The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-04-22
COMMERCE IN TIME OF WAR.

View Orleans Picayuue-
In view Of the extreme probability
: Of IIostilities with Spain, it is wotth
while to note what may be the Dartic-
uIar affect Of such a war upon COM
MERGE carried on in ships upon the
nigh seas, or waters that are inter
national highways.
OF course, all ships and vessels I'D.
on the high seas, in case Of war with
Spain, and belonging to the govern.
mcnt or to the citizens OF the Ulited
states, are subject to he captured by
Spanish vessels. In the same way all
vessels on the high seas belonging to
the government or tOsubjectsOf Spain
are liable to capture by vessels Of the
United States, and in view OF the fact
that neither the United States nor
Spain accepted the conditions Of the
treaty Of Paris in 1856, when the other
powers renOunced the use Of priya-
teers in wa r. both the United States
ana Spain may each issue letters OF
lnarquc and send out priyateers to
prey upon the commerce OF the other. |
Ihus 1t comes about that any shin
or other vessel belonging to the gov
erninent or people OF the United
States Is liable to capture m any pub
nc waters where the Spaniards can
get at them. When captured. they
might be burned if it were found i'm
possIDIe 10 get away with them: but
Otherwise they would be carried into
spanish ports, where the courts would
adJudge them to be prizes Of war. to
De sold and their money value dis
trl0uted to the captors and to the gov
eminent upon the terms specified in
the letters OF marque. Spanish YES.
selscaptured by warsllips or privateers
or the United States would be sub.
lected to like proceedings in United
States courts.
But when it comes to the com.
merce carried in ships Of neutral
nations a very different rule applies.
mere Is a general rule that when
there is no blockade Of the ports Of
oellgerents. all goods in neutral slIips
sailing out from or bound to such ports
are projected by the neutral flag, pro-
Vlded the cargo, Or no part Of it, be
composed OF goods that are contra
Dand VI war. COntraband OF war
means articles that are intended to be
uSeG Tor military purposes. or for the
conduct and carrying on OF war.
mere are three Qualifications OF mer-
IN this connection. The first
CONSIST OF articles manufactured and
primarily and ordinarily used for mil
ltary purposes in time Of war; the sec
Dnd, OF articles which may be or are
IN use Tor purposes OF war or peace.
according to circumstances: and the
third, OF articles exclusively used for
purposes.
Merchandise OF the first class en-
braces arms. gunpowder and the ac-
5aul munitions OF war. Merchandise
this class Is always c%untraband, no
matter by whom carried, if CAPTURED
"hlle on its way to a bclligerent coun-
Try or places occupied by the army or
navy OF a beligerent. Merchandise of
second class is c%ontraband only
actually destined to the mill.
AIRY or naval use OF "A bcligerrnt.
during the American Civil War
heulclhes were declared by the Fed.
RAJ authorities to be c%Ontraband. as
we're also many other articles essen. 4
,alIy intended for peaceful and beney. Z
'lent uses. y
Articles Of the third class are such
IS are essentially necessary to the
urposes OF peace and are generally ~
Aehpt from capture when carried in
eutial bottoms, although in time Of
'dr interpretations are liable TO be
ltalned and tOrtued away from their
rlglnal sense. For instance, carg0es
grain and provisions sailing in
cutral ships out OF American ports
} countries other than to Spain would =,
be liable to capture: but IL they u
ere sailing out OF ports OF other
to Havana, for instance. il -
light be asserted that the grain and
were for the purpose OF :
on the war, aud they might
held 10 be contraband. Carvoes Of
could not well be considered NJ
)ntraband under any circumstances lH
Ut AL ships Of neutrals sailing on
ne nigh seas In time OF war would hn
able TO be stopped and questioned
even searched. This sort Of thing
capable OF causing great irritation !
; . nation whose ships might no Z
,arched, and might even come TO be
iuse OF war.
In case OF the blocade OF a port. no
snip OF any nation would >.
! a'iowen 10 enter or go out. II tho .
panlards could succeed in eAectualjy
loea9,ng any OF our ports, Il or they
ouid DC closed 10 all commerce. Tin.
sucn az event should occur, com.
VIII be carried ION, taking ali ",
mat are TO he encountered