The New York herald., 1870-10-09

grander union, which will know no difference
in race, in language or in religion.
American Neufrality-An Important Pro-
clamation.
AT an extraordinary session Of the Cabinet
at Washington yesterday the Secretary Of
State submitted the draft of proclamation,
which was approved and Immediately issued
by the President for the information of
all concerned, touching the obligations, at
this important crisis in European affairs, Of
American neutrality The proclamation pro-
hibits the use Of the bays, waters and harbors
Of the United States for purposes Of war by
belligerents (France and Prussia, for ex-
amples), and declares that ships of war Of
either belligerent shall not leave any port Of
the United States within twenty four hours
after the departure Of merchantmen Of either
belligerent; that war vessels Of either bellige-
rent shall not remain longer than twenty-four
hours in any port Of the United States unless
for needed repairs and supplies; and that no
vessel Of war Of either bellfgerent, after having
entered one of our ports and left it, shall
re-enter such port or another of the United
States until after having visited European
port or port Of its own government. The
making of our ports depots for supplying
materials Of war to belligerents is also pro-
hibited, and the proper officers are instructed
to carry out this proclamation.
This ia substantially the law Of neutrality
proclaimed, but not impartially enforced, By
England as her law Of neutrality between the
United States and the ''so-called Confederate
States" in our late civil war. That branch Of
it forbiddlng war vessel of the United States
from leaving British port within twenty -four
hours after the departure of Confederate
cruiser we considered at the time an out
rageously one-sided neutrality in favor Of JEFF
Davis. The difficulty, however, was not in this
law Of neutrality, but in the recognition of our
Confederate insurgent States on the same foot
ing Of bclligerency as the United States. The
concession of belligerent rights, in short, to
our Southern insurgent States was the great
offence of England, for the consequences of
which she will yet be called upon to settle
those Alabama claims. This twenty -four hour
law in reference to the departure from this
harbor, for instance, of French vessel of war
in chase of departing German merchantman,
as recent events have indicated, is necessary
to prevent practical blockade of the harbor
by French gunboats against German merchant
men.
Upon this point, and in reference to the
coming into and going out from our ports of
the war vessels Of France or Prussia, this
proclamation simply declares the neutral
rights and obligations of the United States.
So, too, in regard to the making our ports
dcpots for supplying materials of war to belli-
gerents," the proclamation is only an esforce-
ment Of the neutrality law of Congress of 1918.
This law does not prohibit the expectation Of
arms to belligerents by private individuals;
but how far this latest proclamation of the
President on the subject will apply in the
matter Of making our ports depots" Of
materials of war it remains TO be disclosed
1t may be contended that in publicly using a
ship as "a depot" in this port we are using
the port itself as q depot, and this may be the
Presidents meaning. In any event, his pro-
ciamation viii put an end to the blockade of
German merchant steamers in this port by
French gunboats-a presumption that has
become offensive to American ideas of our
neutral rights.