Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-05
9ajln sppeal.
English UpIntOu Of "a Embargo n
EsHoekad8s

EngIlsh opinion 81 EEa0afEO anu
Blockade.
The following article is taken entire from
the Montreal (Canads) Commercial Advertiser
Of August 23l.
The argument It makes is a clincheT and
crusber. l. admits Of 10 reply. Our readers
will read it gith care and satisfaction
when be United St.tes government egacted
compensation from the King Of Naples for the
saizure eF an American vessel for breaking
the blockade Of q S.cIiIaH port, 1t Maintained
g Gle tr principle Of international laW-tnat "a"
nation can blockade its own ports ana Ne
action was approved By Euronean powers
When also its diplomatic agent al New G1eha-
da d~r>tested against the Cover ament OF InaI
republic closing certain pOrrs or d TtVoi ca us
tHer, uDOn the ground that tna dohihIoH q u
sea follows that Of the land, and no nation csh
iegjsla- e for eTritory over which ia au horIty
is MOI recognized. it maintained an eqnahy IN
DOUBTED principle Of the law OF naliohs1 WHICH
was approved bv an almost Simultaneous ue-
clara ION OF Lord John Russell upo the same
subject, without any knowledge OF the position
taken b. the Uaitsd States upon It.
Europe and America have then oy ouclai
acts declared themselves agreed:
1t. That no nation can blockade its eWn
ports: because blockade is a beliigerent right,
a-d not 4 police measure.
% That no nation can, by legislation or
proclamation, close TO foreign u7
ports OF territory wrested from its authority
bv ~ctive and successful revolt; because the
jurisdiction over the sea adjacent to that ter
ri CRY and commanded By IL, belongs 10 ne
power dominant on the land, and not t8dE
whose su huTi , has been deposed.
T. follows, then, from the first OF these al
nit ed prop ,sitlous, that the blockade Of the
Confederate coasts and ports by tue PfesiaehL
Of the dotted States is an iiieg al one when
no nation is bound TO respect, ana lndL ta7
SECURE Of British and other foreign vessels LOT
alleged infrsct,ons Of it are unlawful and pi-
rstical; an4 it follows from the second admit
ted proposition tha the proposed closing or
these ports aud coasts TO foreign commerce, by
a PROCLAMATION declaring them to b 10 longer
ports Of entry of the United states IS also u
/ gaI-aD ATTEMPTED usuTpatiOn OF authority
Contrary 20 the law Of nations, which the mar
Itime powers OF Europe Will not tolerate
the government Of the Uni 81 States 10 thus
between the horns Of a dilemma, through ITS
refusal to admit the beliigeTent character OF
the Confederate States, and its attempts to
treat them Simply as rebels, and cas only es-
cane from it bv according them the same
Guit.d recognition as a bpligeTent power
which France and England have given them,
and 70 which the organization OF their rebel
lion unuu4stionsbiy entities them. By doing
FHlS o. WIZ CDidiu lld Ai-ts " DA' hHuT --~N.
coasts as bsligerent, subject TO the Law OF
naa ions as to eficieRcyi while refusing to do
So. It lrs=s this right, without gaining tue su-
tnuuty 70 lay the embargo on them, which &c
IS said that it is about 10 claim.
The refusal to recognize the belligeTent cn9r-
acrar Of a power which has an army OF POO
ono men in the field, and z feet OF cruisers A.
ses. the one compelling the Federal govern
mant to live in daily fear OF the capture Of its
CAPITAL. and the other dsfying the pOweTo Of its
navy. is 4 manifest absuTtIty; and II Is pretty
generally % regarded by the people or the
U led States, aad by the northern journals.
Oae Inconvenience Of this refusal is the de-
ten-i n Of over tEo thousand United states
soldiers az prisoners OF war by The Contedef-
stez, who n ght otherwise be exchanged Tor
prisoners held By the Federal government )
and on this account public feeling IS settling
strongly against the determination OF the
Csbnet at Washington to consider the Con-
g.dsTafes as rebels and traitors, AMI IN no
manner to recognize their lawful beIligeTent
character by treating with them.
The Federal government i8 CiiGgjng 10 q de-
Iusion, repeating incident for incident the folly
Of the Trparisi guvsTnment at the commence
mebt OF the war Of independence, and will
have eventually 10 abandon its ground in the
same manner. Il does not dare, and it admits
shat it does not dare, q execute On7 OF the
prisoner IL has taken Ia arms by land or sea
and bv refusing TO treat them as prisoners OF
uz-. AID exchange them wi b The enemy, 1t
Goes { g own supporters material IljlrY, WITH
out. In tie ieast, Strengthening before The
world It's -heoTy that the Confederate States
are Dot e bellgerent power.