MARITIME INTERNATIONAL LAW. 303 



The validity of this right of .blockade does not seem very clear, foi 

 it rests on an international custom, whose legitimacy has, unhappily, 

 never been questioned, being, in fact, an extreme war measure, 

 only justified on the grounds, that maritime war without blockade, 

 will not secure, to a belligerent, results of any great importance. 



This argument to justify- the right of blockade seems based on a 

 wrong premiss, as though it were a right of conquest, to be exercised 

 upon the maritime territory of an enemy. 



CONCLUSION. 



For the abolition of this system of commercial blockade, as well as 

 that of privateering, to Great Britain we must look, as she alone 

 amongst the family of nations is responsible, not only for its 

 establishment, as a belligerent right, but by her energetic opposition 

 to its overthrow, for its present existence. 



It was at the beginning of this century, that Great Britain, by the 

 issuing of the celebrated " Orders in Council," strengthened the 

 foundation of a system which openly violated the rights of neutrals, 

 by putting, during the French War, into rigorous imprisonment, the 

 sailors of the merchant-men of foreign nations. It was this odious 

 Act which called forth from the First Napoleon, the severe condem- 

 nation contained in his famous Decrees, issued in 1806, and 

 1807, Decrees which, to show the severity of his displeasure, were 

 written by him in his own hand, and, sealed by his own seal. 



The principles and policy, which we must endeavour to secure 

 the ultimate triumph of, and for which we would invoke the co- 

 operation of all friends of freedom, humanity, and justice, as a 

 work worthy to be accomplished, are ; (i) To make all private 

 property free from capture on the high seas, with such exceptions 

 as may be found necessary. (2) To abolish the right of block- 

 ading, during war, those ports of the belligerents which are purely 

 commercial. (3) To relinquish the right to search on the high 

 seas the merchant vessels of Neutral Powers. 



The eminent American Statesman, Charles Sumner, whose fame 

 and name will long be revered, by men of freedom, of humanity, 

 and of peace, exerted his great powers, of voice and by pen, for 

 its promotion, In the memorable Speech on Maritime Rights, 



