Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-08
THE CASE or THE FLORIDA.

correspondent Of the Boston Daily Advert
SER understood to be Senator SUMNER, devotes some
four columns of that print to an elaborate histori-
cal illustration Of the of the Florida derived
from British precedents. He shows, with an atfiu-
ence Of historical learning which would Of itself
suffice to betray the authorship Of the paper, that
whatever may be the right or the wrong Of the case
in the light Of international law, as between the
United States and Brazil, the British Government
or the British people are not entitled to indulge
in expostulations against the untoward act Of the
commander Of the Wachusett
It is well said by the New York Evening Post
that these precedents, however numerous they may
be in the annals of the British navy, are not pre-
cedents for Us. Nor does Mr.. Sumner treat them as
SUCH he uses them for illustration, not for adoption
International law wants one Of the characteristics
of law proper, as it is not commanded by a supe-
rior, having power to enforce its commands. 1t is
simply body of principles, obtaining among indie
pendent nations, and binding only on those whose
wisdom and honor dispose them to be just, or whose
weakness makes them fear stronger power. Be-
sides this inherent weakness, the law of nations
has been obscured and confused by the acts Of
strong nations, which, regarding their temporary in
erests blinded by their passions have establish
ed precedents Of violations of international law
That that Law which binds nations to the path of
justice should be made as firm and strong as posi-
bic, every enlightened lover Of his race must wish
Of the two causes Of weakness and uncertainty
which we have mentioned, the first is inevitable,
but it depends on the individual actions of Govern
ments to increase or diminish the second Every
Government has to decide whether it will add its
weight to- the growing strength of principles of in
ternational justice, or whether, in the pride Of
power it will disregard those rights and throw into
still greater confusion the unsettled Law Of nations
Our Government has now question Of this sort
to settle, and no man who forecasts the future and
who looks beyond the passions Of the hour, can help
feeling regret at the chance which destroyed the
Florida, enemy though she was. In times of peace
we have ever been tenacious Of the rights of neu-
trails and it is fitting that if favor is to be shown to
either party, it should not be shown to those who
are engaged in the temporary and abnormal state
of war. The seizure of the Florida by an over
Jealous officer offered our Government an opportu-
nifty to display its respect for neutral rights in the
fullest measure, but the chance destruction Of that
vessel has put such complete reparation out of our
power II remains, however, for our Government
to show that it can rise superior to the petty pas
siors or temporary interests Of the moment, and
that, even in the hestOf war it still respects itself
and the rights of others too much to be sverved
from its principles. As the representative Of q
high.mindsd and seifrespecting people, the Gov
eminent is called upon to show that Grmness, Dig
nifty, and consistency which will increase our honor
abroad, and which will leave no precedent to make
Us blush, and to be cited against US when We shall
demand Of others that regard for neutral rights
which we can best d I'm when our claim is backed
by the spotless record Of our acts