"We regard Great Britain as a friend. Her Majesty's flag,
according to our traditional principles, covers enemy's goods
not contraband of war. Goods of Her Majesty's subjects, not
contraband of war, are exempt from confiscation, though found
under a neutral or disloyal flag. No depredations shall be
committed by our naval forces or by those of any of our
citizens, so far as we can prevent it, upon the vessels or
property of British subjects. Our blockade, being effective,
must be respected[264]."
Thus Bancroft regards Seward's proposals of April 24 as in part the
result of humanitarian motives and in part as having a concealed purpose
of Northern advantage. This last he calls a "trap." And it is to be
noted that in Seward's final pledge to Adams the phrase "those of any of
our citizens" reserves, for the North, since the negotiation had failed,
the right to issue privateers on her own account. But Russell also, says
Bancroft, was not "altogether artless and frank." He had in view a
British commercial advantage during the war, since if the United States
respected the second and third articles of the Declaration of Paris, and
"if Confederate privateers should roam the ocean and seize the ships and
goods of citizens of the North, all the better for other commercial
nations; for it would soon cause the commerce of the United States to be
carried on under foreign flags, especially the British and French[265].
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238