New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-05
0ry, NEUTRAL RELATIONS WhTx1
ENGLAND.

Cne Of the most candid, able ana Instructive
Of our neutral relations with En-
Gland which has appeared during this war is
comnri. ed in pamphlet of 1870 pages, recently
isspad by ID. Appleton 81 Co. The author-the
Hon. Charles G. Loring-is one of the oldest
coun. plor5 Of the Boston bar During aperlod OF
forty years he has been one of It's soundest ana
ahlost ornaments. Standing elOof from party
politics in Lis now advanced age, his npe legal
experience and learning give value to ooth his
legal exposition and historic record.
Tie starts with the position that well-dehned
views OF the laws of Neutrality, and the En-
listment, or Municipal acts both nations have
enacted to compel their respective subjects to-
observe these laws, will prevent any imaginary
sense Of injury, and lead to the higher value Q!
all friendly acts. He does not extenuate the
hostile acts, Or offer apology for the continued
unfriendly course of British capitalists lie
investigates and writes for better understand
ing on both sides of this grave subject. This
work reviews, first, briefly the general principles
Of the law of Neutrality. giving IN THIS cohnec'
ton IN outline history OF our neutral relations
with England.
The first call made on us by England was IN
1923. and was o crucial test. 1t was during the
great war between England and France. The
latter had been our friend and ally. The caI
was for protection against the violation OF ncu-
tral relations within The territory OF England by
OF in behalf of the subjects OF France. Presi-
dent Washington issued proclamation, and
the rrizos which had been taken were restored
to British owners and the United States be-
came responsible for all such captures.
Our first statute on tho subject was enacted
in 1891. In Isis We passed q more stringent
. net. in reference 70 the war then raging between
Spaia and her colonies. In 1919 CHE next
vesO England enacted tho statute 80 George
III. This was in substantial conformity TO our
law, and, excepting some verbal differences, 1t
was a copy. Our response was alike prompt IN
the war of the Crimca between England and
. France on the one side and Russia on The other
And here the test was stringent, for our rtla-
tons with Russia had always been cordial.
Tie second part Of his subject is Il brief his
tory Of our Jurisprudence, in relation 10 neu-
. trahty. lie cites The more important cases
which have come before our judicial tribunals,
. enl gives the opinion of ChiofJustoe Marshall
: IN the noted case Of the Gran Para This
great Judge went directly through al! the slams
o bv which il was attempted to elude the grasp o.
b the law. 1t shows also that in this spirit ouI
Judges have always construed and applied boil
y the law Of nations and Enlistment acts upon
the broadcst principles Of humanity, and ever
( With unAinching severity against Americans
= Construed in this way, there can be no doubt
> Alr. LQring a7er5) that the neutrality laws o.
England, rs they now exist, would afford al
! eaecual remedy against all violations, CT those
= intended .,
d L. making the distinction between the law o.
; nations and the Enlistment or Municipal acts,
he states two important facts: The one is, that
the Rebels having 10 navy-not single vessel o.
), any important force now at sea, buit and armed
!. within their own asserted territory-nor single
por. not strictly blockaded, where ship coulC
!, be fitted out, have nevertheless now on Tx
ocean, under their flag, several large heavily
armed vessels-bu.lt equipped, and mainly
' manned by Englishmen in English ports, o.
under the protection Of their flag, until they sci
I forth 70 destroy our shipping. And these yea
sells have destroyed millions in value Of oul
ships, having no port into which they dared
carry them as prizes ios adjudication. The
other IS: Tia. whileirom England and English.
men this aid has been given TO tho Rebels
neither France, Russia, Spain, nor any othei
country las furnished solitary vessel
Then follows history Of tie manner ia which
. tie Alabama, Georgia and Florida, were built,
armed. manned, and the several parts brought
together lie takes the ground that the British
/. Government had the legal power both to prevent
? tlc.r departure and toiutercept their
H., Ills course would have coniormed to the
decisions Of Sir william Scott, ore Of their great.
ct judges and expounlers Of the law ofuat.ons.
This record aid the legal points are all taken
with cardor, and in no unfrendly sprit. BIT
the links il bis chain Of evidence are oil closed.
he only asks that England fhal exercise tie
same energy AID decision in the execution Of
her laws which sle would require Of US. And
le az iea that a. a matter Of self interest, she
had ba,terpay for all the property destroyed by
these Pirates than to permit this precedent to be-
lett tOr the United States to act npon in Eng
| lands future wars, should they occur.
THIS subject has assumed slch gravity and
proportions in the issues of justice, and the
honorable record Of the two nations, that every
phase Of it, during this Rebellion Will command