Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-04
The blockade.
ADMIRAL MILNE HAS NOT REPORTED 1T A. INEFF
CIENr-ENGIANn,s INrEREsrs ANn nIrrY A

H6 EskOtk80es
ADMIRAL MILNE HAS NOT REPORTED IT Az ISEFFI-
CIEST-ENGLANDs INTERESTS AND Duty As A
NEUTRAL POWER.
From the London Post government organ), Aug II
We believe that we are only stating SIM
pie truth when we say that every dispute
which has existed between this country and
| the United States. during the present centu-
ry. has arisen from the susceptibilities of the
American people with respect to some sup
posed invasion of their national dignity and
rights The war of 1872 was occasioned by
| the right of search-a question which the
treaty of Client and the Ashburtou capitula-
ton alike lett unad justed. The affair of the
Caroline M'Leod's trial, the Maine boundary
and Oregon disputes, and the recent San Juan
difficulty (now happily forgOtten1, are all ex-
amples of the boastfui and offensive spirit in
which successive Presidents have endeavored
to assert the national dignity and rights of
the once great American people.
In the civil war which at present affects
the United States the Cabinet at Washington
has acted in strict conformity with public
law, at least in intention, if not in actual
practice. 1t has adhered to the declaration
of neutral rights annexed to the Treaty of
Paris, it has abolished the odious practice of
privateeriug, and, in imitation of the policy
of European nations, it has practically con-
has not treated captured secessionists as
traitors. but has extended to them the usual
courtesies of war. The Southern authorities,
on the other hand. have commissioned letters
of marque, and these sea rOvers, if the sc-
count be true, have proved in a very satisfac-
tory manner that the federal blockade, ex-
tending over a coast of more than two thou
sand miles, is only valid on paper. An
American correspondent. writing from Pensa
cola the other day, not only stated, but pro-
fsssed to give, the text of letter in which
Admiral Milne, the commander of the British
squadron, had officially notified to the Admit
rally that the blockade of the Southern ports
was altogether Intellectual. On a former oc-
casion we expressed doubt whether so dis
Greet and experienced an officer as Admiral
Milne would have committed an act so obvi-
ously beyond the pale of his duty. The au-
thOritative contradiction which has been Civ
en- to this clever American fabrication was
scarcely necessary, because everybody
knows, as a matter of fact, that the federal
government does not possess at present a
naval force sufficient to close all the South
ern ports from Virginia to Texas. All that
it can hope to do is to blockade the most i'm
portant points, such as the mouths of the
Mississippi, and the great seats of the cotton
export trade. We are, however, now inform
ed that by means of gunboats, and other YES
sells of little dFaught, an attempt is to be
made to enforce the entire line of blockade
If the federal government can accomplish
this object, neutral nations will have no
cause of complaint, the blockade would then
be effectual.
If, on the other hand. the attempt should
fail. merchant vessels would practically share
in the immunity which the Southern priva-
teers appear at present to enjoy. OF course
it is extremely annoying to neutral COM
merce to be warned off the coast and compel
led to return home, or to sail to New York
or Canada, where the freight may be at
discount, and return cargo cannot be OBJ
tanned without a great sacrifice of time and
money. But these are necessary evils which
spring from state ofwar; hard, we admit, to
be endured by innocent parties; but so long
as the action of the federal government is in
conformity with pbbIic law, no one has
right to complain. When the American
courts condemn foreign vessels for the breach
of mere paper blockade, the Intervention of
diplomacy will then be requisite, but at pre-
sent no case has occurred either to merit or
command the interference of neutral Pow
ers If Admiral Milne had made the report
which has been attributed to him, the federal
government would have just right of COM
plant, because questions of the validity of
blockades are not within the jurisdiction of
an admiral commanding squadron in the
neighboring seas, but belong to those great
courts which, either in belligerent or neutral
countries, administer the law of nations
Knowing and fully appreciating the feelings
with which the people of America regard ev-
cry expression of foreign opinion, we are,
upon the whole, glad that this idle story has
received not only timely but official contra
diction. If Admiral Milne had volunteered
the statement which has been attributed to
him, the Northern people, who are not likely
to be much pleased with English criticism
and comments upon the recent battle of Bull
run, would say that England preferred the
pursuit of cotton to the obligations OF homes
Iy aud fair play. As Lord Palmerston at the
of the contest stated, every
question of neutral rights mnst be decided
when fitting case arises. The contingency
has not yet arrived; and if the federal gov
can succeed in efficiently maintain
ing so enormous blockade, it will in all
probability never occur. 1t is the duty of
this country, in the terms of her Majesty's
declaration, to observe strict and impartial
For simply doing this England
has been abused and villi6ed by the Northern
press. and Canada was to be annexed to COM
pensate for the loss of the South. We can
afford to despise all this ludicrous and impo-
tent malice, but as happily we have hitherto
escaped ell difficulties about American native
dignity and rights, let US have the two con-
tending parties to fight their battle as best
they may, without the slightest interference
or even advice on our part. If the blockade
be Intellectual, neutral commerce will COM
paratively suffer little injury; if effectusl,
the first principles of public law tell us that
We must obey with a good grace, however
the restriction may be for one
great staple of British industry and British
wealth.