The Shasta courier., 1863-09-12
A Blow From an Unexpected Quarter.

The English blockade runners were, until
lately doing thriving business with their
Rebel friends by way of Matamoras. and
little, insignificant Mexican town. which for
merly had scarcely an English vessel to visit
it once in month, and then only to receive
hides, wool and horses in exchange for En-
glish manufacture goods, for population of
about 20, 900 persons, suddenly grew into a
place of astonishing commercial Importance
to Great Britain, and whole fleet of vessels
cleared for that port, with goods enough to
supply population of millions, and arms
Sufficient to keep the inhabitants at war for
years. Great was the indignation four neu-
trail friends when the American Admiral
boarded those vessels, and handed them over
as prizes, when he found them carrying con-
traband of war.
The audacity ofthe thiag was unparalleled,
and these honest traders stormed at the door
of Parliament for redress Were they to be
stopped in legitimate trade to a neutral port
Could they not carry arms to their dear friend
and ally, France. who was kindly settling
little domestic affair for Mexico, and restor-
ing it to order and civilization, by destroy
ing its political institutions and wiping out
its nationality? And could not they, as lib
eral, enlightened Englishmen, lend Mexico
little assistance against her opponent, France,
if English merchants chose to take the risk
Could they turn an honest penny ip any way
by helping all sides, and by this n. Jeans prove
the impartiality of their neutrality? Before
they had time to have these questions deiin-
itely answered in their favor their dear friend
and ally, France, having little faith in the
honesty of the trade thus set up with Mata-
moras, followed the example of the United
States, and captured the British vessels trad
~. l.. IL IL
trality and supplying Mexico with munitions
of war.
The British blockade runners will now
show as much Indignation against France, for
stopping their trade with the rebels, and
helping the United States to enforce It's block
ade.
The question, whether belgerant can
stop the trade of a neutral with a neutral
port, will come up in the same form as the
Peterhoff case, only the intentions nf the par
ties, shut out by TIE blockade reversed. When
our Government complained British mer.
chants said the intention was to supply Mex
leo and France, and not to trade with the
rebels. But, to the French Gov ernment their
intentions were to trade with the rebels, and
not with Mexico to the injury of France.
The shifting oftheir Intentions, obligations,
and responsibilities, will now no longer an
swer. France, one of the Powers of the Par.
is Convention to establish international law
for the rest of the world, settles such cases
as the Peterhoff question, by declaring its
right to capture neutral vessel under cir
enmstances justifyipg suspicion of the fair
ness of her conduct, when entering q river,
the common territorial dividing line and en-
trepo for two countries, both Of which are
neutral to great Britain, but one of which is
belligerant toward France, :and may receive
military aid from the professedly neutral
trade of Great Britain. The question re-
ceives new interest from the new turn it has
taken, and will relieve the United States
Government of halfthe embarrassment of un-
ravoiing its complications to the satisfaction
of the complaining neutral