Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-19
a New International Law Proposed.
From The London Star

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From the London Star
1t is easier to make dyke that shall be inYul
nerable to the water one side and to Yermin OF
the other than to maintain q perfect blockade
Three Thousand miles of coast cannot be 90 wallei
in by ships, that nothing can BE- thrown on the
shore and nothing carried off 1t was not an i'm
proved coast guard, but a reduced tariff that sup
pressed the smuggling Of French goods across the
British Channel It was not the force of oHr
armies, but the irresistible devices Of commerce
that broke down NspOleOn's Berlin decrees. So we
may be sure that however legally effective may be
the Federal blockade of the Southern Atlantic
ports there will be always cotton ships crossing the
Atlantic if the planters are willing to sell and we
may be sure that they will be the more willing the
higher that prices rise through the rigor Of the
prohibition. But there is another fact less GER
tain, namely, that the quantity thus brought of will
be insufficient for our wants, and rate far above
our means. The world cannot afford to buy Of US
cloth, the raw material f which we have
ransOmed rather than purchased. Illicit supplies
will help to kesp Us in work till the four quarters
of the earth are teeming with the plant for which
we have offered reward.
But if we try to make American cotton serve rs
as heretofore, we shall have the Indian weaver un-
derselling US, by working up in his rude loom the
fbres we have csUsed to be grown. We must have
free trade in cotton and free trade in bread in the
time of war as in the time of peace if ever again
we are to be at ease touching food and labor. In
place of idly specializing upon the supplies that may
reach US in driblets madly threatening the bel
ligerents with European Intervention politicians
and manufacturers should address themselves in
earnest to an amendment of the law Of nations
Seeing that all the great Powers are more or less
concerned in the relaxation Of the American block
ade why should they not address to the United
States Government = proposal based upon its own
language in 1856 and 1851?
Why should they not invite its assent to gener
al agreement exempting all private property not
of warlike nature from blOckading and priTateer-
ing? Such an agreement would afford no special
advantage to the confederstes-for it would leave
exposed to conhscation sn cotton consigned TO their
Government. ItsWould, therefore, do no injustice
to the Federalsts reopening to them indeed, lu-
cratiVs trade, from which they are shut out. Il
would involve no presumption on the part of the
European POwers-and no humiliation, save to the
Government by whom such proposals were scout
ed when they came from Washington. Our Cham
bers of Commerce then urged their acceptance. Let
the same and other Mercantile Associations unite
now to press the matter upon the attention of our
statesmen. Let the French manufacturers be invit
ed to JON with those of England in addresses to
their respective Governments, for this just and be-
Inefficient object. The success Of such movement
would do far more than relieve the severity of
present exigeney II would establish rs princi
pie the liberation Of peaceful commerce. from the
bonds of war, and secure at least one great bene-
it to mankind from war Of uncertain though un-
folding issues,