Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-11-27

- ,,o soeras which are now being enact
al in tho United States. Our people
now look with contemptuons astonlsh-
ment on those with whom they have been
so recently associated.
They shrink with aversion from the
bare i,lea of renewing such connection
with such people. We may be con-
tent to live Mt peace, but our separation
from them is final, and for the lndePend-
once we have asserted we will accept 10
alternative.
President Davis charactcrzes the ma
ture of the hostilit;es on tue part OF the
United States as barbarous. lie ADDS, II
thew convert their soldiers into lncendIa-
ries and robbers, and envoIve us IN
snec;cs Of war which claims non combat
onts. women, and children as its victims,
they must expect to be treated as out
laws and enemies of mankind. here
are certain rights of humanity which are
entitled TO respect even in war, and he
who refuses to regard them forfeits his
claim, if captured, to be considered a
prisoner of war, and must expect to DO
dealt with as m offender against ali law,
human and divine.
But not content with violating our
,iohts under the law Of nations at home,
they have extended these injuries to lis
within other jurisdictions. The distin-
oushed gentlemen whom, with your ap-
nroyal ut the last session, were commits
stoned to represent the conlederacy 1t
co, tain foreign courts, have heen recently
seized by the Captain Of u United States
vessel of war, while on board British
mail steamer. while on voyage from
the neutral Spanish port Of Havana to
ENGLAND. The United States have thus
claimed general jurisdiction over the
hich seas, and entering 4 British ship
sailing under its country's flag, violating
the rights of embassy, for the most part
held sacred even among barbarians, by
Selling our ministers whilst under the
protection and within the domain Of a
neutral nation.
These gentlemen are as mnch under
the Jurisdiction Of the British govern
ment upon that ship ana beneath its flag
as # they had been on its soil, and a
claim on the part of the United States 10
seize them in the streets Of London woald
have been as well founded as that to ap-
prehend them where they were taken.
Had they been malefactors, and citizens
even of the United Srates, they could not
have been arrested on board of British
ship or on British soil, unless under the
express provisions Of treaty, and accord
inc to the forms therein p divided for the
extradition of criminals.
President Davis speaks Of Mr.. Fau'k-
ner as having been perfuousy arrested
and says that in conducting this " II VIC
have sought no aid, and proposed no al
/ liances, offensive or defensive. abroad.
/ Perhaps we had the RIGHT, if we had
/ chosen to exercise it, to ask to know
! whether the principle that q blockade to
be binding must be effective, 50 solemnIy
announced by the great powers Of Eu-
rope Mt Paris, to be generally enforced or
applied only to particular parties.
/ Mr., Davis says he has caused the evil
! dence to be collected which proves COM
plotely the utter inefficency of the pro
! Claimed blockade of the Southern coast,
and shall direct i. to be laid before such
Governments as shall afford the means OIL
being heard.
But although they should be benefited
! by the enforcement of this law So sol
emily declared by the great powers OF
Egrope. we are not dependent on that
enforcement for the successful prosccu-
] ton of the war. As long as hostilitics
continue. the confederate states VIII eXpe-
dte steady, increasing capacity to fur
nsh their troops with food, clothing, and
arms. If they should be forced to fore
90 many of the Injuries and some of the
comforts of life, they will at least have
the consciousness Of knowing that they
are thus becoming more and more indie
pendent of the rest Of the world.
He concludes as follows -
While the war which is wagcd TO
take from us the right of selI-govern
ment can never attain that end, it remains
to be seen how far it may work reyoiu-
ton in the industrial system of the world
which may carry suffering to other lands
as well rs our own. In the meantime
We shall continue this struggle in hum
bic dependence upon Providence, from
whose searching scrutiny we cannot con.
ceal the secrets Of our hearts, and t.
whose rule we confidently submit our
destinies. Liberty is always won where
there exists the unconquerablo will to be
free. and we have reason to know the
strength that is given by conscious
sense, not only of tho magnitude, but Of
the righteousness OF our cause"