The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-11-27
War with Eonlaspd.

Sidel!, and their forcib!c removal from, q
british vessel on the high seas, has given
r.'s 20 sonse apprchs nsions that it would
prccipitats war with England, should our
government decline to make reparation to
the BRUSH government and restore thc re.
cFeant traitors to their liberty.
The discussion Of this question inv olvcs
chat or tho right Of Search" and il We
can make it appear that this government
has. merely follow cd British precedent, and
kept within the bounds Of the r ghts Of ma
tons, as she intcrprets them, we shall es.
<sblish tire authority for the act in question.
Taking then, such material as We have co...
lated, we shall look first at presidents, and
second at the law rs announced by tho
Queen, and Chancellor Rent.
When T. r. Mcagher escaped from a
British penal colony, he sought refuge or
IN American vessel The vessel was sub.
sequently boarded and thoroughly searched
BY British officers, who, however, failed to
find the refugee. Our government did not
consider its flag insulted, and never thought
Of demanding redress.
As far back as 1880, the same right of
search was claimed. In the month Of
September of that year, Mr.. Henry Lau-
rens, Of the American Congress en- route
to Holland was taken from Dutch vessel
by the British brig Testal, and subsequent.
y immurcd in the tower Of London. In
the language Of an English paper Of that
period. "Ar. Laursns uas bound to Hol-
land soith commission from the United
States, which was calculated to produce
rupture between the countries OF England
and Holland"
In March, 1884, Her Majesty the Queen
Of England, issued = declaration tc the
eject that "havins been compelled to take
up arms in support Of an ally, she finds it
impossible to 'Jorrgo the exercise Of her
right Of seising articles eontrab md of ,oar,
and Of ncutrals from BEARING THE
ENEMY'S DISPATCHES" This is both
recent and deliberate decision on the part
Of tho British crown, and precludes her
from any complaint in the case under con-
sidcration.
Not less decided in this matter is Chan.
eellor Kent, who in Vol. 1, page 1853, Of
his commentaries says, I'm order to en-
force the beliigsrent rights of nations
against the delinquences of neutrnls, and
to ascertain the real, as well as the ssumed
character Of all vessels on the high seas,
the law OF nations arms. them with the
praetica! power OF risitation and search.
The duty of self preservation gives to bel.
s;gsrsnt nntions this right. All writer's on
the law Of nations and the highest authori.
ties. acknowledge this right, in time OF war,
rs resting on sound principle of public ju.
sisprudence and upon the institutes and
practice Of all great maritime nations. And
Il, npon making the search, the vessel be
found employed in contrabsnd trade, or in
carrying enemies property or troops, or
dispatches, she is liable 10 be talon and
brought :" for esntscation." This seems
70 imply the legal power in Capt Wilkes to
have seized not only the two rebel rascals,
but to have taken the ship and d, her con.
tents. The Chancellor continues to state
that the "conveyance Of hostile dispatches,
Is an act Of illegal assistance. and that, too.
Of the most hostile and obnoxious charae.
ter" This point he illustrates by arguing |
that Tin the transmission Of these dss.
patches may be conveyed the entire plan
Of the campaign, and may lead to defeat
Of al tho projects Of The other bslligerent
in that theaier Of war."
Itseems to US that these authorities are
sufficient to show conclsaizely that Eng
land has committed herself to a policy of
non resistance in this matter, and that she |
has not even prctext 70 90 to war With,
had she the disposition. |