New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-18

lie Times PROF Oses 10 WIPE AL out hu otS' "S""'
1t is to BE- admitted TINT nobody knows what the
law of blOcf ace is, and that there is really no
such thing "a q cod. of maritime law In the
absence al all such law, 1t is said To be tho hn'y
az Europ.an Gosrrumrnts To cone Ia some gen-
cral understanding on the subject, aud To "atree
st proportions which shall form r'a' Pu'ic
"lnw." T.elaw of ,tious that was ebforced 'hen
the United St,trs were neutral, and European
Governments brleerent, was only cham pnbhc
law. There was motoring IN 1t oi suhstaht'h
Justice aud equity. IL was nerri! Jncicisl 'A'
ores, ion of Interests, not Of rights; ard The r. al
public law is to be made by the ayr euent OF
those same European Governments To SUIT an
entirely new state OF tn Ggs 10 lie administered
when England lie neutral and the United States
bell gcrrnt.
The coolness of this proposition would commend
itself even to Mississippi iinancler. The rrpn-
diation ol Stats bonds is bad enough, but II Is
honor and purity when compared with the wholesale
reputation OF Judicial decisions hat were supposed
e. rm an honest aud sauna part ~ tho Ia" I"
| uutl.ns We have been cducoted to believe ihat
tie public law with regard 10 blockade and the
: CHS ot belhgercnts and neutral. had been very
largely considered, and, for law, was un;ommonIy
wrlLe.till shed. We are aware that VIII Inc
beet judicial minds, the law that tests IA The
| brea.t of the judge is liable "a be very Huch
modified by the surrounding circumstances at
particular case. But the publicistS and the
Courts OF the United States haze been simple
en-, urh not Only to adopt aud iotiow the pr'le
decniaus of bell gertnt England, but To 8ppiaua
th,m for The clearness and copiousncs' "i ,nr'f
| Illustrations, US well us for the colsisltuty ana
precision Of their principles. When Stor! ana
Marshall were leaning ulOn TIE mastery Ju'R-
ments of Sir William Scott, and Incorporating
them Ia the maritime Jurisprudence Of tue United
States they tile thcu.bt that when the relations
OF the two Governments 10 all these questions oil
public law should be caanged, these Judgm
would be assailed by the most authoritative eA'
pouent of English opinion rs Ihr views ihrfri!
%, belligerent England, and as really constituting
no portion OF the pubic law.
The appeal of our London cotemPOrory to tho
Governmcnis of Europe, translated INTO tue yer
nacuIar, suggest, toat the exciting law oil nations
wIl make 1t a very difficult tblng Tor England 10
obtain her supply OF cotton, aud that therefore
the law OF nations must be- forthwith 50 ane6dt d
by Congress of the European Powers as :" re-
move the difficulty. IL Is not minated That the
United States should have the pr,s!rge oil being
represented in that Congress, or have word to
cay in regard 70 the contemplated changes ~ m
te,pat oual law. We are only To accept tie law
rs the European Congress may PROFOUND ~ abd
let m Enpl5pd 10 tr iiic with Jercrs"n DAVIS Tor
tie cotton crop which his hcge subjects arc
ptdsi' to hm ia advance, IN pursuance OF tn
excellent advice of tue Montgomery hnauci'r'.
There Il reason % believe thai II vii take tNo
t. make this bargain. The United states are
very wrll sat lied with tho law II na'ions ~
this regard as it stands on Tie decisions II tie
Europ an aud Amerlc.I tribunals, with such mod
Ifcaton, Us are understood to be- made b. IL"
declaration of Paris, and such ciianges az We
may unite with other powers "a adopting, even
IN "a time OF hsgraut War. But ANY 0ne-sidrd
agreement INTENDED 10 deprive THIS nation, as u
ltlligereat OF the benrllt oi doctrines VII ch y
has always respected and observed - a neI'ral,
would be treated with the contempt wich is in-
Justice would obviously merit, II 10 enforce nent
we're backed by all the lavlcs Of LuIOye.