The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-11-16

4
ogy to the Brazilian government. The
Tribune says Capt. Collins will be sus.
tanned BIZ the Government. 1t is diff.
cult to tell what the result Of the matter
will be. )
We wish Capt. Collins had succeeded
in his design and attempt to run the
Florida down in the harbor as she lay at
anchor. Whatever complications might
have arisen the Confederate craft would
have been put out OF the way. We are
not prepared to dictate the policy 10 be
pursued by the Administration in the set
tlement of the difficulty which the cap
ture creates between our own aud the
Brazilian government. The first feeling
of every one is qualification that the pi-
ratical cruiser is hors du combat, and ad.
miration of the pluck and daring of the
gallant Captain of the Wachusett. Read
ing the account OF his encounter and sue
cess we all get plucky, shoot hurrah for
for Collins, tell the Administration to
shake its fist in the face of Brazil and bid
it come on if it wants anything out of
Uncle Sam. Yet we can afford TO do
right. Brazil is a neutral government in
this contest of arms. As neutral the
inviolability of her territory is well es-
tablished by the principles Of internation
al law and tue usages Of nations. This
invioIability the Uaited States has always
insisted upon. On this subject We turn
to Kent, the American Blackstone. In
the rst volume of bis commentaries on
American law, he says: at is not lawful
to make neutral territory the scene of hos
tility or to attack an enemy while within
it; aud if the enemy be attacked or any
capture made, under neutral protection,
the neutral is bound to redress the injury
and effect restitution. The books are full
of cases recognizing this principle Of nea-
trality. In the year 1893 the British
ship Grange was captured in Delaware
Bay by French frigale, and upon due
complaint, the American government
caused the British ship to be promptly
restored. So in the case Of the Anna,
the sanclity of neutral territory was fully
asserted and vindicated, and restoration
made of property captured by British
cruiser near the mouth of the Mississippi
and within the jurisdiction of the United
States" Elsewhere he says ''No act oi
hostility is to be commenced on neutra
ground. No measure is to be taken tha
will lead to immediate violence" We
give these extracts to chow the law o
nations concerning neutral territory, ant
as giving the practice of our govern
ment in the past, and also as giving th'
grounds upon which the Brazilian gov
ernment will base its claims for redres
If such claim be made.
We should insist upon nothing in th'
case, that We as a nation are uuprepare
to render to others under similar circun
stances. We leave the whole matte
with the Administration. We do nc
think that under any conditions the Flo
ida should be surrendered up. Had &c
Inns succeeded in sending her to the DO
tom there conld have been no questil
about delivering her up. The land Ii
about thus: Ga the side eff Brazil ,
have the inviolabiiity of her territory a:
neutral and her right to demand that h
peaceful ports be made the scene OF
violence. On the other band we ha
the extenuatng facts, that the Florl
did not belong to belligerent nation b
to a portion of our own citizens In reb
lion; that Brazil has never acknowledg
the independent sovereignty Of the c.
federaey; that the Florida was pira
to be, as Kent says. everywhere pur
ed" and "not entitled to the laws of wa
and that the Brazilian government
been guilty of first offence in perm
ting her neutral coast line to be viola
by confederate depredatons upon
shipping. Our readers can gather fl
the facts above stated conception of
difficulties presented to the Admins
tion by this matter, and they will be
to think twice before they once conds
the policy, whatever it may be, that
Seward aud tae Executive may dt
inc upon.
GOVERNOR MoRToN's MAJoRrTY
Gov. Morton's official majority, as apr
from returns in the Office of the 81
tary of State, is 20 ,S93 S.
APPAEoosE County The sold
vote will doubtless give Union mai
in Appancose. All honor to the sta,
Union men Of tha. county. Thus e,
where the Cops 60 under.
D The next Congress will stand /
las Union to Al Democratic, and wi