The New York herald., 1862-02-01

would have seemed incredible until few weeks ago that
after century Of international legislation, marked py
broken progress in the interests of commerce, an osen
sibly OWNED government should prosecute war " N
on sas y %nen SS and be-
only by the captains of pratcAi Junks IN the EAST indian
Archipelago. We confess We are Inhntey as.onsned 70
sruction OF the port OF Charleston by the precedent Of
our having proposed sink ships in 1904, in front Of
the harbor OF Bouogne. Can il be necessary to draw
out in words the obvious distinction btcees 8iory and
commercial posts-teioeen hdrbor cdesi and defended
Engiand Ind ha6or valuable 10 Is on country asrsy in
fostering TIE Of all the maritime nations Of Ew
yosS To block up permanently the mouth OF the Ca
rome and 10 destroy thereby tho port OF Rordeaux
would have been the corresponding barbarity though it
is which European government ever imagined.
But for England to have destroyed the Of Bouogne
in 1904 she had done So would have been simply
equivalent TO the blowing up Of sebasopol by Turkey
The barbartes now perperated by the federal govern
ment equally bracng the energies Of the South AMI
roussng The Eopean governments to common sess Of
isdisnation We hardly know why Europe has hitherto
sdtoward the Northern government with much
long suffering than she showed towards Holland IN 1881
and 1852 Holland was never guilty Of the 1aroarities
Great Britain, as e Beiqcns shousd dt they
could hold their and Mc gev destructive 10
Tce and general security unheatsngly recognised s IN
The Blockade Likely to be Challenged
by Europe.
from the London Post Government Organ Jan. 10
me Paris konits has already called the attention OF
Europe the vndictiyo prosecution Of hoetities by
the federal government of Washington, in the destruc
ton Of Charleston which it describes proyok
ing feongs indignation" IL will hardly be thought
that this language Is too strong, especially
there every to apprehend that the federal 60
vernmcnt contemplate similar acts of barbarous and
permanent des astatioa elsewhere II will have been
that they havesunk whaling huks filed with granite
ton The resistance which these distractions must
offer to tide and current will probably result in the orma
ton Of sandbanks which will groS as permanent and ir
remediable as the natural san6baDks at the pouhs OF
many European rivers. At the present moment il is
possible that the granite might with great labor be
moved in proportion tho psriod for which the
obstacle is suffered to remain il will become fixed and
indesrrctibe. The great oltport OF South Carolina
therefore be thought to be as good as bloted out
already said that the policy is likely be carried
out elsewhere Indeed the objects involved in this act
would only be rendered efectual and complete by its
general application We expect that the barber of
Savannah and the communication Of the Savannah river
with the sea will be destroyed by the same means as the
port of Charleston.
There can be no doubt that to carry into operation such
policy this would be abuse Of the rights of
and there seems to be some ground to question her
oouid not te also 10 erced those rights This question: in
deed might suggest ITSELF whether considered such
wholesale ruin in its municipal in its International re-
latons II is not however for to consider the NUM-
cpal constitution Of the United States. has been
do,ed ,vhser right Of declaring bocsadss rere 9th
ia the Presidential aerity BY the tao Of the Union and
might further be questioned whether the permanent
destruction Of harbors is not inconsistent with the
tions. But these are matters which perhaps
but imperfectly scrutinze in Europe. There be
rivers tsniag to promote tie ccs.meree e he cord has
tctg been eusing object Of European solictie Insrna
tiOns law indeed, has not carried these interests to
point inconsistent with the rights of begerents It has
never suffered any infraction Of the law Of block
ade but II has at the same time taken
To tie doom that iap Of boude BY the most rigorous coadi
hcns-he aUpyrddina feature Of which u.s. fha boclades
are in hr nature temporay and net nsdnert and
merely 0twouot conditions terinotisy cth He restoration
wero unhappy in rebellion against this country, and
resolved to destroy the navgaon OF the river ST. Law
renee by sinking ships full OF granite and by leaving TO
tidal action TO do the rest Of the work. the government of
the United states would Immediately resent conduct
tween us and themselves. Neither can there be any
doubt that they would be perfectly entitled to hold this
Lawrence and the of the Savannah and Alabama
rivers that the former after traversng terri
tory for an immense distance, has its source in Lake
Cnfairo the southern bank OF which Is In possession OF
the United States Hese lakes are hosuere, much in
Me nature of iand ,caters Aat might fairly ts oipu
ssa the sea- Herein however, rests the sole dfsrence
between the ports OF the river st. Lawrence and the
ports Of rivers which the government Of Washington
fAe roit Of mapigdtion in regard 10 sererat of the
great ,rers Of North Arssca has BEEN made during the
Mississippi which involves the port OF New Orleans will
serve as an example Byne eay Of l'63 a,der iehch
Ae righ 9 ndsigaing Tie Nj s.sS,i'. red TO British
sw5eas cho,t being s'ofT'dor vltc u mat Of any
duty ,ch1tsre Again, in tiS3 after ,he independence
OF the Unted States acknowledged, and when
louisiana had been ceded by France SPAIN the right of
narSciior again secured 10 this eouy The Treaty
OF Ghent is silent on this question; it neither confirms
nor rescnds the stipulation in We are certainly
not prepared TO advance . claim upon this ground
although gcographers might be brought forward TO
that the Mississippi has It's In the territories
Of the British Crown But considering that the United
States allowed by this country the right OF navigation
the st. Lawrence and that bath France and ouss1res
point treaties asserting for both counrss right of
naw9aicn other american rirs Europe docs appear
possess claim TO be heard in Of the vintctvs
and probably irreinediable blows with which the WASH
ingon government Is threatening other ports and
harbors besides Charleston. Tho opening Of the great
rivers OF Europe the Congress OF Vienna 1875 mark
ed the province of this hemisphere its international
principles These rivers wero declared open simply
by compact OF the rveran Powers but for the general
advantage of international commerce.
But apart from tho utimats results Of this barbarous
policy Of the American government the immediate effect
fIciy % be found in the disposition Of esy flag 70 eho
Ienge ths blockade "Bockades,' hare said,
a only under ne Elective supervision Of beisent cruisers
destruction of Charleston Is confessedy for the
iecincy Of TIE blockade, and perhaps for the total de-
parture Of the cruisers II In certain that there be
no legal blockade by sunken ships and stones. Inter-
national law has placed the rigorous restrictions
10 tbs way OF interference with the interests Of com
marce. Biockades in this nature permanent do not
exist in law, although a harbor may be blocked
up and destroyed in fact Meanwhile perceive that
bill has been brought into the Washington Congress
thorizng President abolish harboTs by municipal
law and 10 ako them out OF the reach NJ the law of
nations sndthe acceted maritime usage Of tho world.
We yet know that municipal Law wasstronger than
international law. What may be the ate Of this
caunct foretei, but Denrs striking resemblance 10
the barbarors policy OF the executive government yhch
Is filing Europe acith faignafion Hat he Aos,r BY
no means eraSgercs end 0hieh, II BE- ass into eeus-
raj practe along the coat of ne cgnfderacy, wflI r1pdi
a'e tsc kddin9 principles Of ct,iiizat0r.
Look ON This Picture.
TIE STONE BLOcEADEs or ENGLAND
[from Gssranis Messenger Jan. III
Tn reply to the violent article the london Times on
tho blockade OF Charleston, have the two following