Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-05
For liz En4n!r:r.
TEaMs Fna sEPARbTE FEaCE WITH TIE
NORTHWESTERN STATES

WI. Eb'tc ihs uIIe1 Su - Tue llOliSe VI Itcp-
| rcsentatves r:,"nllon that our Govern
ment shaii "giisrantcc TO the Northwestern
! jtat.,:, N the most effectunl manner, the Tree
! navigation Of the Mississippi and OHIO rivers
to their mouths. provided thst they wlIl 81
once 'Irsist from all further ia. tripallon liz
this cruel anu unnatural var This is sn
excellent move. Bat it dncs not go FAR
ennuNh. We ought &c offer Mulch mora for
this great object. Indeed, eYery inducernent
OF fi.:cr t6 the trade ri these States should
be offered that would alsa he beneficial nr
certainly not detrimental, tn the future in
| terss's Of the Confederate States. The law
Of nations gives 10 every people owning terri
tory on the upper navisnhle waters Of n
river the right to navigate the same .nTough
the territory Of any other nation on the iu.e-
sr waters 20 ;n";T Gutter. CT TO tne yes OF
course the exercise Of This right must be limit
ed 10 the aEislen'z ri peace between tie two
Hatlnna, ami 10 necessarily suspended,
with Ell otEer relations srl bclIefts Of
peace: On the occurrence and during the
continuation 81 var between The ,To partleG
Thus. ii tbs Government 81 the Nurthern
States had rcfrsined from making this unj,!a,
and in:Gutnn5 war on the South, and Pence
Nvrth-w western, but all the Northern, States,
rs forming CHE political community. under
Federal Government would have been emit
tied TO and would hare retained the right OF
FREE na=lEstjnn Of the Missouri. the Ohio ard
the Mississippi to and from their mouths aud
the gulf. Tho cnly understood ard indispen-
sable condition Of the enjoyment Gf such
right 6I Tree navigation through foreign wa
tiers and territory is that the people excrris-
ing this right shall not 40 act as to infringe
any Of the municipal laws CT police r..glla-
tuns CT inc country through which the naYi-
CATION pa ;ess, aud that the nsvigators snail
CONFORM I" any legal requirements, and Fay
tic reasonable expenses for executing polio.
regulations necessary to maintsin the perfect
legal use, and 10 prrFrht al illegal ,.tsiso Of
ibis right of free navigation. These reason
aba restrictions. in the cs@c Under coisljgra-
zion. would ,equiTs sepeciallJ 10 he respected
and :nfnr:.d to protect our institution ~ ne
Efu slavery
This right, under TIC i:.vwz Of natinn7. OF
the free navigation OF OUT rivers 70 and from
their outlets, by the Northern Stntcs p0ssea.;-
inG thu upper avigable channels or branches
thereof, our Congress, so lar from being IL
alined to deny OF ignore; recognized il, ea.ly
a. binding an the CoHfp,!sratt ;;tatc. and
that declaration O.! ready ar!;r3r Iedgmenr Ct
the general principle and lsv. vas procaln-
FL to the world. Tel, either it ignorance Of
the lav, W in diatrust OF Our Iarngniiion ani
oh'erTlncs II its ohligatiuI: tie NcrIl-Wts
ern States consented 10 this most costly as
we'll IS unjust end hErbaFou7 aar-ni which
th..r have bcIn- rhe hracleaf Of the burdens,
and will has tn bear nu:i heavier, mainly
I'll conquer and secura, b. war, to then re-
gi1rl, the inestimah!e benefit nj free nayigs
ton of the lover Misdissirpl, would hsv.- been
the necessary incident Of continued pracr:
ari va!ca caH ONLY lie enjoyed dhr:ne
pace.
But though il * true that this right Of lr..
navigation ccunot be denied to Ito Moth
western States, and will necessarily return
to them upon peace helng made, wtethdr
separately with them alamo, OF with the whole
yet rcrns,ning Northern fragment OF the Uni
ted States, the Northwest being part thereof,
it vii, be q barren right vi but iit,ln utility,
unless attained with the friendly co,latnr and
good will Of the Confederate, Stats. With
out such good will Lie mere broad and Gin
lie rennii.u%:lt Of the Laws of nations, oil un-
lISFIS5LluIlt III lilNCc'I lee
..r,l slit Permitted RIt the right III Tree
Nh ,.iesiion ices not carry with ii Tho right
to buy from or sell to the Penpi- If the Coz
ie,i4i:.tt States, not even t. Obtain aupplies
needed almost daily,l ui fuel ior the steam
ers and freah provisions for their crews, or
to traas-$hip- rxrgoes otherwise than betwefh
vessels afiost. These. and much more i'm
portant privileges We should readily a+'roTd
to friendly power: bat pevrr In al ',,.-
friendly one. End still le5s To States making
part Of the so-called United Ststes. With
that power, which has been our uni just assal |
ant, malignant enemy and prosecutor, and de-
signed suhjugator and destroyer, though We
may make peace, and abide by the conditions !
of peace, trust that we will never permit !
any free intercourse in our territory, or form
anv commercial or more intimate friendly
relations, than may be required b. the law
OF nations for the condition and mutual obli- F!
cations OF peace
will now state, in concise manner. .Ei il :
general terms, the conditions which ought 10
be offered b. our Government, ard Publicly
and widely proclaimed to the Northwestern
States, or to gny Of them. IN consideration Of
Making separate peace with the Confede-
rate States. And though tho;: 73ni:tions
would be most liberal, and productive Of the
greatest benefit and prosperity 70 the North
Western States, there IS not one condition