The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-29

LAW. and .Conrict or Lawsr which rest partly
upon the comfy OF nations, ~, Tor example, ane
ments OF the courts OF another the validity OF
foreign marriages ana divorces .ne roies
CO sSeeess PASSING rom these SUBJECTS which
relate q condition Of peace, an international CODE
instructs how war may be begun ana carried on.
IL touches on the rights oil neutras, anu snow.
how TAR lhey may intervene and in what trade o.
intercourse they may engage with beligerentS, ~
settles also questions OF restitution or perms .~ss
possession OF captured territories or property ~
law which now prevail have o. irrational
from the legislation OF partlF .Is oapnn1r,sss
They are not always con' ,s;nns U1Sh aann
a few unreasonable and G .me disputed and not
scheme oontempiaes a. n, d nv
ana ,s,ny anopt oc peace, facilitate intercourse
Gan H. framed 81 Will among men, Such code
co5tsssa =" se already written record and are
ctstSas n treaties IA legislative acts aud the ue
aenstc arranged and stated in distinct proportions
PREVIOUS TO She proposition made TO the British
social scletce Association DO code OF international
law hsd ever been attempted. out since
then biuntschl, German publicist, has arranged
the established rules oil nernauona! law with great
success. De0atable questions can be solved by the
discussion and general assent OF publlcsts and the
subsequent SANCTION OF governments. The anchor.
atoms 10 be made must be arrived at IA the same
way II iOund 10 advance the material welfare OF
tae world, there IS lite doubt that all nations
would ACCEPT the cole proposed. us nrst great
people OF their international rights ana duties.
Three times within the last years our
government has been on the verge OF
hostlltles upon international questions-twce with
Great Britain aud once wish SPAN; with the former
IN regard 80 the Trent and Aa0ama questions and
with the after upon that OF Cuoa better ae-
quainIauce Oh al sides with the rules OF inter.
national law wou.d nave saved US from those EN-
Darrassments. IN the first decade OF our dinomacy
we had 10 contend with the preposter0us CLAIMS OF
England as beligerent, anu me SIN more prepos-
terons cams Of Frances; wilh British orders in
anil fb1 EnrfY n iqa n 10
lions on the hfgl seas am IN friendly harbors with
prize courts, with lmpressment Of seamen ~ the name
81 perpetual allegiance anu the conscaon OF neutral
SHIPS we tesisted these claims, and many have
Oeeu abandoned, ONT he law regarding them has
not been settled 10y the concurrence OF the civilized
world. As nation nave no common superior their
mutual relations must be defined by treaties and
The eode proposed Is an important preliminary 10
them. The theory upon winch the proposed work
has been undertaken has been tina; the
ldrists VINO were 10 prepare IL CON-
M ssoued by different governments 10 do so.
Waen completed 1t may b. hoped tnat conference
o. representatives nom different governments Will
be held, from which concurrent treaties Will spring.
Such treaties are not now in the history oil dplo-
macy. The treaty OF Vienna, after the overthrow OF
The nrst Napoleon. settled for generation consider
able part OF tne pubic land or Europe Congresses OF
the great Powers nave often since oeen held and
general congress OF nations for the revision OF
teEnatonai law would 90 but step IN The came
direction The greatest advantage OF the sug-
gested code would DC that OF amelioratinn The
tes binding nations can be multiplied and
strengthened. some European statesmen have
dreamed OF European confederation on the
general plan or our own This may or may not be
realized the future but /. IL certain that the mud
ana benehcent rules OF an international code L.
within the grasp OF the present age. 1t would set.
tle IN addition 10 the questions alluded to- those OF
money, weights, measures, time longitude sea sig
nais and the rules OF navigation, and render them
uniform. France, Italy and Switzerland have
ules. International law would also bro.
yi4e for general disarmament. Treaties
i9r ssTnasn nave already been created
On the great lakes between the United states aud
Great brltaln and between Russia, England France
ana Itay with regard 10 those or the Black sea- me
principle can be applied on general scale There
are now from three 20 five millions or men In the
standing armies OF Europe, VINO are withdrawn from
pursuits and supported by the labor or
otAers This incuous upon industry Is increased Dy
the GENERALIZATION created BY these armies, and no
ueneAt as their disoandnent by five or six
OF tne most powerful European nations.
LOOKING 70 tue prevention OF war, some plan OF arb
tfat!on could ue devised before proceeding TO nos
sA!tles, either win friendly Power or By the AZ.
pointnlelt OF commissioners by tile oegerents. In
oil aitIces Of confederation II was provided that
disputes between states should be determined oy
conulss oners or Judges selected oy the disputanss
OF, u they iailed to select them, by three conmls
sioners 10 be named by Congress- from each State
eaca dlsputant to be at liberty TO strike
or alternately one name until the number
was reduced 10 thirteen, ana from These
Congress was 10 select not less than seven nor more
than nine TO adludicate The matter By some
similar means disputes between nations might be
settled. In regard 10 the conduct or war, the move
melt has been Gradual but constant towards the
anu towards the obligation TO treat each other with
humanity. An international code would eInbody
TINS spirit, Keeping In view that should be waged
only against those VINO wage IL, and that private
property aud persons should be placed beyond It's
rayages Inc conferences OF Geneva have provided
Tor tue exemption OF nurses and hospitals, aud the
conference at st. Petersburg had led an agreement
noe 70 use explosive materials In bomosnels These
ladies' and gentlemen, are ouJ examples or what IL
seems possible 10 accomplish by an International
code. Let US nope that the work may soon be real
ICED.
The association hereupon adjourned 10 next year.
after thanking the gentlemen who had read essays
during tho session.