Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-11-29

NOhGu d0u CuiluTtu W eudD1S ttltUf 10 eb
cape, and in one instance selected nigh
as the period when they might .surpris,
them more efectually whilst asleep and
unsuspicious of danger. Arson and ra.
pine, the destruction of private houses
and property, and injuries of the mosI
wanton character, even upon non combat.
ants, have marked their forays. Altho'
we ought to have been admonished BY
these things that were disposed to make
war upon us in the most cruel and releDt-
less spirit, yet we we're not prepared TO
see them fit out large naval expedition
with the confessed purpose not only OF
plunder, but to incite servile insurrec-
ton in our midst. If they convert their
soldiers into incendiaries and involve us
in species of war which claims non
combatants, women and children as its
victims, they must expect to be treated as
outlaws and enemies Of mankind. There
are certain rights Of humanity which are
entitled to respect even in war as in peace,
and he who refuses to regard them forfeits
his claims, if captured, to be considered
as prisoner of war, but must expect to
be dealt with as an offender against all
law, human and divine. But not content
with violating our right under under the
law of nations at home, they have exten-
ded these injuries to us within other ju-
risdiction. The distinguished gentlemen,
whom, with your approval at the last ses-
sion of Congress, commissioned to rep
resent the Confederacy at certain foreign
courts, have been recently seized by the
captain of a Uuited States ship p-of-war on
board British steamer, on their voyage
from the neutral Spanish port of Havana
TO England
They have thus claimed general juris-
diction over the high seas, and entering
British ship sailing under it's country s
flag, have violated the rights of embassy
for the most part held sacred even by bar
barians, by seizing our ministers whilst
under the protection and domain of a
neutral nation These gentlemen were as
much under the jurisdiction of the Brit
ish government upon that ship and be-
meath its flag as if they had been on its
soil, and claim on the part of the United
States to seize them in the streets Of Lon
don would have been as we'll founded as
that to apprehend them where they we're
taken. Had they been inaefactors, and
lcitizens even of the United States, they
cohld not have been arrested unless under
the express provisions of treaty and ac-
cording to the forms therein provided for
the extradition of criminals, but the rights
the most sacred seem to have lost all re-
spect in their eyes. When Mr. Faulkner
a former tnihister of the United States to
France, commissioned before the secession
of Virginia, his native State, returned in
good faith to Washington to settle his ac.
counts, and fulfill all the obligations ihto
which he had entered, he was perf1diously
arrested and imprisoned in New York
where he now is. The unsuspecting con.
4 fidence with which he reported to his gov.
ernment was abu sed and his desire't0 full
fill his trust to them was used to his iniu
ry. In conducting this war we have sought
no aid nor proposed no alliahce, offensive
+ or defensive abroad We have asked fol-
a recognized place in the family OF ma
tons, but in SO doing we have demanded
nothing for which we did not offer fail
equivalent.
/. The advantages of intercourse are mu
tual amongst nations, and in seeking Il
establish diplomatic relations, we were on
ly endeavoring to place that intercours,
under the regulations of public law Per
haps we had the right if we had chosen t.
exercise it, to ask to know whether thu
principle, that blockade to be bindins
must be effectual, so solemny announced
t by the great powers of Europe at Paris, il
to be generally enforced, or applied only
to particular parties. When the Confed
5 crate States at your last session became
= party to the declar ltion, reaffirming thi
= principle of international law, which ha
been recognized so long by publicists ant
0 governments, we certainly supposed that i
: was to be universally enforced.
The customary law of nations is mad
up of their practice rather than their de
a cltrations, aud if such declarations ar
; only to be enforced in particular instan
Il ces, at the pleasure of those who lik
a them, then the commerce of the world, s.
4 far from being placed under the regula
q tions of general law, will become sub
iect to the caprice of those who execute o
!. suspend it at will. If such is to be tn
. course of nations in regard to this law,
20 Is plain tnat IL VIII JHus bcCou6 Eul
Y for the weak and not for he strong
:, Feeling that such views must be taken b
a the neutral nations Of the earth, hav
:, caused the evidence to be collected, whic
proves completely the utter inefhciency {
- the proclaimed blockade of our coast, an
shall direct it to be laid before such gov
|. ernments as shall afford US the means {
II being heard.
"a But although We should be behefftte
~ by the enforcement of this law, so solemn
If ly declared by the great powers of EuroP
!. we are not dependent upon that enfore'
n ment for the successful prosecution of th
+ war so long as h6stilities continue.
'. The Confederate States will exhibit
steadily increasing capacity to furnis
nt their troops with good clothing and arm
es If they shoulI be forced to foFego man
it of the luxuries and many Of the comfOr
Of life, IN y will at least have the cons
= n - Al. Sl..s Il