Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1862-03-26
European News by the Africa.
THE SOUTHERN BLOCKADE.

The Africa has arrived at New York
with dates to the I'd instant. We copy
the following items respecting the block
ade of the Southern ports:
The papers relative to the Southern block
ade had at length been pre- enjed 10 both
Houses Of Parliament. They are quite
voluminous. Consul Bunch, in serios Of
letters from Charleston. extending from the
18th OF May to the 4th Of September, fire.
quently alluded to the ineliiciency OF the
blockade OF that port rs hown by the facility
with which vessels continTed 10 enter and
leave the pert Consul Muir, writing from
New OIeaus, in June and July, reported
that the blockade Of the Mississippi was
strictly enforced. Commander Hickey, OF
II. II. ship Gladiator, represented, under
date of July 22d, that the blockade Of the
Southern COas: was merely nominal. Com
mander Lyons. Of the Racer. writing in July.
represented THAT Savannah aud Char lesion
were effsctuaiiy blockaded, but many other
hlrborS and inlets along the coast were per-
icctly free from blockade. The same officer,
on the 10Th December, reported some inStan-
ces of breaking the blockade at Charleston
and Wilmington and Inferred therefrnm that
the blockade, either Intentionally or through
want of ordinary vigilance, was not effective.
Captain Ross, of the Desperate, TepOrts the
result of visit TO Galveston in December.
No blockaiing ships were visible, and he was
Of opinion that vessels might easily escape
from Galveston or st. Louis pass. At other
ports which he visited, the blockade Was gen
orally &C lively maintained. Lists of British
vessels seized for violations Of the blockade
were furnished by CqFs1Ss Archibaid. of New
York, in October and January last. The last
despatch in the " blue book = is from Earl
Russell 10 Lord Lyons, dated February 18th,
1862, aud Is as follows
"Her M8j1 Government have had IN
der their consideration the state Of the block
ads OF the ports Of Charleston and Whining
ton
SIT appears from the reports received from
her Maiesty's naval officers that although -
sufficient hlockading forca is stationed of
those ports, various ships have successfully
,lujIcd the blockade; question might there
fore be raised as to whether such q blockade
should he considered as effective.
Her Mejestys Government, however. are
Of opinion that, assuming that the blockade
is duly notified, aud also that a number Of
ships is stationed and remain at the entrance
of & port, sufficient really to prevent access
to il, or to create an evident danger Of enter
ing or leaving it, and that these ships do not
voluntarily permit ingress or egTess, the fact
that various ships may have succsssiully es-
capped through it (as in The par ocular in
stances here referred to- will not of itself
prevent the blockade from being al effective
one b. international law.
The adequacy of the force 10 maintain
blockade being always and necessarily
matter-Ofiact and evidence, and one az to
which different opinions may be entertained,
q neutral Stace ought to exercise the great
est caution with reference to the dis-eg .rd Of
= IL yEeJ0 Sud notified NUiCCnEde. aud Vuydt
not 10 disregard it ezcep: when i. entertains
conviction. which il shared by ncutrals
generally having au interest in The matter,
that the power of blockade is abused by a
State either unIhle to institute or maintain
it, or unwilling rom some motive or other,
10 Co so.