The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1863-01-28

marine, while their merchant vessels cover
ed the ocean, We were without navy,
while they had powerful fleets. The ad-
van tage which they possessed for inficting
injury on our coasts and harbors was thus
counterbalanced in some measure BY the
exposure of their commerce to attack BY
private armed vessels. 1t was known to
Europe that within very few yeass past
the United States had persnptorily rsfus-
ed to accede to proposals for abolishing
privateering, on the ground, as alleged by
them, that nations owning powerful fleets
would thereby obtain undue advantage over
those possessing inferior naval forces. Yet
no sooner was war hagrant between the
Confederacy and the United States, than
the maritime powers Of Europe issued or
ders prohibiting either party from bringing
prizes into their ports, This prohibition,
directed with apparent impartiality against
both belligerents, was in reality effective
against the Confederate States alone, for
they alone could find hostile commerce
on the ocean. Merely nominal against the
United States, the prohibition operated
with intense severity on the Confederacy,
by depriving it of the only means Of main
tanning, with some approach to equality, its
struggle on the ocean against the crushing
superiority Of naval force possessed by its
enemies. The value and efficiency of the
weapon which was thus wrested from our
grasp by The combined action Of neutral
European powers in favor Of nation which
processes openly its intention Of ravagng
their commerce by priyateers in any future
war. is strikingly illustrated by the terror
inspired among the commercial classes OF
the United States by single cruiser of the
Confedcracy. One national steamer com
manded by officeis and manned by crew
who are debarred. by the closure Of neutral
ports. from The opportunity Of causing cap
tured vessels te be condemned in their ia
vor as prize, has suficed to double the
rates of marine insurance in Northern ports
and consign to forced inaction numbers Of
Northern vessels, in addition to the direct
damage inflicted by captures at sea. How
difficult, then, to overestlmate the effects
that must have been produced b, the hun
dreds of private armed vessels that would
have swept the seas in pursuit of the com
merce Of our enemy, it the means Of dispos-
ing OF their prizes had not been withheld
by the action Of neutral Europe.
BUTT is especially in relation to the So
called blockade of our coast that the policy
Of European powers has been so shaped as
to cause the greatest injury to the Confed-
eracy. and to confer signal advantages on
the United States. Tie Importance Of this
subject requires some development.
Prior to the year 1856, the principles
regulating this subject were to be gathered
from the writings Of eminent publicists. the
decisions OF admiralty courts, International
treaties and the usages Of nations. The
uncertainty and doubt which prevailed in
reference to the true rules of maritime law.
in time Of war, resulting from the discor-
dant and often conflicting principles an-
nouncsd from such varied and independent
sources. had become a grievous evil 20
mankind. Whether blockade was allow
able against port not invested BY land as
well as by sea; whether blockade was
valid bv sea if the investing fleet was mere.
" sufficient to render ingress to the block
AIDED port evidently dangerous, or wheth-
er it was further required for its legality
that it should be sufficient " really to pre-
vent access" and numerous other similar
questions, bad remained doubtful and un-
decide.
Animated BY the highly no norable desire
to put an end "to difference Of opinisn be-
tween neutrals and belli gerents, which
may occasion serious difficulties and even
conflicts a quote the official language,)
the five great powers Of Europe, together
with Sardinia and Turkey, adopt ed 10 1856,
the following solemn declaration Of
principles:
/. Privateering Is, md remains abolish
ed.
9. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods,
with the exception OF contraband Of war.
r N..tr,l rnods with fha a,canfion ol