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that blockade has been instituted it is to be considered regular.
I will not now go into questions that may have to be argued and decided hereafter in the Prize Courts with regard to the regularity of the blockade.
No doubt the Government of the United States has fully considered existing precedents before it took the course it has done.
With respect to the question of the honorable member for Finsbury, 1 must say it is founded on rather a vague statement.
The particular case to which he referred is one on which no proceedings can be taken.
He alluded to the case of the master of a merchant ship who was tarred and feathered.
It occurred some months ago, and some weeks before any state of civil war existed, when the whole country was at peace.
I am not sure there was not then some intention of seceding; but no secession had then taken place, though there were rumors of it. The master of the merchant ship was, in fact, ill-treated by a mob; but the authorities endeavored to arrest the rioters, and our consul stated that the authorities had done every thing it was possible to effect.
As to the steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in consequence of the blockade, orders have been given by the Admiralty to send out some ships of war to strengthen the squadron under the command of Admiral Milne.
With regard to the law of the United States and of the Southern Confederacy as to persons serving in the militia, such laws vary in the different States of Europe, and they vary also in the different States of America.
No doubt the powers of these laws will be exercised at the discretion of the several Governments, according to the law of nations.
I still hope that this conflict will be of short duration, and while a great and free State like America is exposed to all the evils of a civil war, I hope no language will be used with regard to it, that will tend to create exasperation either on one side or the other.
--New York Tribune, June 11.
