The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-12-31

On vas formed. and. although our com {
nerce then wss bat partially developed. yet Z
injury was likely % be inflicted upon c
1 Great Britain. Russia. Spain. Prussia and 3
be Emperor Of Germany closed their ports ?
,gsinst all corn. grain and provisions 70 {
rance. as well a. all military and naval
tore. and engaged to prevent other powers.
implicated IN the war. from giving aay Z
protection whatever. IN Consequence OF their
neutrality. 70 the or prosperity OF
he French. And Great BRIAN being then
ne only one Of these powers which possess-
et the means Of executing this treaty upon
the ocean. issued an order to the effect that
II should be L. ful 70 stop and dasin eli vessels
loaded with any Of these articles and bound TO
spy porf in France. But IL h due 20 her and
70 fairness 20 observe that abe did not claim
for the commanders Of k<r r<ss<is the right
20 decide the QUESTION. what vas or what
was not contrabxnd Of war. On the contra
~, by the express terms Of this order. they
we're commanded 70 ssnd the esptured pesssis
ss prizes info the nsaresf port. where they
could become subject to the Jurisdiction OF
he. Admiralty Courts. 50 10 have the question
Of contrabxnd decided. and thus 70 secare
to herself the right OF pre-emptiou over the
contraband part Of the cargo. IL Is easy 10
see how the Interests Of the United States
we're likely 70 be affected By this order. not
only by the search and detention Of their
vessels. but because IL made prorisions con-
traband OF war, which was. msniiestly, m
Interpolation upon the law OF nations. IL
vas embarrassing, also. In another pooint of
view for as France bad but recently aided
us in our struggle for INDEPENDENCE. and the
order was designed TO sfarre her into submls-
-ion to Great Britain and Holland, Il was
natural that our people should feel a strong
sympathy for her, apart from any obligations
| which arose out of the perpetual treaty of
| alliance the United States had made with her,
a few years before. Yet our government,
al that time, firmly planted itself upon neu
trail ground. Notwithstanding all the difficult
ties surrounding IL, and maintained its neu-
trality under circumstances which put even
the moral courage Of Gen Warrington TO
the severest test. His proclamation IN 1898,
snjoined q strict neutrality on all our citizens,
aud declared that the government would not
protect from confiscation such articles as
we're deemed contraband by the modern
USAGE of nafions,"-not however, r~ecogniz-
ing the British order in reference to proris-
ions, or the retalistory ones issued by France.
And, in that instance, We sat an example
which England might well initiate, not only
now, but at all times-for even at the risk Of
offending France and Of subjecting himself TO
the charge of ~iavoring the government of
Great Britain, Gen. W~ashington refused to
permit French privateers 70 be d ted ont ia our
ports. and ordered the French Minister out
Of the country for daring to attempt an ap-
peal from his administrative policy to the
people of the United States. Our prize
courts recognized the principle that the goods
Of an enemy, Ia neutral vessels, were liable
70 confscation BY the law Of nations. while
neutral property in an enemy's vessels was
nof.-thus sanctioning, OF course, the bel
Iigersnt right Of search. But Congress made
An effort to obtain the consent OF the leading
nations TO so change the international law al
recognizing the old maxim, that enemy ships
should make enemy's goods. This was tn
basis Of the armed neutrality Of the Balti-
powers in 1880, and the United States were
disposed to have il universally ACKNOWLEDGE
vet, at the same time, our government main
tained its neutrality so strictly, during the
gar between Great Britain, and Holland, and
|. France, that il never failed TO admit, both ia
: It's prize courts and elsewhere. that the i'm
munity OF its flag did not extend TO cover
enemy's property, under the law of nations
We succeeded in introducing the maxim Of
free ships free goods, into our treaties with
/, France, with the United Netherlands, snc
with Prussia; but Great Britain, Spain, Por
. tugal and Austria adhered to the rule of ia
ternationaI law. that eaemy's 9oods are iaso
!. El prize though found in the ships Of a frisad
and, therefore. strictly maintained the bel
, iigerent right TO stop and search and detair
vessels upon the high seas, subject in al
cases, 10 the jurisdicfion and decision Of n
4 Admiralty Courts.
Aud IL becomes important now 20 r~ecollec
q that Great Britain has never yet surrenderes
this principle, but has constantly acted upon II
In ths celebrated treaty of 1894. which W.
made with her, IL was introduced, in con
!. formity to the order she had issued agains
. France, except that provisions were not en-
braced in the list OF contraband articles. Th'
j. 18th Article OF that treaty provides that ives
sells captured on suspicion of having contra
} band, or snemy's property, 10 be ssut INTO III
nearest port. &c" A part of the hercenes
Of the opposition 10 this treaty, in this coun
: try, was owing to the fact that il seemed .
surrender the American doctrine that nenfra
|. ships make neutral goods; but yet the Unite
: States had no right to attempt to force an
doctrine not according 10 the law Of nations
upon Great Britain or any other government
i Aud not attempting anything Of the sort. "
! took the treaty ss IL was, leaving the intro
duction Of our favorite maxim to subsequen
: negotiation. We have INTRODUCED IL into on
, treaties with the South American Rspuh
!. lics,-but England has continued her oppo
!. sition TO il up 10 the present time. As
: g,eat naval power. she prefers to stand b
the Law Of nations, which allows her 70 stoy
and search and detain neutral vessels, as
: belligerent righs.-and now, when one q
\ her own vessels is stopped and detained br
: . few hours, she has no just right, before IN
: nations OF the world. to complain Of the &C
She has. herself, acted upon this principle
iunumerabts cases. Sac stopped our shig
! upon the ocean. searched them. and seize
: American citizens aud impressed them in,
a her naval service--which led 10 our war wi,
her In lsI2 She has never surrendered th
!. power. but. on the contrary, has insisted th'
q shonld De admitted 10 exist aud be exc
cised a. peace a. well a. war She has.
= against u. exercised 10 as a peace portr
!. more instances than ore-and this has ia
:. nished many occasions for the display OF q
plomsiic talent and sagacity IN cur int
course with her. Both governments has
- always. since the treaty OF 1874. agreed tn
- the right OF search exists a. q b~ellieersl
riyAf. but they have not agreed that a
same right exists when both nations are
!. peae<. Hence there i no difficulty in COZ
:. GLIDING that the mere act Of stopping an
dofsinlng fs Treat was IN precise a~ccoriaaC
: with a principle well settled By information
!, isw. aud always recognized BY both Cover
/. msnr. Consequently. when we cone
look a. the question dspasslonately. and
:. vies Of the practice OF nations. it . hard
- see how snything can grow cut Of that aof. :
: II that we're aIl-vhich could lead to war
= ~ st..if .io,. ~ rauiI nof sxen Lad A A