The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-06-05
Views of the English Press.


there are American precedents for the
conclusion the British Government has
come 10, Of treating the Southern States
rs beIigerants, precedents which occurred
during the continuance of the civil war
between Spain and her colonies, and pre-,
vious 10 the acknowledgment OF the in
dependence of the latter by the moth er
country.
The Federal Government at Washing.
ton decided tha, the colonies were beIlig'
erent nations, and entitled TO all the soy
ereign rights Of war against the enemy.
This doctrine the United States have
dopted for their first Constitution: but
be!ligerert ghts carry with them cores
pondiug obligations. Blockades msst be
effectua', and privatee,s must he lawfully
commissioned. 4 blockade by letters of
marque, though novel, would be quite as
effec,ual as a blockade by regular men.
Of war ard the Northern States, with
their powerful commercial marine. could
easily blockade all the gulf ports. In
the meantime, the American rule that
the flag covers the cargo, will give com.
para,ive immunity to British and other
foreign commerce.
The Post" also shows that the South.
ern Co"federacy, being recognised as a
bcIligerant power, British and other yes
sells may freely trade to aud from It's ports
providing they do no, interfere with
blockade. and provided they do not deal
in contraband trade. There is good rea,
son to believe the right OF search will be
strictly exercised ; but ws have right
to insist that both the beligerant powers
shall respect legitimate merchandise on
board neutral vessels.
WILL TuR BLOCKADE DE EFFEcrUAL
-LETTERs OF MARQuE IN LONDON
Notwithstanding the enormous length Of
he line Of coast, both on the Atlantic
and on tue Gulf, the Southern ports from
~hich produce can he shipped with any
regularity are few in number. There are
only five railways which strike this coast
throughout its entire extent. These ter
inmate n, New Orleans and Mobile in
the Cult, and Savannah, Charleslon and
Wilmington on the Atlantic. II the
United States can blockade these five
por's efiec,osIIy, they, TO all practical pur.
poses, seal up the Southern Sistes. or
course they mus, do this effectively. lie
validity Of mere paper blockades has
long since been disowned by every Pow
er. We have been
told that there are letters Of Inarque now
in Londo,, and agents have arrived by
the lgs' steamer TO make contracts for
Armstrong guns, and all other wariike
stores OF the most recent invention -
Both parties will come into the markets
Of Europe, and will hid for men and
ships. So far as prvateerDg is concerned
the South will have the advantage.
No adven,urer would care 10 take ser
vice with the North, because there would
be little or no prey. TIE South has no
commerce, and its produce would he car
ried in Neutral bottoms. The North,
however. has ships upon every sea, and
is victim that will pay plunderer.--
There are silk cafgoes to be inccpted even
in the Easterp seas, and the treasures Of
California are to be met with afioat. To
protect this commerce will require no
small portion Of .he available United
States Navy; and it is therefore not quite
certain that Mr.. Lincoln can respond to
the reiterated demands Of the merchants
Of New York to blockade all the ports
Of the South.
Looking a, these matters in strictly
English point Of view, our interest il first.
il possible, that this melancholy rupture
should be repaired, and that either by re
union or by amicsble separation peace
should be restored. But il this is i'm.
possible, then it becomes our next object
that our cotton supply should not be cut
of, and that the markets for Our manu-
fsctures in the South should not be for.
chilly shut against US. With this view
we shall be compelled to scrutinize the
legality OF every blockade established up
on the coasts Of the seeding States.
The Government at Washington has
Itself relieved MS from what might other
wise have been great danger Of being
made the principal victim OF this unhap'
py quarrel. Al the treaty 10 Paris, Eng
land and France proposed that all ma
tons should renounce the belligerent
ss"t VI ssuchR iettefs Oi maFQue. Inc
United States then refused to join in this
convention, and required for their mer.
chan. ships an immunity from The men
oiwsr as we'll rs from privateers If
America had then joined TO mako this
proposition an universal law Of nations,
privatesrs would now be considered pi'
rates. and the South would he at the
mercy Of the North.
That proposal, however, having been
rejected, the belligerent parties bold their
ancient rights, aud the commissions Of
Mr.. President Davis are as good as those
Of Mr.. Presideur Lincoln. As to the res
olulios Of the New York Merchants to
treat the privsteep Of the unrecoepized
South nc pirates, Il cannot be maintained.
Every jnriss must hold that, 40 long as
Me-. President Davis is President Of
Coniederscy Of Sovereign Sta,es, he has
the same right 10 issue lcstefs Of maraae