The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-05-31
The geffefsoQiaQ DeMOcfai
JULIUS o. CONVERSE, Editor.
CHARDON, ORlO, FRIDAY, MAY 81, 1861.
Tse Privateering Question.


"A tate Washington telegram aunouuced
that Secretary Seward bad notified tho
Governments of Great Britain, Austria,
France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia and Tur-
key. which were represented in the Paris
Conference OF 1856, that tho Government
of the United States accepts tho declaration
of that Conference, whereby prvateoriug
was made piracy. This telegram was
calculated to create the impression that tho
Government whose foreign rs we'll as do
mes,ic policy was so long dictated by tho
South, had previously rejected the doclara-
ton aud upheld privateoring. But the his
tory of tho question, which has been revived
by tho New York Times, shows such an i'm
preston to be erroneous; that tho Govern
ment, 60 far from rejecting the declaration.
proposed, during the Administration of Mr.
Pierce, to so amond it as to make IL moro
emphatic aud comprehensive and that tho
proposition might finally have boon accept.
ed, but for tho interference of Mr.. Buchan.
an. Tho Times says;
at will be remembered that on the 10 h
of April, 1856, the Plenipotontiarios of
Great Britain, Aastria, France, Prussia,
Russia, Sardinia and Turkey, in their Con
ference at Paris, signed Declaration agreo.
ing among themselves that tho following
fixod principles should DO introduced into
international rotations
/. Privatoering is, and romans abolished.
2. The neutral h.g covers enemys
goods, with tho exception of contraband OF
war.
3. Neutral goods, with tho exception Of
contrabrand os war, are not liable to cap.
ture under enemy's flag.
A. Dlockades, in order to bo binding
must be effoctivo-that ia to say maintained
by a forco sufficient really to prevent access
10 the coast of tho enomy.
This was presented by tho French minis.
ter nt Washington to the American Gov
crnment for its conourrcnco On the 2Sih
of July, 1856, Mr.. Marcy, thon Secretary OF
State, replied substantially, that tho fourth
principle concerning bockades was already
fully and universally recognized as a rulo of
International law; that the American Gov
ornment promptly and choerfully accode to
the tecond aud third, which for many years
they had beon trying to Introduce into in
ternatonal relations; and that TO tho frsi
they proposed to add those words:
"And that the private property of tho
subjects or citizens of bolligeront on the
high seas, shall bs exempt from tho seiz
ure by tho public armed vessels of the othel
belligerent, except it bo contraband.
+. Mr.. Mason. Minister in Paris. in the
summer of 1853, said that under Mr. Mar
cy's instructions he had boon pressing Ht
proposed amendment upon tho attention
of the Government of Franco, as Mr. Dalla
had that of England /; and that he wa
making good progress, and had every roasoi
% hnn 70 hnp
of Mr.. Buchanan. he received poremptor
orders to suspend The negotiations. MIR. Ma
son spoke of this as an uttorly inexpcabl
stop on tho part of Mr.. Buchanan, and wi
by no means sparing of his censure. Ju
as we were on tho oyo Of diplomatic su'
cess, in securing the introduction Of u mo-
important principal, for which we had lor
contendod into the code of international ln'
Mr. Buchanan had seen !it to interpose an
deprive the country of tho glory within i
grasp. He hoped still, he said, to DO pc
mitted to revive tho negotiation-nnd WI
perfectly confident of speedy aud comp!e
success
Mr.. Buchanan, however, did not 500 fit
authorize such q course. Whatever mG
have boen his reasons, during his admin
tration :he question remained in abeyanc
The question whcthor tho privatoers wi
which tho South threaten to swarm Il
seas, will meet with favor from any of Il
groat European Powers, if particle of I
lianco is to bo placed upon national hone
may DO regarded as sotted. England h
issued proclamation of neutrality, warni
hor subjects that, if they engage in tho p
vateering service, their blood will bo up
their own heads and hor position is /
doubtedly identical with that of oil ,
othOr Powers represented in tho Pa
Conference.
Mr.. Buchanan's reasons for suspond
tho negotiations commenced by Moss
Mason and Dallas, can only be conjecture
but, in Wow of tho treason which is kno
to have lurked in his Administration.
may reasonably suspect that he ant
pated the present crisis, and know bot
than his bcstrayed countrymen, the impc
ant aspect which tho privatoerng quest
would ultimately assume.