The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-11-01
RryTrsNp,s ugRIINGreN RAILROAD.
En,,,nd and the United states.


responsibility of that government for losses
inflicted on our commerce by prvateers,
fitted out in English ports and sailing
Under the rebel flag. This is one Of the
eravest questions that has ever arisen be-
tween file two governments, and from the
respective positions, very decidedly taken
by the representatives ofboth government,
it is not unreasonable TO conclude that it
may assume a more serious character be-
fore an amicablc understanding is arrived
at.
Mr.. Adams informs Lord Russell that
his government "cannot avoid entailing
upon the government of Great Britain the
responsibility for all these damages, and
in fixing the responsibility charges on the
English government that its recognition OF
beligerent rights to the insurgents was
precipitate and unprecedented !" that
this act gave to them all the beligerent
character they ever possessed on the ocean.
Lord Russell argues that our blockade of
the Southern ports was practical.
acknowledgment by us of baligerant rights
and compelled them to do the same, or to
commence war on us to open these ports.
lie claims that his government did all in
its power 20 execute its neutrality laws
and that it cannot be held responsible for
its failure to do what was beyond its pow
or, and defends thus position by citing
the precedent Of the United States. refus-
ing TO be responsible for similar damages
inflicted on the commerce of Portugal
and Spain, IN their wars with their South
American colonies by vessels fitted out in
our ports.
Mr.. Adams shows very conclusively
that proper vigilance was not used to en-
force such laws as they had, and urges
that if the laws were insufficient it was
their business to make better. He as
serts that Great Britain went to war both
with France and Holland for an offence
of the same kind. but far less aggravated,
and urges with great force of reasoning
that by this act of recognition that gov.
eminent made itself responsible for what
ever the confederate government was
able to accomplish Oh the water: ''what-
ever may be the line of argument | pur-
que, | am compelled ever to return TO
the one conclusion; the nation that rec
ogRzed Power as a belligerent before
it had built vessel, and became itself
the source of all the beligerent character
it has ever possessed on the ocean, must
be regarded as responsible for all the dam
age that has ensued from that cause to
the commerce Of Power with which it
was under the most sacred obligations to
preserve amity and peace"
Lord Russell continues to make wor-
dy but weak defence of his positions, and
then rakes up an old forgotten proposition
10 refer such questions, which it seems
was made more than two years since, and
declines it on the ground that the English
government is the sole guardian of its own
honor.
In his closing letter Mr.. Adams says:
''lf the examples thus set by Her Ma
jesty's Government should come TO he
generally adopted, and the principles of
neuiralip upon which it rests be rccog-
nized as part OF the cone of interna-
tional law, then it is not difficult to fore
see The probable consequence. A new
era in the relations Of neutrals to bellig-
erents on the high seas will open. Neu-
trail ports, in that event, will before long
become the true centers from which the
most effective aud dangerous enterprises
against the commerce of velIigerents may
be contrived, fitted out and executed
The existing restrictions upon the exploits
of daring adventures viii rapidly become
obsolete, and no new ones will be adopted.
Ships, men and money will always be at
hand for the service of any Power sufii-
cien,ly strong 10 hold forth u probability
Of repayment in any form, or adrolt
enough to secure share of the popular
sympathy in its undertakings. New Flor
'das, AlaJd0ias and .SicadmiOdhS will ap-
pear on every sea. If such be the recog-
nized law, | would not undertake to at
firm that the country which / have the
honor TO represent would not in the end
be able to accommodate itself TO the new
circumstances as Great Bi tain"
Mr.. Adams, in the whole correspond
ence, shows himself as much the master
by position as by logical power and rhet-
orical elegance, and it will be difficult for
the most obstinately opinionated Briton,
who has any brains, to read the cores
pondence without coming TO the conclu-
sion that his government is in false
position, and one that II can never on
any consideration long afford TO maintain.
l neutrals are 10 be the sole iudoes nf