The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09
WHOLE NO. 425.


barous ages, when piracy was boast, and rob.
berry on the high seas was considered most
honorable occupation. Among the Greeks il
was an honor 10 be successfully engaged in rob-
berries at sea. As late as the ninth century
Boucher says" All mariners were SET of rob
bers" Dr. Franklin described prvateering in
war, as "a remnant OF the ancient piracy y
and, IN letter TO Mr.. Oswald, thus alludes to il,
and the evils of IT, IF rapine is abolished, one
Oh the announcements 10 war is taken away,
and peace, therefore, more likely TO continue. and
be lasting. The practice Of robbing merchants
on the high seas, remnant Of The ancient pi-
rdcy, though II may be accidentally beneficial
to particular PERSONS is far from being profitable
to all engaged in it, 10 the nation that author
lies II. In the beginning Of war, some rich
ships, not on their guard are surpTized and taken
This encourages the first adventurer to fit out
more armed vessels, and many others 10 do the
same. But the enemy, at the same time, be-
come more careful arm their merchant ships
better, and render them not so easy TO be taken
they go also more under the protection of convoys
Thus, while the privateers to take them are null
uplied, the vessels subject TO be taken, and the
chances of profit are diminished, so that many
cruises are made wherein the expenses average
the gains and, as is the case in other lotteries,
are aays g2s pWzes the
lifting out all the privateers, during war, being
much greater that the whole amount of goods
taken. Then, there is the national loss of all
the labor OF so many men during the time they
have been employed in robbng-who, besides
spending what they get, in riot, drunkenness and
debauchery, lose their habits of industry, are
rarely fit for any sober business after peace, and
serve only TO increase the number Of highway
men and housebreakers, Even the undertakes,
who have been fortunate, are, by sudden wealth,
~ he hah If ,yhi oh
continues when the means of supporting il
cease, and finally ruins them-a just punishment
for their having wantonly and unfeelingly ruin
ed many honest, innocent traders and families,
whose subsistence was obtained in serving the
common interests of mankind"
9. Ii is cowardly," observes French writer
8 for It's object is TO attack the unarmed Itls
odious, for it has no other principle than a base
set-interest II is barbarous, for the flying mer-
chairman is compelled TO submit, by murderous
Martens thus expresses his opinion Of it
" Indifferent to the fate of the war, and often of
his country, the privateersman has no other in
ducement but the love of gan--no other recon-
pense but his captures and the prizes conferred
by the State on his privileged piracies To en-
courage individuals 10 fit out privateers at con
siderable expense, II is necessary TO present them
the allrrements of rich booty; and by prescrib-
ing them moderation which they are fully de-
termlned not to observe, it is necessary not to
intmidate them, by imposing on them too many
restrictions
Nor ought the testimony given on this subject
by the excellent Clarendon, to be overlooked
When, in 1864 great inducements were held
out by Charles II to his subjects, for fitting out
privateers against the Dutch, that wise Chan
cellor thus testifies to the evils which they carry
with them-slt was resolved that all possible
should be given to prvatecrs
that is, TO as many as would take commissions
from the Admiral, to send out resseis-0fpa as
they call them, TO take prizes from the enemy;
which no articles or Obligations can restrain from
all the villainy they can act and are people,
how countenanced soever, or thought necessary,
that do bring an unavoidable scandal, and, il is
to be feared, curse upol the justest war that
was ever made at sea. Besides the horrible
scandal and clamor that this class of men brought
upon the King and the whole government for
defeat of justice, the prejudice which resulted
from thence to the public, and to the carrying
on the service, is unspeakable All $eamen run
TO them. And though the King now assigned
an ample share of all the prizes taken by his
own ships, to the seamen, over and above their
wages, yet there was great difference between
the condition of the one and the other. In the
sure of blows ;--nothing could be got there with
out fighting. With the privateers there was
rarely fighting. They took all who could make
little resistance, and fed from all who were TOO
strong for them. And so these fellows were al
ways well-manned, ichen the Kings ships irere
compelled TO stay many days for he rant Of
men, arho mere raised by pressing, and ariM
great di6fcnhy"
Similar would be the effects upon the Amerl-
ran Navy of this species of warfare at this time.
The well-known enterprise of our citizens, and
their fondness for privateering,s would cause
hundreds of their ships, interrupted in com
nerce, 10 be fitted out as private armed cruisers.
The inducements held out by these would en-
lice seamen away from the ships Of the Navy,
IS Clarendon informs us they did from the Kings
ships and as we know was the case in the war OF
lSl2-'l1. Each vessel acting separately and
of the rest would enfeeble, in
stead of strengthen, the maritime resources of
he country. During our last war Commodore
Stewart thus wrote 10 Committee of Congress:
MANY (seamen) are in private EARNED ships and
Drivateers, owing to the ercinsire advantages
giren them orer the Nary BY this means,
he glory and maritime reputation OF the nation
IS made to yield to the inglorious warfare Of
Dlunder, which deeply affects some individuals Ct
he enemy, but makes only small impression
upon the nation at large" Now, by training
officers in the school-ship, after the manner pro
posed, for the merchant service, the power and
The means would be conferred upon the govern
ment Of investing these same vessels with
more noble character BY putting them under
he command of its own officers, they would
constitute an important part of the great nation
al marine and by acting in concert with the
regular Naval forces, they would serve nightly
to strengthen our means of offence as well as of
defence.
But there are higher considerations than those
Of mere State policy, which urge TO the aban-
Comment of this species of warfare. Justice,
and religion, are opposed % and con
denim il. For centuries back, up 10 our own
day, good men from the chair of State, the
cloister and the bench have been heard from