Year: 1861

From the Loudsn Post, tgoy eminent oTgln), July 7f


A question with regard to the blockade OF the
Confederate ports has recently arisen which, we
beleye will excite considerable discussion bOtt in
this country and the United States It will be re-
marked that more than four months ago, Mr.. Lin
coin issued proclamation declaring blockade of
all the American coast extending from tue mouth
of the Potumac to the RIO Grande del Norte.
Whether this blockade has been efficiently main
tanned not along this immense line, stretching at
least two thousand miles, but at the entrance of any
single river or port, is highly questionable. It Is
well known that the blockade of CharlestOn-the
very origin and until lately the headquarters Of the
secession movement-was at one tine virtually
raised by the removal of the federal squadron fur
ther south. While Mr. Lincoln has most honorably
and iudiciousy abstained from commissioning pri-
ysteers, the Southern Confederation has fitted out
many vessels which, under letters Of marque, have
depredated with success upon tthe small craft
which have ventured too near the shore.O This is
the statement of Commodore STingham, the CONS
mander Of the federal blOekading squadron. In
this state of things the British Admiral on the North
American station hes most properly taken steps to
protect British cOmmeree Onthe coast which, on the
one hand are subject to the federal blockade, and
on the other are the scene Of the operations CT the
Southern privateers A letter from Fort PiSkens
states that British frigate has arrived there from
Havana The officer in command makes no secret OF
his mission at he says "to see that the rights of
English commerce are protected and that the block
adc must be such wllpreVent the entrsnce or de-
parture Of any craft TO or from any harboF Of the
South coaster, trader or tender The writer
then adds by way of commentary, "the TreAty OF
Paris has not laid down any rules by which We may
know what il and what is not an effective blockade. y.


The declaration of the Treaty Of Paris concerning
the blockade to which neither ur. Buchanan nor
Mr. Marcy offered the slightest objection, is IN the
following words: "Blockades in order to be bind
ing must be ehective that is to say, maintained by
force sufficient really to prevent access TO the
coast of the enemy.n This declaration, in truth,
does nothing more than confirm rule of public
law v hich has long been enforced by the Admiralty
Courts of England and the United States Its object
was to protest against those paper bloekades
which. in violation of public law, were at an early
period of this century resorted to BY this country


In retaation for the Milan and Berlin DEGREES of the
then French Emperor. This point can be easily
proved by short quotation from the decision OF
Lord Stoweu in the case Of the Stert: 1.-THE very
notion of complete blockade includes that the
besieginQ force can apply its powers to every
Doint of the boekaded State. If it cannot, il is
blockade at that point where its power cannot be
brought to bear" The instructions which Admiral
Milne is said to have given to the officer IN COM
maud of the frgate are strictly in accordance with
The rule laid down by Lord St0welL No port Is TO
bs considered efficiently blOckGded if any vessel eo, en-
teT or depart from lHkno10R to- on IN spas o, the
biocl.0din0 eo1lddrOn. Next, efficient blockade
necessitates the complete cutting off of all maritime


ness or egress; and lastly the escape Of the third
vessel from the blockading squadron signalzes the
invalidity of the blockade. It may be doubted
whether so discreet an officer as Adml Milne would
have written in detail instructions which certainly
hear the aspect of an argumeutative legal opinion,
or that the officer in command of the frigate would
have been guilty of the folly Of communicating
those instructions to the individual who directs his
iefter from Fort Pickens. But if this information
he onlv partially correct it is clearly the duty Of
the British Admiral to protect British commerce
from ali unlawful interference, and for thus Pur-
pose TO see that the blockade Is ehclenty enforced


Eonsider1ng the vast amount of foreign commerce
which may be utterly ruined by the assertion Of
belliVerents rights which cannot be practically en-
forced along line ofcoast extending from Virginia
to Texas the federal authorities, formerly SO zeal
Gus on the subject Of visitation and search ought
10 be extremely careful before they resort to the
system Of paper bloekades, which viii only irritate