5833. NEUTRALITY, Contraband of war.—
In our treaty with Prussia, we have
gone ahead of other nations in doing away
with restraints on the commerce of peaceful
nations, by declaring that nothing shall be contraband.
For, in truth, in the present improved
state of the arts, when every country has such
ample means of procuring arms within and without
itself, the regulations of contraband answer
no other end than to draw other nations into the
war. However, as other nations have not given
sanction to this improvement, we claim it, at
present, with Prussia alone.—
To Thomas Pinckney. Washington ed. iii, 551.
Ford ed., vi, 243.
(Pa.,
May. 1793)
See Belligerents and Contraband of War.
