The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-03

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tod. and is able to keep up year or two,
is England willing to have the ocean
crowded with an American fleet under the
Irish flag, driving British commerce from
every sea, as it speedily would? We, in
this country, are not particularly given 70
siding with the regular Governments Of
Kings and MOBILES; and hence, i we are 70
adopt Lord John Russelrs doctrine, that
every instruction becomes belligerent,
and other nations, as neutrals, : have
right I'd create and protect navles TOR them
lit will be dark day for European com
merce and fatal day to British supremacy
on the ocean. ~ at'
The London Times has fallen into another
ofthose fallacies which have 80 distinguish
ed its tortuous and dishonest course:
The London Times city article says adj
vices from New York with regard to the
mode in which the Washington Govern
ment have received the news of the capture
of the Confederate steamer Florida, are
awaited with the greatest interest by the
mercantile as well as the political world
One reason for the importance attributed
that If the affair be palliated or endorsed
by Lincoln's Government, it will hence
forth entirely exting,iish any power on the
part of the United States to assail, by pri-'
vateers, the commerce OF any nation with
which they may be at war, since the pre-
oedent will establish claim to the right to
pursue and destroy every such vessel. what
seek shelter or supplies
This IL sheer nonsense. The Florida was
no. privateer. Even England does not
pretend she is. Whatever she may be, she
IL not . privateer. A privateer IL private
armed ship, holding q national commits
sion to carry on war. Both national ves-
sci and pTivateer hold the national COM
mi hxrt hA IL nnN hvy el~~,
Government for purposes of war only, and
the latter il armed by private individuals
for purposes Of profit by war. The very.
point in the case is that neither England or
Brazil, or any power, acknowled the Con.
federates to be Government, and hence
the Florida has no national character, pa
pers or flag. We are now the most power
full Of commercial nations on earth, and the
London Tines may be assured at once that
if any such doctrine a. 1t puts forth are to
be carried into practice, we shall assert the
great English principle Of Nelson At Co
penhagen, that might makes right. This
IL not the way the case ought to be settled
but it il one found very efficient when pride
and insolence reject any other mode. The
reignty" Of Brazil. We should be glad to
know where the sovereignty Of Brazil was
when she admitted the Florida into her
ports and defended her with Brazilian
frigates. Is sovereignty to be exercised
only on one side? What we contend Or
is not what is to be done in any particular |
case, but that the law Of justice shall per-
wade the code Of international law. JUS |
t!ce requires that no mere insurrection |
(great or small, not acknowledged as indie |
pendent) shall be allowed to 1T out piratic |
ships, under the pretended neutrality Of
other countries, TO prey upon the peaceful |
commerce Of private citizens. Everybody
sees in the cases of the Florida and Alabe- |
ma that the pretense of being privateers is |
a mere humbug, and that the pretense of
them by England and Brazil
under the laws of neutrality is q dishones:
The Alabama and Fl0ridadid
no injury to the war power of the Govern. !
ment. They did nothing but seize and de- |
stroy the private property Of merchants.
There 10 one appeal made to us, which |
comes to the heart Of every American. 1t |
is said Brazil is the weaker power, and |
We should do her full JUSTICE
Certainly we ought. Notwithstanding the |
wrong is on her side; yet, II she demands |
we should make handsome |
apology, buy an extra quantityef her coffee |
and notify her that she will not be allowed |
10 shelter pirates fitted on: against Amer |
lean commerce. This nation has been Just |
ia all its dealings, and let us compel JUS |
lice from other nations on that wide ocean |
where Yankee sailors have heretofore |
respect, alike by their skill,
heir courage, and their justice.