Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-06-15
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TERRITORY, JUNE l5 1876



In my last communication, review
ed the subject Of treason. I will now
consider the other branch Of the ques-
ton.
WAR AS REGULATING TRADE AND COMMERCE
It is necessary to premise that estab-
lished governments do not dignity sud-
den instructions by the name of war.
Nor do hasty theories put forth upon
paper, though backed by cannon or
two and few spurs and bowie knives,
amount to governments. Whether or
not the assemblage of sundry persons
gathered together at Montgomery, Ala,
assuming to do business under tho
name and style of ,"the Government
of the Confederate States of America," :"
will ever be recognized as government,
it is not necessary now to inquire. At
present it is not even government de
facto, and much less government de
iurs. Hence no armistice can. be
agreed to with it, and no proposition
Of that kind can be entertained. It
has also been supposed that the people,
in our country at least, have something
to do with forming government. With
the new Confederation, however, the
are an institution entirely out of fash
ion. Government, like brandy, requires
little age to ripen it.
1t may also be remarked that the
Great powers of Europe are very slow
to recognize governments existing iii
anyrevolted State or province, as against
the Supreme power, because they look
ut the effect which such al admission
would have at home. They have slum-
bering elements around them which ad-
monish them to be cautious in this par
ticular. Nor could the offer of mon-.
opoly of the cotton product tempt any
Of them to enter upon the policy Of en-
couraging revolt among the subjects Of
a government with which they are at
peacc-a policy which would be deem
ed aggressive, and for which the na-
ton aggrieved by it might one day re-
taliate upon the aggressor with fatal
effect. All this the governments Of
Europe will understand, and there is
no danger that they, any moro than'we,
will recognized the armed movements
of the Confederate arrangements, even
if they should be adopted by the citi-
zens Of some sections, as anything but
the case OF state or a'provincc in re-
volt against the sovereign power, and
not as war between nations foreign
to each other. Sailing under letters
of marque, therefore, from the so-called
government of the Confederation, is,
as the law now stands, simple piracy,
and those who are engaged in it incur
the consequences of that crime, which
il punished among all civilized nations
with death.
It is impossible now to foretcll the
march of .events--whither they will
carry us, or how speedily. 1t is in the
power Of Congress to protect the 10y
al and true men of the South, and to
keep open a commercial intercourse
with them, while executing the laws
against the authors Of this first assault
upon the liberties of our country. But
in case no provision Of this kind should
be made, and in case also that the con-
dition of things into which the mad
ness of treason may precipitate the
country should be recognized as the
state Of war, aud the arlnod bands Of
traitors be recognized as "public ene-
N.Y." then the commerce and trade OF
the country will be subject to entirely
new conditions. In cases where ship.
meuts arc to be made upon long voy-
ages or consignments to Southern ports,
and also in cases where property be-
longing to merchants here is now in
those ports. and may require 9 long
time for removal after the order for
that purpose is given, it is we'll for
merchants to be considering, in ad-
vance, the effect Of . state Of war upon
trade, and the precautions which, in
the meantime should be taken. At all
events it IL we'll Tor merchants, ship
owners and all other persons, to nc
quaint themselves with the new condi-
tons which state OF actual war impo-
Sos upon commerce and trade. ] will
eudeavor to cmbody the most import
ant of them in brief condensed propo-
sitions, and will number them, 20 that
they can be preserved in form convs-
uient for reference. The application
Of them to the condition Of things now
existing, or that may ooBne moro fully
into ssisteuce in the march Of events
which the fury Of ambition may pre-
eipitats upon the government, viii b
readily econ. ...s..;a..s.e .el
i. II any person enter The, snsmy's