Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-06-12
Debate In ths British Parliament on
... ...- American Affairs.

Rights Of Var.
Our English files 10y the America at
Boston bring us full reports of the debate
IN Parliament on American affairs, of which
the telegraph has already furnished brief
sketch. We make few extracts:
"A LAWFUL BLOCKADE"
Earl Granville announced, on behalf of
the government, that lawful blnolsado
must be maintained by a sufficient force,
but it was not absolutely necessary TO rem
der all ingress and egress impossible, but
to render it extremely difficult. With
respect TO other questions, he stated that
certain articles were clearly contraband of
war, but that certain other articles depen-
ded upon special circumstances and con-
tingences, which could only be decided
by prize court and which IL was impos>
sible to define beforehand.
VIEWS or THE EARL or DERBY.
Now, we know perfectly well that i is
not in the power OF the Northern States,
if their ravy we're three times as powerful
as it is, to etlectually blockade all these
ports. There is 10 doubt they might eff
tectually blockade this, or the other port,
and that would be n blockade which we
should be bound to recognize; but Go
think it is very important that her Ma
jesty's government SbouH not commit NCm
SciUeS 10 the doctrine that tie United States arc
10 lag ioWnHcprinciplc of a universal Jlockdde,
that that universal blockade ,CoWd be rccoqni-cd
by her MgjcSty'S gocrBmcnt and that all her
Majestv's subjects who might choose to
disregard il, would be liable TO penal con
sequences. Hear, hear, apprehend
that 10 make them so liable the blockade
must be one tho validity OF which has
been recognized by their government. 1t
is important, therefore, that her Majesty's
government should come TO II clear under
standing with the governn cnt Of the I'm
tied States that a mere paper blockade, or
q blockade extending over space TO which
il is physically impossible that an efiectu-
al blockade can be applied, wW not be rec
ogaiscd as raid By Ills country. Hear.
The other point is one Of, perhaps, still
. greater Importance. noble and learned
lord was understood to say n few days ago,
that by the law of nations rrivateering
was piracy, and that, consequently, the
northern States would be perfectly justi-
fled IN carrying out their threat to treat
all prvateering as piracy, and visiting 1t
with capital punishment: approhend
that If there is one thing clearer than ano-
thcr, it is that by the law of nations rrjrd-
tecring is not prdcy-Hdt no cRactnc,ut on the
= part Of any ono nation can make that piracy as
regards tic subjects Of another country, which is
not piracy by the la1cs Of nations, or By the to,o
ot that country. The Northern States, there's
fore, must not be allowed 10 entertain the
opinion although it may bc right that
we should warn British subjects that If
they should engage in prvateerins expeH
, ditions they will not be entitled 10 claim
the protection Of their govcrnment--that
they are at liberty SO to strain the law as
, 20 convert privateering into piracy and
visit it with death. The punishment uR-
) der such circumstances of persons entitled
to her Mniesty's protection wouM not be
: ric,ced rih indifference but 1ould rcceire hc
most serious consideration By this country. 1t is
right, on the one hand, that the people OF
, lthis country should be warned OF the per
/. Ill of engaging in privateering undertake
: ings but it is essentially necessary, on the
other, that the Northern States should not
2 be induced to rely upon our forbearance
Q with regard to the violation of the law oi
o nations by visiting privateering with q
, penalty that is not attached TO it by that
n Jaw. Hear. ..... ... .
/
|. the Southern Confederacy, not as having
4. the rights of bellgerents, bit as rebels
n whose acts will be visited with all the pen'
g alties OF high treason, including capita
=. punishment. But Hdt is not a doctrine u,
e adna. because nc haze declared hat the SOUTH
s e,7, Statcs are cnttledto he rights Of JeNgcr0is
/. The No,thcr,, States, on tie other hand, canuo
o be cntHtat 10 claim The rights Qf bcIbgcrcntS fo
/. themselves. aud, on tie other, 10 treat hc IS nth
crn States not as bciiiger ntS, but as rebels, -
These are the two points upon which it II
most desirable that clear understanding
!. should be come to between her Majesty
Ministers and the governmental the Uni
u ted States-tirst, that we cannot recognize
l. any nvrrp' -""'i:' -
n such as the United States may be aole u
enforce and secondly, that wo cannot re
= cornize the doctrine that, by any procla
&c nation OF enactment, the Northern state
a have power rs against the Southern Con
!. federation to treat privateering as piracy
and to visit it.wth death.
lord BRouGnAN oS PRIvATErRiNG.
:, Priyateering, however much it might b
=, ro,reheuded, was unaoubted, in the cas-
~ of recognised JciIigcrentS, not PIRACY accordu
~ 10 NE tr,o ofnatonS, as that law was at pres
20 ent understood and administered; but.
20 any persons, subjects of this country, tit
y !; ted out vessel against another countr
-. ~ with which we were at peace, that in !tse
~ ~ constituted piratical act, and he wa
80 - clearly of opinion that the person SO act
: ing would have only themselves to blam
~ ~ If after full warning they entered upo
= re that course. Taking into account tn
~ ~ great changes and improvements in a
,ss @ the appliances of warfare which had
=. late years taken place, we should hold thu
: coal might be looked upon as amountir
u to contraband of war, if furnished to OF
ar of the belligerents to be used in warfa,
% % AGAINST the other. He might add that J
y. % entirely concurred in the opinion that
oe was not necessary that blockade, IN o.
VI der to be looked upon as effective, shou
be of such nature as 10 render access
IN any Part Of the coast impossible, but tn
....ll , n a.