The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-06


throughout their careers, entered port OF the
Confederacy. John Bull would not feel Ike
himself il be did not bully some one whom he
knows to be less strong than be d; and, there
fore, It Il quite proper that this most goucAs
and laundering Of diplomatic notes should
close with threat 1t Il said ct the last: ut
cannot be expected that foreign governments,
whose subjects are liable to be treated as
pirates by virtue Of the instructions above mem
toned, will acquiesce in such measures"
The Spanish reply accepts the meaning Of
Champions despatch as protest against the
Spanish document, and, without criticising II
specifically, regrets that the British Secretary
did not specially mention the principle on
which he claims protection for privateers,
whom all Europe, and England with the rest,
have denounced as "scourges of humanity"
1t regrets this the more. inasmuch as all the
writers Of great repute on international law
hold opinions different from those of the learned
British Secretary. Pistoye and Duverdy are
then cited as arguing that all neutrals on pri-
vateers, without respect 10 proportion or num-
Der, are pirates, unless they have been aatho-
rized by their own government to take letters
ofmarque from one Of the belligerents.s Orto-
lan'is cited in support Of the same view. A
vessel manned by neutrals cannot claim the
nationality Of the country that gave it the let
ter of marque, since it does not fulfil the con-
ditions of nationality; and the neutral nation
cannot recognize its own nationality in yes
sci to which it gave no permission to arm.
Such ship, therefore, has no nationality, as
its acts are piracy. Hautefeuille and Wildman
give their testimony in support of the same
point And thus is very completely answered
Sir John Champions assertion that interna-
tional law has "never considered as piracy the
enlistment of the subjects of one state in the
forces of another country" We have the word
Of Champion against Pistoye and Duverdy, Or
tolan and Hautefeuille. 1t is then shown that
it is not less legal to require that the privateer
should issue from the ports of the belligerent
country, and should receive its authority to
cruise directly from the belligerent govern
ment England is reminded that she had as
sented to that usage before the treaty Of Paris,
by which It was supposed she had committed
herself to stricter Interpretation of the right
of privateering, and is informed that she has no
right to protest on behalf of the privateers,
since they can only come in danger by forfeit
ing the protection of British laws, unless Eng
land intends to authorize her subjects to take
arms against Spain.
It remains to be seen whether the learned Sir
John Champion will inform De Castro that the
British government does not wish to carry this
discussion any further. He probably will not,
for much as it would doubtless delight Cramp-
ton TO get out Of the discussion, England
cannot retire from the point thus made. De
Castro's citations and arguments, applied to the
Confederate ships that were equipped in Eng
land against us, would prove on the most incon
testabie European authority that every one of
these ships was pirate; and II England should
assent to these arguments she would stand
before the world in the most ridiculous and
shameful position, holding exactly opposite
views on the same subject. Thus she would,
ont of the mouth of Champion, argue to us that
she had done no harm, that she was q quite
innocent, much abused Power; and out Of the
mouth of the same astute Secretary she would
acknowledge to Spain that she halA built,
equipped, manned and sent out adozen pirates
to prey on our ships. She would change her
face with the facility of o national harlequin,
and even Punch would be forced to picture her,
mask in hand, telling us one thing and Spain
another That would never do; and there
fore Spain must be bullied out of her position;
both for the sake of consistency and for the
sake of all those jolly British neutrals who are
itching TO get at Spanish ships
The Republic or DomInica-PresIdent
Bnex ana Secretary Seward.
The report of the interview between Secre-
tary Seward and the President of the republic
Of Dominica, which we published yesterday, was
not only highly interesting and gratifying to
every American citizen, but it also revealed
now phase in the diplomatic art, far more salts
factory than the usual custom. IF Secretary
Seward had conducted all his diplomatic cor
respondence in this straightforward and simple
style, we should have Rad less difficulty than
now, and been able to dispense with numerous
volumes Of essays, which, in reality, say nothing
and mean less Diplomacy,in these latter days
at least, the world over, seems TO be conducted
on about the same principle as that in vogue
in fashionable society. The lady who makes
her afternoon call Il received with Hattering
attentions, and II there Is any point Of difference
between those who thus meet, great effort
is made to say al that IAN be said, and not
allude TO II. But the moment that this formal
interview 10 ended and the parties are Sc
parated, these particular points Of difference
are the only things thought Of, or talked about,
by either. Thus II Is with diplomatic cores
pondcnce. An important question Of dispute
arises between nations and The proper ofHc ais OF