ffects

SECTION II. Prizes and Privateers

SECTION III. Licences

SECTION IV. Ransom, Recaptures, and Salvage

CHAPTER III.

SECTION I. Neutrality

SECTION II. Contraband of War

SECTION III. Blockades. Right of Search. Convoys

SECTION IV. Armed Neutralities

APPENDIX TO PART I.

NOTE A. The Law of Reprisals

NOTE B. War Bill Act

NOTE C. Rule of 1756

NOTE D. Articles that have been declared Contraband at various times

NOTE E. The Late Declarations

INTRODUCTION TO PART I.

It would be superfluous to trouble my readers, in a concise practical
treatise, with any theoretical discussion on the origin of the Law of
Nations, had not questions of late been often asked, respecting the
means of accommodating rules decided nearly half-a-century ago, to
those larger views of international duty and universal humanity, that
have been the natural result of a long Peace, and general progress.

To commence with the question, Who is the international legislator? it
must be observed, that there is no general body that can legislate on
this subject; no parliament of nations that can discuss and alter the
law already defined. The Maritime Tribunals of maritime states always
have been, and still are, almost the sole interpreters and mouthpieces
of the International Law. Attempts that have been made by our own
parliaments, by individual sovereigns, and even by congressional
assemblies of the ministers of European powers, to create new
universal laws, have been declared by these courts to be invalid, and
of no authority. And though it is distinctly laid down, that the Law
of Nations forms a part of the Common Law of England, yet it is not
subject to change by Act of Parliament, as other portions of the
Common Law are; except so far as Parliament can change the form,
constitution, and persons of the courts that declare the law.

Lord Stowell says

"No British Act of Parliament, nor any commission founded
upon it, can affect the rights or interests of foreigners,
unless they are founded upon principles, and impose
regulations, that are consistent with the Law of Nations."

And in another place--

"Much stress has been laid upon the solemn declaration of
the eminent persons (the ministers of the European powers),
assembled in Congress (at Vienna). Great as the reverence
due to such authorities may be, they cannot, I think, be
admitted to have the force of