The intimation that our Government is preparing some step to
arrest the Russian trade through Prussia, would alone suffice to disprove the late reports that Prussia was growing more reasonable, and to tell her that a time of closer reckoning is at hand. It has been supposed that our Government might effect the stoppage of the evasive Russian trade by various methods,—by a blockade of the Prussian ports so far as to stop vessels untilthey should declare the origin of the goods on board, arresting those of Russian pro- duce • or by reverting to the English principle maintained during the fate war, that an enemy's goods may be seized in neutral bottoms, wherever found ; or by prohibiting their import into this country. Objections at once occur to any one of these modes,—and perhaps to any other. A blockade of the Prussian ports would be virtually a declaration of war against King Frede- rick William ; the English principle of the late war cannot be re- asserted after it has been formally abandoned, without giving more exasperation to America than the principle itself gave while it was first in dispute ; and prohibitions upon imports, although not in- consistent with free trade on purely commercial grounds' would yet cause some feeling of dissatisfaction in this country. We are not prepared to say that the public would be indisposed to make a large concession to the necessities of the state, and to confidence in Ministers ; but the inconvenience is evident.
In the mean time, Prussia is so obstinate in a course whieh be- comes daily more incompatible with the interests if not the safety of the Allies that thUrquestion of a trans'rt-trade is likely, enough to be superseded by another question, as to the treatment of Prussia herself. Communications continue to pads between Berlin and Vienna, bringing out more distinctly the independent and sincere course in which Austria perseveres, and the hostile spirit in which Prussia is shuffling. The latest communications from Paris and London have consisted of intimations that Prussia would not be permitted to mediate any longer in the capacity of a friend, and would only be allowed to interfere upon joining in the more posi- tive alliance concluded between the three Powers. Notwithstand- ing the unaccountable Ministerial manceuvres at Berlin' Prussia shows no disposition to take this more manly course. Her trea- cherously equivocating action can only originate in blind devotion to Russia,—apparently the strongest tie recognized by Prussia. This close intimacy places the territory of Prussia constructively at the service of the enemy; we have no security that Rus- sia will not be able to introduce armies at a day's notice to the very banks of the Rhine ; and the progress of events is making this state of the Prussian Government too serious a danger for the Allies to continhe. We require some real guarantee from King Frederick William's Government ; and it would seem that the Allies must take the guarantee for themselves. " Volenti non fit injuria " : if Prussia volunteers to play the part of the women and children whom barbarians have sometimes placed in the front of besieged walls to keep back the enemy, it is her fault, and she has no right to complain if the punish- ment turn upon herself. The rights of neutrals will of course be respected by the Allies; but it becomes absolutely necessary to get at Russia in order to restrain her; and the necessities of war might compel the Allied armies to extend their operations quite round the European boundaries of Russia, without any distinc- tion or exception. Prussia is braving an accumulation of danger which may be very critical for her future, but may release our Cabinet from the embarrassments arising out of this transit-trade.
