The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-08-26
U. 8. NEVER DECLARED
COTTON CoNTRABAND.

~ (NaN = eseahAAN0s
On the eve of the harvest of
the South 5 principal crop-cotton
an cXtra0rdinay interest Is
manifest in the outcome of the
allies action in putting cotton
ON the c0niraband list. Indeed |
the prosperity of the western half
of Fulton county depends largely |
upon the profitable marketing OF
tins staple. In view oil this fact, |
the Courier gives below the essen
lial parts of AN article from the
pen of Hon. A. H. Watson, lormerI
corporation council for the city of
New York, who is considered
eminent authority in the matter
OF International law. II haH been
persistenlly commended by the
English, and no small part of our
countrymen, that the United
States sci the precedent in max
ing cotton contrahand. This l.
utterly untrue, IA shown by off
clal records. and the allies are
cutting the cloth 10 suit the gar.
ment when they put cotton on
the forbidden list.
la part, Mr.. Watson says
The better known ease mvoly
ing the capture Of cotton occur
red ia course of correspondence
between Secretary of State Bay
ard, in lss6, and Mr.. Muruaga,
lSpanish minister, the latter inter
ceding ia behalf of the claimants
Of the cotton which had been seiz-
ed on Confederate territory dur
ia the Civil War The COnfe,le
rate government, IL will be r..
meInborcd, requisitioned all coi
ton, using Il AS Ils chief resource
FOR the purchase of arms and am
mnmtion Adycrting 10 the cir
cunstanccs Mr. Bayard asserted
thar there was no doubt that cOi-
tom might lawfully be- seized as
c0ntraband of war ~ Mr. Mu'
ruaga was prompt 10 point out
uiat raw cotton was not contra
band m It's nature, was moi 80 re-.
gar,icd by civilized nations, aud
was not 10 treated by the United
States during the Civil War Mr..
Bayard. writing some weeks later
anrs,serycdly conceded The point,
disclaimIng any purpose Ia sim'
lam the capture upon the doctrine
OF conlrahand. Strange Ia say,
both Hall aud Wharton HAL
Internal Law. 9Th Ed, 66l
| Wharton Is Internal Law, Dig
i III, ABS Inadvertently overlook
ing both the disclaimer by Mr.
liayard and the Inherent inapph
cability Of the rcpudiatcd termi
nology Ia the factN, treats the incl
dent ~ an occasion on which the
United States has regarded cott0r
as eantraband of war Though th'
error is So; forth and explained
with diagramatic iuosd,iy IN Prof
Moore = Digest OF lnterenatlona
Law Il yet persists with author
Its and strength of gospel IN TIA,
minds of some of our newspaper
editors aud publicisis, either to-
incident 10 examine the records
or whose patriotic scnsibllliici
have been caioled INTO a conditiol
of unrcslsiing and unquestlonin'
concurrence upon any propose
deemed favorable 10 our friend
the allies cause
Russia. also, let it be noted
when at war with Japan, adde,
raw cotton 90 ia list of contra
band, upon the ground that ra'
cotton waSs used in the manuiae
ture of explosives II is interest
! ing now 10 recall that this eyokc'
] a prompt and vigorous protes
J. from Lord Landsdowne, the
h British secretary of state for for
, lrien affairs. British India bein
the largest importer of raw ccl
!. ton into japan. The languae
used IN the mole 10 Count Lams
dorff. Russian minister of forclg
affairs. Is certain not Ia be oyei
looked by our accomplished an
asiutc president in the course d
thee present controversy wit
q Great Britain. THE quantity {
raw cotton that might be utilize
- for explosives" wrote Lord Ian
downe. under date of Oct. ., l9O
would b. infinitesimal in con
parison with the bulk of cotiO
\ exported from India 10 Japan {,
peaceful purposes, aud To lre'
Hharmlcss cargOes of this att'
description ~ unconditional
contraband, would be TO suble
ia branch of innocent commerce