The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-12-05
Hintorionl Gases in Point.

envoy sent by a belligerent to a neutral
10 described by Thuoydides, (Book ii"
C. 67) who says that the Peloponne-
slams, being at war with the Atheninna.
sent messengers to Persia to negotiate
an alliance with the people Of that ma
ton. But the Atheniuns caught the
euvoys in Thrace, and put them to death.
"Ihis might have been cruel, says
Woolsey, International Law, p. 222D
"but was not against the modern jas IN.
ter geHtcs" In the wars of the sixteenth
century, Venice, France and Germany
exercised the same right Of stopping
hostile messengers IN tran5itu over their
own or neutral territory.
England has been particularly con
spicuous in this manifestation of her bel
ligorent power. In 1744, Marshal Bel.
lsisle, who was regular accredited
French Minister, was arrested bv En-
glish troops in Hanover, and carried a
prisoner to England. But the naval
arrests are still more pertinent and ez-
Plicit. Take that Of the Atlanta C.,
Robertson's Admiralty Report, 44O. for
one. The Atlanta was BF,mcp shin.
which, on voyage from Batavia to
Bremen, stopped at the Isle of France.
where she took on board one Colonel
Richmond, an officer of artillery, and
second in command in the Isle of
France, who came as a planter of the
island; also a package from the Cover.
nor, which proved, when the vessel was
captured, to be dispatches to the gov
ernment Of France, with which Great
Britain was then at war. The captain
was ordered in case of pursuit by a
British vessel, to give the package to
Colonel Richmond, who appears TO have
been virtual dispatch bearer, but passed
as a civilian, "fOr the purpose, it is said,
Of avoiding Imprisonment in case of
capture"
On this point the British Admiralty
Court-Which condemned the vessel as
prize for "unneutrul conduct" decided
This might, perhaps, be the real and
the only inducement for oOnsenting to
take him Colonel Richmoud) under
that disguise; but even that is an accom-.
modation which neutral shipmasters and
suporcargoos have no right to afford
As to the "simple carrying of dispatch
es, >" the Court calls it ga service highly
injurious to the other belligerents."
The Susan, an American ship, was
condemned in a British Admiralty Cour
in April, 1903, having been captured
on voyage from Bordeaux TO New
York, for having on board a packet nd
dressed to the Prefeot Of the Isle O
France. 1t appeared that this packar,
contained only letter providing fo
the payment of the Projects SALARY: an,
tho captain made affidavit Of his igno
rance Of the contents, and that tn,
packet was delivered to him by pri
vate merchant. The defence insisted
upon "the insiguiicanoe of such com
munication and its want Of connection
with the political objects of the war;
but the British court condemned til,
vessel as prize, and though releasing thu
cargo, condemned also the masters Dri
vate venture.
Again, the American ship Hope. cap
tured on voyage from Bordeaux t,
New York, and having on board var
ious dispatches TO the officers of govern
ment in tho French West Indies an,
the Isle of France, was condemned il
the British court on the 9Th of April
1903. She had on board a FroncI
military officer Of rank, who had beer
shipped in the character ofa merchant,
clerk, going to New York to settle Ger
tain accounts. The master made afi
davit of bis ignorance, and stated tho
IN answer to request made to him, h
had refused publicly in the coffee hous
at. Bordeaux, to take any public papers.
The court held him guilty, neverthe
less, Of criminal intent, and he lost hi
ship.
In September, 1880, Mr.. Henr,
Laurens, commissioner from the Amori
can Congress to Holland, was captured
on board a Dutch (neutral) vessel, lader
with tobacco and bound for Holland
MIR, Laurens was taken to England, an,
on October 9th, 1880, was COMMITTEE
to the Tower 'On suspicion of high trea
SON" lie lay in the Tower ifteer
months, in close confinement, not boin,
allowed for part OF the time to hold in
tercourse with any one, or even E
walk in the open air. llc was greatl
enfooblcd, by his confinement. Ie wa
finally exchanged as q prisoner Of war
for Lord CORVALLIS. His dispatches
which wero taken at the same tim
with himself, were Of such q nature a
to lend TO a declaration of war by Enc
land against Holland