF interna-
,iunal law, which has been recognized SO
long ny ]mllicix:S and governments, We GER
tairlr supposed that it was Lu be universally
enforced.
The customary law Of nations is made up
Of their practice, rather than their deciara-
tons: and If such declarations are only to be
enforced in particular Instances. at tue pleas
urc uf ttiusc who make them, then, the COM
nrrce OF the world, sn far from being placed
under the regulation Of j general law, will be-
cume subject 10 Tie caprice Of those who exc
cute or SUSPEND it Il: will. Ii such is to be
the cuurse u uaiiuns, i'll regard to this law,
it is riain that il will thus become rule Tor
the weak and not for the strong.
Feeling that such views must DC taken Oy
the neutral nations uf tie earth, l. have, there.
fore caused the evidence to be collected which
proves completely the utter inetticlency OF
the proclaimed hiyckade Of our coast, and
shall direct it to be laid before such Govern
mcn,s as shall afford us the means of being
heard.
But although we should be benefited by
the enforcement Of this law, so solcmnly de-
clared by the great powers OF Europe, We
are not dependent upon that enforcement for
the successful prosecution Of the war. AS
long rs bnstilities continue, the Confederate
States will exhibit a steadily increasing Ca,
pacity to furnish their troops with food, cloth
ing and arms.
If they should be forced to forego many o
the luxures and some Of the comforts of life
they will at least have the consolation o.
knowing that they are thus daily becoming
more and more independent oi the rest o.
the world If, in this process, labor in the
Confederate States should be gradually di'
vcr,ed from those great Southern staples
which have given life to so much of the com
mcrce cf mankind, into other channels, so q:
to make them rival producers, instead O
profitable customers, they will not be the
only, or even the chief, losers hy the change
in the direction of their industry.
Although it is true that the cotton supply
from the Southern States could only be total
" cut off by the subversion OF our social'sys
TEN, yet it is plain that % long continuance
OF this blockade might, by a diversion Of In
Dor and an investment OF capital in other en-
ployments, ST. diminish the supply as 10 bring
ruin upon those interests of forei iSn countries
which are dependent on that staple. Fol
every laborer who is diverted from the chl
ture OF cotton in the South, perhaps foul
times as many elsewhere, who have found
subsistence in the various employncnts grow,
ing uat Of its use, will be forced also to change
their occupation, while the war which is
waged to take from us the right of sell-gov
ernment can never attain that end.
1t remains to be seen how FAR it may worl
revelation in the industrial system of the
world. w icir may carry suffering to Other
| lands as well as To our own. In the mean
timp, We shall continue this struggle, in hum
bic dependence upon Providence, from whose
scaching scrutiny we cannot concea! the Sc
crcts OF our hearts, and 10 whose rule w
cun!i.iruly submit our desinieS.
For tic rest We Shaidcpcnd upon ourselves
E.lhrr;y is always won: w!:crc there exists th,
unconqucrahle will 10 he free; and we have
reason to know the strength that is given, by
a conscious srnse, not only Of tile magnitude
but Of tic righteousness ni orr cause.
JEFFERSON DAE.S.