American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-16

MEXICAN PRIvATEERs-Gen .4Lmonte still al
Havana-The War Clause at .Nsp OrleanS.-
AS much apprehension is felt lest Mexican pr-
vateers shall be fitted out at Havana, the fol-
lowing remarks from the Pcayune, in relation
thereto, will be read with interest:
The recently reported sale of the two Mex-
can war steamers gave rise to suspicious that
the transfer of these vessels, at this time, was
mere ruse to get them out of the way Of our
cruisers or to enable them to repair to neutral
port, where they could be fitted out upon pri-
watering service. Recent events Justify these
opinions, and we have reason for thinking that,
when they next appear upon the Gulf, they
will be ugly customers for unarmed merchant
men. We have been informed, also, that AL
monte declared, long before Mexican and Ame-
rican affairs got desperate, that, in case a war
should break out between the two countries,
Havana would be the port from which Mexican
letters of marque would sail. Almonte is now
in Havana. He left Mexico to 90 as Minister
to France, but changed his destination when
he reached Havana. The reasons for this alb
rupt termination of his mission are varousy
given. The impression was that his attach
ment 10 the cause of Santa Anna induced him
cause assigned by those who know him best
was that the former Minister to France Mr..
Caro- had recently died, and he required 9TH
er instructions upon the happening of so I'M
toward an event. To most people it would
seem that Garro's death should hasten him in
his journey, as it left his Government without
a representative in one of the principal courts
of Europe.
Almonte, nevertheless, is still in Cuba, and
it is not violent presumption TO imagine his
business there to be that Of issuing letters of
marque and getting privateers ready for sea.
The circumstances of the case are suspicious,
and it would only be wise precaution in our
fleet to seize the two war steamers reported TO
have been sold, wherever they may be found.
A sufficient fleet, also, ought to be at hand to
repress piratical expeditions against our COM
merce, should they be undertaken by other
than Mexican bottoms. The business Of pri-
Watering is at best equivocal. 1t is allowed
between belligerents by the old writer's upon in
ternational law, on the grounds that any per-
son, citizen of Government at war with an
other, has a right to do as much injury to that
other as possible, as it is IN efectIdong his own
country good by crippling its enemy. But this
principle of the law should not be stretched to
cover every amateur pirate who takes it into
his head to rove the seas under commission
from foreign government. There is no feel
ing of patriotism to consecrate bis robbery. 1t
is as cold-blooded villainy in him to depredate
our commerce under Mexican permit as it
would be to rob under commission from the
viceroy of the Isle of Pines. An EnglsAman, a
Frenchman, or Spaniard, found under Mex.
lean letter of marque, is as much pirate in
morals as though he sailed under a black flag
blazoned with "death's head and bones"
We perceive that the insurance offices of N.
Orleans have added the war clause to their
policies. The war risks are asked upon all
vessels going hence. This shows that the I'M
derwrters, whose business it is to note such
things, deem it quite probable that Euro
pean connoisseurs in the art of plumber are en-
gagged for piratical service. The danger of
capture from the vessels of Mexico would
scarcely put up the rates threefold on vessels
doubling the Capes, and to ten per cent. upon
freight to the Gulf ports of Mexico, besides
general new risks, 1t would be we'll for gov
eminent to take counsel of these Indications,
and for American cruisers now in the Gulf to
keep their guns in readiness, and use them, too,
upon slight provocaton.