, 1866-08-18

ELEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL. LAW. By
Little, Brown 4 CO.
ofthls celebrated work the sixth and sew
enth editions, both produced since the death
of the uuthor, were edited by Mr.. William.
Besch Lawrence, of Rhode Island. This gen.
teman Is n wellknowu Democratic pollti-
clan, with ideas incllning to the school Of
Mr.. Calhoun The notes which appeared in
his editions Of Mr.. Whcaton's treatise were
not only prolix and verbose, but were calcu-
lated to maintain the aognas of State rights
aud of secession. Consequently, in preparing
for new edition, which the public had for
some time demanded, 31rs. Wheaton and the
other surviving members of the family, re-
koived that 1t should be annotated by writer
o1 moro national character, and Of opinions
1aose In harmony with those of their illastri-
Gus relative Mr. Lawrence ~vehemently OPP
posed this design. He set up for himself
ktpd Of perpetual right to comment alone
upon the teachings Of Wheaton. The Gle
ments Of International law, as he conteadcd,
were to be regarded IS in some sort his OWE
exclusive domain; in fact his claim Was, In
his own eyes, more valid and Authoritative
than the copyright belonging to the family.
!.
having selected Mr.. +. h. Dana, Jr., to edit
the work, they firmly adhered to their pur-
pose to dispense with NJ. Lawrence and his
cnmmentass; and we think there Is no intel
ligent student who will not thank them fur
60 doing. H.;
Mr. Dam had already gained among the
leading 1uriets and publiclsts OF the country
. great reputation for ability to deal with
the themes of international Law. = His agxu-
ment In the prize cases before the Supreme
Cont at Washington had spread his fame
far and wide and the notes in this volume
vii extend It AID gtrei 1t eolidity. He evincss
\ rasc power Of Selling the essential point Of;
question and presenting 1t clearly
and cogently = =.to his. reader.
-W1iting with admirable .tezeness,
be Is never 60 condensed II to bo obscure.
While his style Is bare Of all ornament, rs
becomes scientific Textbook, he does not
scorn any Illustration that win more dis
ttnct1y enforce his meaning. Though al
ways dlgnl1cd, his Language Is always slm-
pie, natural, and fdiomat{c. lie never de-
parts from the strict Tina Of his asqnlry, and
abhors Ill the arts of that pompous discuntre-
ness and Of that endless hammesing out of q
subject which expands and weakeus 1t, but
adds nothing to i.s weight or.yalue. At the
: same time he knows how to Invest IN abstract
principle Of law with y charm for the lnex-
peaeneed layman. aud TO convey Instruction
to the uuleaned as well as the erudite.
i Among the matters TO which tho moze
!e1aborate disqulsittons Of these notea srs de-
voted are the questions OF the sources Of In.
ternational law, in which Mr.. Dana contends
for tho English doctrine Of the superior Al.
thority ot judicial decisions a. agninst the
French preference for the dictA oftaxt-wri.
tess; the recognition Of he1liscrency the
recognition Of Independence; tho relation,
of the United States Judiciary to the Consti
tuition and statutes the United States 81
preme Government; tho Monroe doctrine
mediation; the Intervention of France, SPAR
and Great Britain In Mexico result
Ing In - the Empire OF Aa1imIlian
Naturalization; piracy; rebels a. pirates
the slave trade u piracy and as connected
: with the right of visit and search; effect Q
:: wnl on treaties belligerent powers exercises
In civil war; Intercourse with the enemy
:. conquest ard belligereut occupation; ptirz
: teer'ns; rescue by ucutralA3 prize 1urtsdlc
ton and Practice; neutrality iaws; ffe
! ships, free goods; contzabzud OF war + com
merclal blockade carrying hostile person
: and papers, as In the Trent case; declasatio,
ofwar, snd 60 forth. Az viii be seen fron
these titles, he considers ali those branche
offntezuatinnal law which the experience (
the last fTe years has brought into pson
nence- In fact, 1t Is not TOO much to 81
: that the additions which our civil war ha
made; to the code Of nations, 3,
I'LL here satisfactorily expoundet