The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-20
The Consequences of English Neu,
a-.gsa.r

The Consequences of English Neu-
trality.
From the London Dsily News, Dee. 26.
We have taught the Americans and
every foreign government that the
measure of s neutrals duty towards a
belligereut is the British Foreign En-
listment Act tbs having this act on
our statute-book, We are not called
upon as q neutral to do anything more /;
that a statute which has been found ut
terly powerless to prevent the destruc.
ton of American commerce during the
late civil war is the only Kind of stat
ute which any nation can be called
upon TO pass or to enforce that all the
additional securities which were sup
posed 10 be contained in the American
s~tatute-book are useless, md that in
case of war their provisions might be
repealed or left unenforced, without
exposing the American Government to
the charge of neglecting their duties as
neutrals. IL such are the principles
which are to be applied to the people
Of this country when they are next en-
gagged in war, it is not difficult to an
ticipate the fate of the British mercan-
tile navy. Its destruction by cruisers
obtained from American ports must be
speedy and complete, and neither the
American Government, nor any other
government, will be considered respon-
sible. In short, no new laws need be
passed, and those already in existence
are admitted to be absolutely useless.
Such is the conclusion which follows
from the justification of their conduct
put forward by the British Government
But let US hope that there are some
men in Parliament who will discern
the character of this argument The
common sense OF the nation cannot be
hoodwinked. War must be admitted
to be always possible, and to leave
questions of such gravity unsolved
would be TO expose our interests to too
serious a risk. If the argument were
worth anything-if the statutes Of
England and America are so utterly
useless-it ought TO prove that some
! change in the laws OF both countries
was imperatively needed And it
seems that Lord Russell, feeling this,
actually suggested 10 the American
Government the propriety OF making
some change 1t Is, however, idle TO
make any such suggestion before some
mode of settling the existing disputes
upon this very subject has been agreed
to. Indeed, according to Mr. Adams,
this was the very suggestion which the
American Government pressed upon
the attention OF the British Govern
ment al the commencement of the civil
war Il is the same suggestion which
was then rejected by the British Cable
net IF says Mr. Adams, the
reasons for it are sound nov, I
am a. q loss to perceive why
they did not avail during a period
when my country could have felt the
benefit Of them To adopt the sug-
gestlon now would be TO proceed upon
the assumption that the duties Of neu-
trality had changed their character
since the conclusion OF the war. This
is obviously absurd IL the municipal
law enforcing these duties ought to he
made more stringent low, it ought 70
have been maze more stringent before
the war closed, and the government
which declined 10 take this course must
be responsible for whatever damage has
resulted from its neglect In other
words, the question, what ere she duties
oil & heUtrsn must preoede She cues.
ton, ought the statute inforcing them
20 be altsredl Means should therefore
be taken 10 ascertain whether during
the American civil war England per.
formed her duty. This can only be
done BY FsteTring the matter in dispute
to a commission and nos lhat Lard
Resell and his successor have refused
to refer the matter, it can Only be done
by the Intervention Of Parliament