Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-12
DOCTRINE OF TIsE UNITED STATES
oNrEE srHJscrOr
NEUTRAL l. RIGHTS.
Lc.tcr from Nsr. Gass to Mr. Mason.

oNrEE sUBJicroF
NEUTRAL RIGHTS.
letter from Isr. Gass TO Mr.. Mason.
plrAmNENT or STATE,
WasLigiCn June 27th, 1852
SIR The Government Of the United States has learn
cd with much concern that war has broken cut in Eu-
rope which threatens in lis progress 10 involve other
powers and become OF the most eVcnuul contests
ia hiuh od,ru nations have found thtns' Ives engaged
Tie policy Of tbo United States Is essentially pacific and
upen the present occasion heretofore, they viii faith
fully discharge ihir neutral duties devfn ned, 20 lar
az depends upon hemstye, TO Preserve the most am
cable relations with al the powers engaged Ia hOsille
Tlis determination viii be communicated 20 each Of
those powers and you will make 10 known to the Gov
,rumeut Of his Imperial Majesty, aud in doing so you
will take care and express she confident expectation oil
the United States that their rights will be respected By
France with ,qlai fidelity. There reason to aPpreheLd
nat in The progress Of The val, questions all ctng The
rights Of neutral nations upon lie ocean may present
themselves for consideration, Gnj whose peaceful scll
iio, nay require discretion VIC! as tOrceaiaGce.
The t.ud,lcg Of mo!cru eyilzl-ion and improvement
e. ,., , 'g ,zismi.;,s OF var and the pcgtcss OF
tiio has introduced important mecratloE5 Iu'o the
r,ri OF TO-. n-osecufi0u especially upon auc but uu-
.ortuat y similar bcuIhceu changes have not been ad
ued into maritime w.r 80 that the code Aich regu-
I.tes these coutrs:s yet ;sLs Irucpl Of action not
sIl,ted 10 the sentiments OF tie age which We live.
| j =
dent plVpr notifications should be made IN these OBJ
let enable principles 10 6cComOdatl them TO the
p. sting state OF thilcs and also hlt the rights OF bel
. rent nations should be restrained within reasonable
| limits and defined VI due precision.
T +, despatch will make k.own 20 you the views OF
hi- Government concerning these sui Jlc,s; and It II
deemed important that they 1cuid be communicated TO
| he powers pl Europe Tl1cp4ly Interested 10 the
reiFty Questions tLey iuyoye AID that each OF those
now ri. e. ou't ie requested, not OILY 70 cooperate u
I . 200 tlaH Is 81 at l.
ory 70 exert iJs .tueuce with Other states to induce
rv 10 concur IN the proposed asur5s which appeal
v 81, r..ay grave considerations TO the ict!ngs ead
arrort OF tl. age Tie various representatives b! tae
| Ca,c Stare. 10 ,c Euoq.au nations wi, upon all III
ting cc.. OBS explain these views % The government
20 vf.h trry are accredited, ard VIII i-vCks their aid
towards iha a-t1meut OF tie effects lc,,od, and Il
te sam time thsy viii communicate for Their uiorIu.s
oI the views CL.erL.iueC by ibis country OF hose Pori.
Cd. international law presented this letter, which the
J,sd S...o. consider established and entitled TO the
support Of all ether powers
You are desired to carry into Cfec, these instructions
40 the Imperial Court OF France and 20 keep tins depart
me1t informed fcm time TO t"e Of the progress ami
pro-p,cs y this attempt TO es;rct the evils o! war, aud
| 20 enlarge and secure the b.cssltgs oi peace.
Ii is cb,ous lLat tho commercial powers Of the world
regard with iule scLcitudo the subj ct OF neutral
riehts and tere is general apprehension that rTeteu
SION, NAV be advanced during the exiting which
NAV imper tLcu. And t is equally obvious, nom tho
temper OF the age that the present Is 10 sale time TO
assert and enforce pr,ersiprs the part Of bcllg
ercnt powers uh cWg the interest OF nations az peace
unless such pretersiuus are clearly justified by the
law Of ratious Although some Ci tnQ provisions Of
| hat code have bsc.me harsh and uuacc"ptibie,
| vet there h. % general serse ci the du'y Of submit
| inc 10 the obigauons IT. iuposcs. Bll those obl-
| cations 10 insure obedience, must Dc p nd rot upon
doubtful constructions, bur upon clearly expressed aa
guage defining with reasonable precision the rights
and duties Cf the independent larIes m the reIa.
lions * sting between them. II is unfortunate thai
| various claims have been advanced and enforced by
beger,u powers 10 the prosecution Of wars for which
70 would be vain TO seek any sufficient 'suieauou an the
laF OF nators and this consideration adds TO the IN
pOrtanCr Of acceptable Arrangement by "hi'h th-
znlc- of apprehension may be removed aud O.! danger
Of collision avoided bv oeay defining the ghis of tie
rites in all doubtful cases. IL the belgerent po~ers
should substitute their views for the iair PROVISIONS
Of the general law, the most serious consequences may
b, app,ehended It becomes al. prudent governments
gagged IN ilts TO take uto consideration the re-
tua condition OF panhc sentiment whenever measures OF
doubtful character proposed, and satisfy themselves
not ONLY that they Just but also practically exp dent
There ARE lhree principal subject connect ed With Ihe
rights Of t,geIelt and ueuuaI powers which req IRE
the dspae,ionate consideration OF ell governments de-
srous Of preventing the most serious complications
These relate TO the condition OF euemyS proper Y
found on board the lei OF friend, aud 70 the system
Of blockades and contraband OF "ar WIN respect 10
the two last she United States consider It Of The utmost
/
by general consent leave no doubt respecting the
or,stons they embrace when these call for practical ad
Justm5nL
(BxLMGFRESr PROPERTY on NEUTRAL SHIPS, 3c)
With rcspoc 20 the protection Of the vessel and cargo
by the ~ wi ich over them, he United States loo
upon that principle established, aud they maintain that
JsEqn property an J,GTd hsH'rat Sh'P as nat tsadt
20 capture and from existing indications rey hope to
receive the general concurrence OF all commercial pow
cs in THIS position Whatever difference OF opinion may
lave heretofore prevailed Upon the SUBJECT 1t IS certain
that the claim forciby to enter neutral vessel and Ia
seize the goods found there, upon the allegation
Of their being tue property OF an enemy, was
first uroed az a period when the passions Of bel
Irererts we're little restrained 10y the dictates OF hu
lfapity or religion and when the question how enc
INV could be Injured, rather how his goods could be
seiz d YVES M CT more acceptable Ot Ct Of research
than why friend should be spared-Almost from the
first aemut to incorporate this doctrine into the mari
time code Of tie world it has been denounced by emf
peut pubcists as fleeious in principle and unjust and
.anrero Us in p, ctice And the repuguance TO has
gone or increasing till ts advooles have almost disap-
pe.red Ibalieyet at every modern commercial nation
mas practically repudi4edt by entering into treaty spu
ations either Temporary or permanent, providing oi
its abandonment and some Of hem as The Baltic States
by the league known rs the armed neutrality and by
iorcibe resistance The opposition of Holland to has
been almost unremtted. The principal powers engaged
in the Crime an war Great Britain, France and Russia
by formal public declarations avowed their adherence 10
the doctrine OF immunity and their determination to
spect it, France and Russia absolutely and without
limitation of time, and Great Britain "for the present.
but for a reason equally applicable to all times
hereafter. ard which will at all times call fol-
similar concurrence. This measure is adopted
saws the British declaration, ito preserve the
of neutras from all unnecessary obstructions" a.; Ex
perience has well shown the justice of this designation
and the wisdom of this precautionary arrangement No
disposition has been manifested by any of the States re-
roushing this preteDsOn TO its exercise Is
it to be expected that if such effort made it
would be tamey submitted to- Contested and in5idous
powers are not TO be thus auhorasey abandoned and
then again called into service, at the interest caprice
OF any nation The countries engaged in the pending
war have adopted much wiser policy. They bold on
TO the power of the flag to protect both vessel and cargo
from all violation and have proclaimed BY public decla
ratons their determination to respect the principle oil
exemption so happily established. And well is it in the
general interest that Ibis tribute has been rendered to
the opinions of the age The stopping Of neutral yes
ss upon the high seas their oreble entrance ard the
overhaung and examination Of their cargoes the seiz
ure of their freight the will Of foreign officer, the
frequent interruption of their voyages by compelling
them to change their destination in order TO seek re-
Dress and, above s the assumption Of Jurisdiction BY