Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-20

naval forces reserved with entire confidence that
neutral Nations could not fail perceive that just
existed for the reservation. Nor this confidence mis-
placed for the official documents published by the British
Government usually called "Bue Books, contain the
preston of the satisfaction of that government with the
conduct of the officials who conducted successfully the
delicate business conhded to their charge. : |
These solemn declarations of principle, this implied
agreement between the COntedeacJ and the two powers
Just named, have been suffered to remain imperative
against the menaces and ourages neutral rights
mted by the United States with unceasng and progress
sing arrogance during the whole period of the war
Neutral Europe remained passive when the United States
with naval force insufficient to blockade, effectively the
coast of single State proclaimed paper blockade of
thousands of miles of coast extending from the capes of
the Chesapeake to those of Florida and encrng the Gulf
of Mexico from Key West to the mouth of the Rio Grande
Compared with this monstrOus pretenson of the United
States the bockades known in history under the names OF
the Berlin and Milan decrees and the British orders in
canoe. Yet those bockades justified by the pow
that declared Them the sole ground that they
ed BY the pubics of those very powers violations
of international law yet those bockades evoked angry
circumstances from neutral powers amongst which the
United States the most consPicuous yet those block
AIDES became the chief of the between Great
aJ were one of the principal motives that led to the de-
caratOn of the Congress of Paris in 1856, in the fond
hope of imposing enduring check on the very abuse
of maritime power which is renewed by the United
States in 1861 and 1862 under circumstances and with
features of aggravated wrong without precedent in his
tory.
dence of the repeated and formal circumstances made by
this Government to neutral powers aganst the recogn
ton of this blockade 1t has been sn by evidence not
capable of contradiction and which has been furnished ii
part BIZ the officials of neutral nations that the few ports
Of this COnfederacy before which naval forces Mt all
have been stationed have been invested so lnehceny
that hundreds Of entries have been effected into ITEM since
the declaration of the blockade that our enemies have
themselves admitted the neciency OF their blockade in
the fOrcbe manner, by repeated official complaints
of the sale to conraeand of sale which
could not possibly effect their interests if their pretended
blockade was sufficient Greatly to prevent to
coast that they have gone farther and have alleged their
inability to render their paper blockade effective the
for the odous barbay ofdestroyn the entrance
to one harbOrs by sinking vessels loaded with stone
in the channel that with foreign nations
has been intercepted not by the effective investment OF
ports by the seizure ships in the attempt TO en-
thcm but by the capture the high seas oil neut
vessels by tie cruisers Of enemies whenever
to be bound any point our extensive coast, WI nOut
enquiry whether a single bockadng vessel was to be
found at such points, that blockadng vessels have left the
ports which they stationed for distant expeditions
have been absent for days and have returned with
out notice either the cessation renewal of block
ade in word that prescription of maritime law,
and every right of neutral nations to trade with beg-
erent under the sanction of principles heretofore unver
sally respected have been Systematically and persistenty
violated by the United States. Neutral Europe has
ccived our circumstances and has submitted almost
unbroken silence to all the wrongs that the United States
have chosen to inHct its commerce. The Cabinet of
Great Britain, however, has not confined itself to such
implied acquiesccncc in these breaches ct international
law results from simple inaction, but has, in pub
hed despatch of the Secretary of State for Foreign AZ
fairs assumed to make change in the principle enuncat
ed BY the Congress of Paris to which the faith of the
| British Government considered to be pledged;
change too important and preudica to the interests
of the COnfederacv be overlooked and against hich
! directed solemn protest
tempt to obtain satisfactory explanations from the Brit
ish Government In published despatch from her Maj
esty's Foreign Office, to her Minister at Washington
under date Of the 18th February 1892 occurs the follow
| ing passage:
"er Maestys Government however, are of opinion that
assuming that the blockade duly nGtifea and also
that number of ships is stationed and remains at Ac
of port sufficient really to prevent it
create .rident danger Of entering ur
and that these ships do voluntarily pcrm ngress
erCs the fact that various ships may have successfully
escaped through it las in the particular Instance here
he Blockade bo-
ing etlectual one by International law"
The words which have talicised are an addition made
by the british Government of autho itv n prn-
cipe the exact terms OF which settled with debera-
ton by the common cGnsentt civilized nations and by
planned, and their effect is clearly to Reopen the preu-
the law of blockade which the Congress Paris pro-
feed to settle The importance OF this change readily
illustrated by taking of our ports example,
There is evident danger in entering the Of Will
mingOn from the presence of JloCkadng force, and by
this the blockade is effective Access is really
prevented" by the blockadnG feet to the port for
steamers are continually arriving and departing that
tried by this test the blockade ineffective and in aid
The justice 0I our complaint on TINS point Is so manifest rs
to leave little room o- doubt, that fur thsr reflection will
induce the British government give such
will eacc the painful impressions tina. would result
from its language, if left unexplained
From the foregoing remarks you will perceive that du
ring nearly years of struggle in which every energy
of our country has been evoked for maintaining its very
existence the neutral nations of Europe have pursued
policy which, nominaly impartial has been practically
most favorable tn enemies aDd detrimental
The exercise Of neutral right of refusing entry into
their ports prizes taken BY both beigcrcnts was emf
neny hurtlu to the COnfedcracy Ii serny asserted
and maintained.
The exercise of the neutral right Of commerce with
begercnt whose ports not bockaded by fleets sut
cen really to prevent to thcm would have been
emincnty hurul to the United States. TWAS complas
| antlv abandoned.
The duty of neutral States tn receive with cordiality and
recognize with confederation that indie
pendent States think proper to form, too clear
admit Of denial but its pOStponemCnt emiucntv bcne
fetal to the United States and detrimental to the COncd
! eracy. 1t was postponed.
of Europe has been purpose to point nut distinctly
that this Government has complaint to make that those
nations declared their neutrality could neither expect
desire The complaint is, that the neutrality
has been rather nominal than real and that recognized
in such manner, to bear with great severity us
to confer signal advantages our enemy.
have hitherto rerained from calling your attention
this condition of relations with foreign powers for
r0us reasoDsthe chief of these the fear that state
ment of our just grounds of complaint against
policy injurious to our interests might be miscOntruCd
into appeal for aid. Unequal were, in mere
numbers and available resources to enemies,
conscious of powers of resistance in relation to which Eu
rope was increduous, and there
fore peculiarly liable to be misunderstood. Proudly self
reliant the Conederacy knowing full we'll the chaTacteI
of the contest into which forced with full trust in
the superior qualities of its population the superior yalo
all in the Justice of its felt need to appeal for the
maintenance of its rights to other earthly aids and be
gan and has continued this struggle with the calm conf
dence inspired in those who with consciousness
right can invoke the Divine blessing on their Th
confidence has been assured that have yielded
dependency under defeat do feel undue eatOS
the present brighter prospect of successful issue to
contest 1t is therefore because just grounds of com
plant longer he msnterpreted, that lay then
clearly before you. 1t to proper to give
You the information and although immediate results
NAV be attained it is well that truth should be preserved
and recorded 1t is well that those who are to follow
should understand the full nature and character of thu
tremendous conflict in which the blood of our people ha
poured like water, and in which they has resis
ted unaded the shock of hosts which would have suce
overthrow many of the powers which by their hesitation
in according rights as an indepent nation, mpl1
doubt of ability to maintain our national existence
1t may be- too that if in future times, unfiendy discus
sions anticipated shall unfortunately arisebewee
this Confederacy and some Europeanp the recollection
of our forbearance under the grievances which hav
enumerated may be evoked with happy influence in pre-
venting any serious disturbance of peaceful relations.
1t would not be proper to close rcmar Ks on the sub