The New York herald., 1862-02-23

sh Grmy than over the constitution and the laws
thr hout the length and breadth Of the land.
son cub.
The Chairman then announced the third regular
The Unon-The efforts to sever il viii only make il
country
Music--'Flag oc Our Union"
General II. WALRrDGE, after paying tribute 20
the heIoism and courage of the loyal soldiers and
oucers OF the Union whose recent patriotic triumlh
hid onaDlod us TO commemorate with additional in
terest the birthday of the llustgous Washing
ton, administrations are respected they do
monstrate their ability enforce their decrces
Upon the accession to the control of the of
the present administration the Chief Magistrate through
our department. Of Foreign Relations brought 10 tho
knowledge o. the European governments his fixed pur
70 uphold maintain and defend the integrity Of the
Union against all domestic treason and foreign nterfc
renee In the pursuit of this purpose the United States
according TO the usages of international law declared
the ports of the refractory states under blockade
We had Illustrated our ability TO maintain this policy by
our embargo and non intercourse laws in the early
OF the present century lntimations from the British
Foreign Secretary and his representative, the Br tish
Minister at Washington cautiously put forth OF
inability to this effective blockade accord
ing TO the requirements of the laws OF nations.
proposed by the British representative that the right to
trade 10 the intcrdcted ports should continue until
formal notice should be given TO the different foreign
governments OF commercial nations. Our government
justly let be distinctly understood that proper notice
could and would be given from the decks Of our block
adng squadron Simultaneously with these proceedings
leading English merchants in Liverpool formally and
publicly proposed to Lord john Russell the fitting out if
not dissented to by him. of armed force to break
tho blockade and forcby export the great staple of the
South They deliberately asked the British government
to give its counenance to despo their transatlantic
neighbors The British government were not prepared
IN this public way to do violence to sound international
law and to the moral sentiment of the civilized world.
The administration, alive to the necessity of energetic
action promptly despatched to the courts OF tho Western
Powers two distinguished citizens to London and Paris
These envoys expected to reach their desna
tion their appointment having been publicly announced
through the press Immediately upon the opening Of the
administration On the 18th OF May, 1861 our Min
lister Mr. Adams reached Liverpool and the day follow
ing London, in order that the British government might
be early apprised of the views purposes of the
rican Cabinet The British government however,
that very day. issued tho Queens Orders in Council with
pharasacal words of neutrality in regard to domestic
trouble virtually and in fact recognizing the insurgent
States begerents and in that respect placing them
equal footing with the United States Looking to
the imminent struggle before u.s. and desrous e an eS
pct understanding with the European Powers in ree
to the principles Of public law which had been
enuncated in the Paris conferences in April 1875 with
the several maritime Powers Of Great Britain, Austria
France Russia, Prussia Sardinia and Turkey State
Department instructed Ministers St. James and
other courts to resume the subject Of the four PROPOSE
tons that had been agreed by the Congress at Paris
after the close Of the Crmean This matter had
cuped the attention OF the Pierce administration when
become party to the treaty which the result OF the
Paris conferences Those conferences April 1885,
cognzed as principles of public La. the following de-
caration:-
First-Prvateering is abolished.
Second-Nsutral flag covers enemy goods, conraband
OF war excepted.
Third-Neutra goods are not liable to capture under
enemy's flags, except those contraband Of war.
Fourth-Bockades, in order to be binding, must be
effectively enforced TO prevent access to the coass
of the enemy.
It was stipulated by those Powers that these decara
tions were to be accepted without any modification what
ever and further that the parties giving in their ahe
to the same entor into no arrangement the ap
plication Of maritime law in time OF war without stipu
aion observance of the pents thus agreed mp
the American people had contended for from the ounda
on OF The republic 1t was in fact, the principle that
free ships make FREQ goods-a stipulation embodied in
the twenty third article of the treaty Of amty and
concluded on the eth day OF February 175S be-
the United States and France when strug
cling for national existence 1t was therefore, old Ame
rcan doctrine. The said second proposition. we'll
the third not original with the hig contracting
ties at the Congress OF Paris in 1856 because two
previous the President had Submitted TO the maritime
Powers Europe the propositions to be agreed up
on permanent principles Of international law The
fourth prop siol disputed by this govern
ment the contrary it was always acquiesced in by
the United States everywhere and ueder all circum-
stances. The first proposition remains TO DO considered
to w.t. the proposition 10 abolish prvateering Tic
Secretary ofState--Mr. Aarcy-under President FIERCE
in July 1856 declined this stipulation in regard to the
abolition OF privateering unless with amendment
ssly exempng private property OF individuals though
belonging begerent Power, from seizure confis-
by national ships in time Of and further he
took exception to the proposition that this government
should disable itself catering into negotiation
for any modification Of the laws Of mar mo war without
stpuatng adherence TO the four points OF the Paris
This last proposition held by Mr. Marcy
be inconsistent with the national sovereignty OF the
UHed States. The grounds taken for Mr.. Marcy amend
1.-The first clause for aboishing privatcerng-
wit, Ae exemption of private property Of beigercnt
from confscation-exhibs a humane. enlarged aud be
raj spirit tho part OF the American people II
simply this. that whilst armies by land and fleets
engaged in battle for victory, the peaceful pursuits
trade should uninterrupted, regarding the de
.trucon of private property on the sea "a offensive to
The morals and civilization OF the age the destruction
private property on and As tho propositions Of the
rfaea IN ho har fh..f
modification rejected, moi hing definitely done in
the premises during Mr. Pierce's administration and
during that of Mr. Buchanan all conferences the part
ths Unitet states in regard to the masor came to
snd Undoubtedly the leading obstacle the propo
stion TO abolish privaeeing that right arm OF our de-
ence great commercial power, with "a then inCon
siderable navy. 1t quite easy fer ninc-teDths
Of the parties who gave in their adherence 10
the Paris conferences agree to an interdct against
privatcerng when. perhaps, their Commercial marine
sufficient to Mt out single vessel England and
France had been in constant and ostng rivalry in the
banding up within the last ten years A gigantic navies
ranging to eight hundred shpsof- war
guarantees 10 each other keep tho peace at home
late Duke Of Wellington announced in his place the
louse OF Lords, the comparatively dsnceess condition
the English coasts, in view OF thS formidable
meuts France, with all the rOdern improvements and
application OF steam power France the other hand,
the remembrance Of the wea nessf the First Ma
poeon in maritime roint Of view, has put forth her
tremendous resources in rivalry and power the cres
ton of a navy now fully equal thas of Ingland Mean
while, the navy OF the United States bore incon-
siderable relation TO our grea, cosnercia marne yet
cured for In the combats asingle year position
destined ultimately W be subordinate other the
sea The American commercial marine has advanced
from little than three fourtiss of million In
mage the close OF the with Great Britain five
and half lions Of present tonnaxcvo hundred t
greater than the hole commercial tonnage OF
that great maritime Power which traiics with her sixty
co dependencies reaching the entire habit
able globe Whilst the ess OF he Western Powers have
borue large ratio Of protection to their mnercal
rne navy has remained comparatively stationary,
and RECENTLY held most inferior relation the mag
nltude OF the great commercial interests to be protected
France England not irscnsbe immense re-
sources-the skill and ability at people rapidly
largo navy 10 formidable proportions yet they at
the time, know that have preferred prosper
her BY the arts Of peace and industry than through
the agency f large standing armies formidable naval
armamsnts. They not ignorant Of the delays in
gisating in popular gUvs 1ent like Ours, and II is
be fsarod thaS they made calculations the ad
vantsges resulting FROM sudden irrup;ons upon us,
which, monarchies thsy could make and hence their
reasonsfor intsdcting acknow edged right under
the public aw-of arming commercial marine In any
contest in which wo might be engaged. Great Britain
had felt the wounds OF this nsrumsnaiity last
struygls with her vndcaticn our maritime rights