New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-17
United STATES SUPREME COURT.

IN PRIZE-NEUTRAL RIGHTs-ENEMf TRADE
BLOCKADE.
The L0ouer FIXING Soud and cargo dg The THcd States
This vessel was captured on the l2th OF
August 1863 OFF the mouth OF the Rio Graude III Amer
0rIe,ns for adudohtoh where together with her cargo
she vas beed in September, 1868. -,
register issued At Nassau Nov a. 1862 which described her
AS a, mat date owned by James Thompson Of Liverpool
81 NASSAU and aterwatd Feb 49, 1865 the property OF
one Hart British subject, residing at Nissan, who
claimed her as st & seG from
claimed TO bc largely cQnraband OF war consisting IS
all and DowG oS etended Voyage to ataoTos but
witha real destination AS claimed by the Government 70
of tie mouth OF INC Rio Grande where she remained as
n'gh time she moved up TO BrazOs Santiago, In Texas
about nine miles from the mouth OF the Rio Grande and
about 80 ISLES from MaamorOs AT that place the entire
cargo was discharged and brought to Point Isabel After
ward she lay at Brazos for considerable time when az
shown she there took boardl bales Of cotton and
some beef hides and then ran down TO her former an
cHnrage the rOadstead OF the Rio Grande and there
took 1853 more bales OF cotton.
The trial resulted in Judgment Of condemnation Of
vessel and cargo. The claimants appeal claiming that
there was no active blockade at BrazOs at the date
toned hence there could have been no violation IL Is
asserted that IL there was any legally declared blockade
there was certainly actual physical and that
vain for Governments 70 impose bockades " those EN-
ployed on that service do not enforce them" But
there did exist blockade OF BraZOs, then the
age Of the schooner ended at Matamoros and she could
moi seized after she had commenced new uDdertak
ing The claimants contend that they were nentrals,
and were shown 10 be the trial that their rights
srh are entitled respect and moi 10 he taken
from them by the arhce OF the captOrs by which they
are mlsled and deceived In this ease, the caplors
having had ample opportunity 10 seize the vessel after
her alleged violation " the blockade OF Bra2Os, II would
lie unjust allow them 10 wait until her cargo was
shipped at MatamOrOs and then SEIZE her.
There certainly any blockade at Matamor0',
and where. here they were loading from that place,
and the cargo shown 10 have come from there. they
cannot be held violated H. 10 have Intended
10 do IL is submitted that n this whore the claim
ants resided aud dealt at Maamoros with which port
trade was carried by our citizens aud from which
me most of the cotton that supplied mills during
fbe war where cotton was shipped In presence q" the
Government officers, and without notice there should he
ma condemnation aud the decree should he reversed
The Government insists that the cotton claimed by the
claimants was from Texas brought MTOHgh Matamnros,
and by the outward cargo Will be presumed
10 nave been purchased that the principal claimants
really merchants Of the United STATES, ana ~ su
". disabled by law from trading with the enemy except
upder special liccnsr nom the President
r. f. Cunning aud g. DOnohne Tor claimants; Mr. stan
lrry aud Mr. Ashtnn for the Government.