The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-15
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, AUGUST Is, 1861.

The statement published in another column, in
regard TO the loading of small vessels with stone,
H., the orders of the Government, for the purpose
ofsnking them at the entrance of Southern rivers
and harbors, is in conformity with previous
threats circulated by the press supporting the Ad
rniuistration The distractions TO navigation
thus proposed can only be intended to interfere
with vessels of considerable draught, for the light
coasters OF the southern ports will readily man
ace 10 find their way in and out, notwithstand-
inc. The scheme is obviously meant in ala of the
blockade, and very serious questions are likely TO
arise with foreign nations, account of it, if
carried out The belgerent right of the Govern
ment may be conceded, TO blockade even its own
ports, and thereby hinder the commercial inter
course secured 10 foreign countries by treaty stip-
u,atons hut 10 choke up the channels of access
to ports Of enry, which we have not sufficient
navy to blockade, is quite different matter
No code Of international law, that we are
aware Of, sanctions such mode of rein
forcing blockading squadron. A paper block
ade is admitted on all hands to be a nullity-
what a stone-blockade may be considered, re-
mains 10 be seen. The nations of Europe, thus
'ar, have stood perfectly neutral in our quarrel
They have chosen to treat both parties as belliger-
EMS, with equal rights under the laws of war
They claim the rights of war, however, in their
nrn, and one of those rights is to trade, rs neu-
trails, 30 ports not actually closed by a sufficient
blockade The treaty with Great Britain, for III
stance expressly provides that 'the merchants and
''traders Of each nation, respectively, shall enjoy
''tbe most complete protection for their COM
'merce. subject to the laws and statutes of the
two countries, and, OF course subject to bellieer-
ent rights and obligations. The right to place OBJ
sructjons in the middle of the channels leading to
ports which By law are ports of entry, and there
fore oDen to neutral trade, except in so far as eff
hceatly bIockaded, is not a statutory nor a bel
lgecent right and would seem to belong to the
same class, as the right to place submarine bate
res ii the same channels, to blow up neutral YES
sells without warning. Ofcourse no neutral power
sufficiently strong TO enforce its rights would, fer
an nstanl recognize the latter right. Its exer-
else would be regarded as Il cause of war on the
instant-lndeed it would be actual war in itself
and we do not see how the stone.proiect
can share & much better fate, if carried
out upon scale of serious Importance If it
should be successful, it will save millions
OF money hereafter, for what need can we have
OF o.ockading feet, while the quarries last at
PortDeposit, and dilapidated oyster-schooners can
De had, cheap, to carry them seward? There
Wi! be no meaning to the word blockade, if the
thing itself can be thus circumyeuted or supplan-
ted
Of course, in what we have said, we do not
mean TO dispute the right Of the L. S. Govern
ment as between itself and the Confederate Gov
ernmant to harass its enemies and close their ports
That Is very clear, but it is very different thing,
IRON the right of closing against neutral COM
merce, by other means than lawful blockade,
ports which the United States claim TO he their
own ports, and which, by their own laws and
treaties, are ports Of entry TO all the world -
Inc question, however, may be left TO the
dPIomatss who, doubtless, have already consid-
cred II, II view of the newspaper announcements
referred TO. The difficulty of the Government
cohSSt5 IN its asserting all the bellirerent r;b,
and powers which belong to a war between eo,o1
ana independent States, and yet claiming at the
same TINE, all the other rights and ADVANTAGES
which belong 10 the suppression of n rebellion or
an Insurrectlon. In other words il is the ancient
trouble Of The satyr who blew hot and cold with
the same mouth.