Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-25
oOnfIscatlon OF EnsIlsh Vessels.

The Savannah Republican copies from late nun
Der Of the New York Herald al. account of the con-
demnation of the British shio Hiawatha, seized in
an attempt to run the LINCOLN blockade. A num-
Der of foreign vessels it appears stand in pGri delic
and it was agreed among counsel that they should
follow IN the same direction.
The Republican says: at appears to us that in
these proceedings the contingency has arisen in
which the British government viii feel called on to
assertits rights under the Law of Nations. If the
blockade is an effective one, England under that law
is bound to respect it lit is not effective no liza.
biity attach to the vessels Of foreign nations
that seek to violate it. That it is not effective in
this case England has ample and incontestible evi
dence. Vessels have been going in and out Of Con-
fderste ports from the declaration of the blockade
until now, and in every case we have reason to be-
lieve, the fact has been duly communicated, in an
authentic form, to that government. Her right,
therefore, to resist this usurpation of the LINCOLN
government is clear The only question is {: will
She under all the circumstances Of the time consid-
er herself bound in this to protect the rights
and property other subjects2 AS she has never
failed in this obligation heretofore it is reasonable
to conclnds that she will not be deferred from il
now. We shall seen
The following is the article referred to:
Judge Belts of New York, has rendered his decis-
ion in the of the British bark Hiawatha about
whose capture as prize Of war then has alread ?
been much discussion in England. The New York
Herald says of the decisIon:
The decision is against the bark cOndemning her
prize, and is important, not only for the urin
ciple of maritime and international law laid down.
but for the that ten other vessels are virtu
ally included in this Judgment, and their will
be ruled accordingly.
An understanding was entered into by the coun-
sci conducting the various suits that the arguments
Covering the common grounds of defence should be
limited TO the issues made in three cases-the bark
Hiawatha, the bark Pioneer and the schooner Cren-
shaw-with the reservation of the right to parties
in the other suits pending to be heard upon the facts
and law peculiar to the suits in which they were
British Government, leading counsel in the gen.
eral defence set mp for all the vessels which CON
sisted of the following points
l. That the Court, as Prize Court or otherwise,
has no jurisdiction over the actions.
2. That the public disturbances now existing
throughout the country, or between different Dor
tons of the United States do not constitute state
of wsr, carrying with it the consequences or Incl
deEts of public war, under the public law laws
of nations.
3. That no lawful blockade been established
by the Government OF the United Siates against any
port within the United States nor has blockade
been maintained cOn!aTmabla the rules OF nations
or been violated against such rules within the Uni
ted States.
4 That no particular State or nuelb.r Of partic-
ular States or the citizens or inhabitants of partic-
ulgr States can become be treated as enemies of
the United States. by the Government of the latter
5. That the President of the UGited Strtes has no
power, without authorization Of Congress- to create
or declare state of with any State or States
of the United States or to establish blockade of
any port or ports within such State States.
All the claimants deny in substance the legality
of the blockade Of the port of Richmond, the know
ledge of the claimants of its violation or that the
master of the vessel had authority prejudice the
rights of the claimants BY any unlawful acts his
part