The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-29 00:00:00

The champions of freedom and of civilisation
are setting a memorable example, a glorious
precedent, which we trust will be permanently
recognised. They are showing that although war
may be inevitable, nay, more, though it should
actually have commenced, there is no imperative
necessity for depriving innocent parties of their
privileges, or increasing the inevitable evils of
such a state of affairs. Hence some of the most
flagrant grievances incidental to warfare have, for
the present, been averted—grievances that affect
our own fellow-subjects, our allies, and also all

neutrals.
The abuses most worthy of notice, which have,
"for the present," been avoided, are :-
Ist. The cruel and oppressive system of im-
pressment.
2dly. The atrocious and. utterly indefensible
practioe of privateering.
3dly. The undue obstruction of trade and com-
merce by unnecessary interference with vessels
sailing under a neutral flag.
It is needless to say that the regulations adopted
are merely temporary—that the right, or alleged
right, of the nation has been merely suspended,
not definitively abandoned ; and that we must
patiently await the course of events before we
finally decide on the reform of international law,
to which the regulations alluded to may be re-
garded as the fitting precursors.
The power of impressment, although it may
not be altogether dispensed with, should obviously
be seldom, if ever, resorted to. A nation has, to
a certain extant, a right to the services of
its citizens for the maintenance of its honour
or security. We may call on every person
capable of bearing arms to join the national
standard, and, if necessary, to fight ci l'outrance in
defence of his fatherland. But, it is equally cer-
tain that this should be the last resource, and
that every other means should be exhausted before
we endeavour to enforce compulsory service, unless
it be universal and without exception. Why
should. we make seamen more liable to be de-
prived of their freedom than any other class in
the community ? They may unquestionably be
more efficient than others ; but that is no suffi-
cient reason why the whole burden should be cast
upon their shoulders while others are altogether
exempted. We must, before we become "men-
stealers," try the effect of fair remuneration for
the services which we require. We should
not consider ourselves justified. in seizing
the bullion in the coffers of the Bank, or
the hemp, tallow, bristles, and other Russian pro-
ducts, without paying their fair market value.
Why, then, should we have any better right
to seize on the " thews and sinews" of a certain
body without also paying the fair market value
thereof ? The defence and safety of our " altars
and hearths" are equally incumbent on all, and

each man must contribute thereto, either in purse
or in person. When we offer ample equivalents,
and see that there is an unreasonable holding back
from craven fears or unreasonable cupidity—then,
but not till then, may we resort to violence and
robbery (for impressment savours but too strongly
of both) to supply the exigencies of the public
service. Before we do so, however, we must
hold out greater inducements than are offered by
the mercantile service. We cannot expect to ob-
tain able seamen for 2/. is. 4d. per month, when
the same persons may receive nearly double the
amount from English or American shipowners.
" Impressment," then, is suspended, but not
finally abandoned. We are greatly mistaken,
however, in the character of our mariners, if such
a state of affairs should occur as to render its

resumption imperative or even justifiable.
"Privateering," or legalised "piracy," however,
stands on very different grounds ; and we cannot

imagine any circumstances that could warrant the
resumption of that iniquitous system—a system,
too, of which the expediency is as questionable
as the morality. We have long since ascertained,
beyond the posssbility of doubt, that " privateer-
ing" (at least when carried on, not by the subjects
of the belligerent Powers, but by strangers) is
almost as injurious to the commerce of the nation

granting the "letters of marque" as to their op-
ponents. The ocean brigands—those who engage
merely for the sake of gain, and without any
higher motives—are but seldom troubled with

scruples of any kind. Plunder is their only ob-
ject, and they are but little solicitous as to the

............ ....
mode in which it may be obtained. An English
or a French vessel would afford as rich a booty as
fl, Russian, and, therefore, would be just as wil-