New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-09

help. Lord John has taught the meaning Of British
neutrality toward nation supposed 10 be Ia like con-
dition Let us trust that the English people VII not
indorse the definition.
What would England have said to such proclams-
Of nptraly from in Der domestic troubles In Can
ada, in Ireland, or 10 Irdi,3 What would the En-
Rlish people have thought Of State paper from
Washington, declaring il the sovereign will Of the
people Of the United States to remain perfectly neu-
trail in the contest being waged In Hndoetan between
the Br sh Government on the one side aud the hioeu
dynasty the other, and forbidding American citl-
Gems TO enter the service of either of the said beger
ents What would they have thought Of the Amer-
can President intimatng with cold etiquette that II
was matter Of profound indifference TO this Govern
ment which of the beligerents should be victorious
the King of Oude and Mana Sahlb, or Lord Canning
and the immortal Haveock Or is IL that the British
have become so ensmored of rebellion-aye, and OF
treacbery, too among their sepoys-that they thus
court great mOgu and bis fellow-tritors OF Mont
gomery
The Queens proclamation strikes not simply at the
moral position of our Government, but according TO
the English press tstrkes also at rgnt to execute
our own laws against piracy and We are told by me
London Times that If venture to hang, under these
laws pirate who is licensed to pluDder and murder
by Jefferson Dayiss letters of msrque, now indorsed
by the soveregns Of England and France, it will DO
regarded an outrage by the civilized world; ana
this gentle ntmation comes TO us from nation VINO
hardly recovered from the effects of rebellion, to
world, they blew their rebels from the guns
II was ntmated that the British Cabinet were puz-
zed how TO act in regard 10 the United States ON the
one hand and her rebel cousprators the other and
that after careful search for precedents, one was
found in the Royal proclamation touching the war be.
tween Greece and Turkey and that on that was based
the proclamation which has go dispeased and wounded
the American people.
IL could not have escaped the Cabinet in their search
for precedents for we know with what thoroughDess
aur plaaa re mad n
thugs existed but few years since between Great
Britain and the United States when the integrity and
honor Of the British Empire were assaed by her Ca
madam cOlonsts and she had occasion TO learn what
ia the opinion OF the United States constitutes the du
ties If neutrality toward sfrendly nation Unsuccess-
full rebeions are coon forgotten, and perhaps many
Englshmen may lie surprised on being told that the
Canadian rebellion deeply seated and 80 widely
spread seriously to threaten the crown with the loss
OF the Canadas.
Mr.. Jay quoted some Of the prominent features Of
the rebellion In Canada, Mr.. Van Buren's proclama-
tion and bis order to the United States Commander on
Lake Ontario to cooperate with Lord Durham In root
ing ont the pirates of the Thousand Ises without the
slightest re- gard to the official proclamation of their
chief Mr. William johnson, holding commission from
the patriot Government that the patriots would careful
y neutral waters and the nights OF all citizens OF
the United States.
On the 4th of December 1888 the President, in bis
message to Congress, declared, =" II an instruction
existed in Canada the smicable disposition OF the
would lead them to maintain strict neutrality, and to
restrain it's citizens from all violation OF the laws which
have been passed foo its enforcement But the Gov
ernmep recognizes still higher obligation 70 repress
all attempts the part OF its citizens to disturb the
peace Of country where order prevails has been re-
established"
Such was the neutrality on the part Of the United
States toward Great Britain. 1t recognized the rebels
OF Canada not Jegerents but IA Insurgents and II
enforced its neutnity not by forbdding s citizens to
nra. 10
ases' oi'a' n'i va. ~ W ~" S'''.s
- insurgents, Du, ny IvVuuIDg tnem 70 luIefiere
untdyfut with the affairs of the Provinces.
1t needs no intimate knowledge of international law
no std6y Of Grotius, Pufendorf Vatel or Whea-
ton, no definitions Of the rights of belgerents and
priyaeers from the C0ns0latO del Mare from Lampre-
OIL Gallant Moser or Hubner, to enable VA TO apprec-
ate the wide difference between the neutrality we
practieed toward England and her rebels, and that
which Eng land has inaugurated against Us.
The recog milton of the independence of the Southern
Confederacy is matter In the discretion Of England
and of all foreign nations. When this independence Is
established as matter of fact, we expect il TO be
recognized but England does recognize it. She
recognizes the Conisderacy simply struggling for
indeJ rdenee 10 were the insurgents in Canada AID
pending the struggle abe volunteers under professions
Of neutrality ignore constitutional right to SUBJ
due them, and to recognize their rebellion lawful
war; Bound TO by treaty stipuitions, she eleva'es
them to equality Of position as regards be gerent
rights under the law Of nations. She places their
usurped Government based ON treachsry and Slavery
par with that founded by Washington and lis
sOciaes the broad consent Of the American people,
She introduces Jefferson Davis aud his confedeIates 70
limited extent into the family of nations, indorses
tie Licences given by them TO pirates whose brutal
cupdity is stimulated by brides of blood money
twenty dollars for every murdered American and
transforms them into letters of marque which the
SHIPS of al nations bound TO recognize, respect
and obey.
Had che treated them as Insurgents, they would
have had other rights the than had Bill John
son. tie pirate Of the ST. Lawrence. Having proclaimed
them begerents, she has given them a commission
not simply capture American property in American
vessels but capture the high American prop
erty on board Of whatever vessel may be found and
to carry the neutral vessel and cargo into belgerent
port for further examination She recognizes the right
of the men who have robbed our treasury, betrayed
our forts and lched yards and arsenals to
establish prize courts decide upon the awfulness of
captures made by their commissioned cruisers, and
brought into court for adudication and the title TO be
given by Dawes courts is to be held valid by the law
of nations. ~
This is what the proclamation Of neutrality really
means. This is the neutrality which England has in
augurated and which France has adopted; and those
- great powers who recently declared In tae Con-
Rress at Paris that priyateerng IL and shall remain
abolished by royal and imperial proclamation have
letters of marque for the destruction of
American ships and which threaten with spoliation
the commerce Of the world The aim and effect Of the
British proclamation seems TO clearly unfriendly
and injurious that it is hardly worth while TO note the
diseourtesy Of adopting such policy, and giving it
definite and rreverble shape in advance of the arrival
Of Mr.. Adams without allowing the opportunity TO
offer a word Of explanation remoDstrance. Mr..
Adams reached Liverpool the 18th Of May The next
day the proclamation was printed in London.
The United States by their neutrality broke the back
of the Canadian rebellion dashed the hopes cherished
by the rebels of effective American sympathy In good
faith assisted the British Government in maintaining
It's authority and restoring Order and thus materially
the cost Of treasure and Of hfe at which
alone their subsection could have been accomplished.
The British Government by their neutrality have |
an mara dificnlf anar from the