New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-20
From Chambers,s Edinburgh Journal.
Privateers and Privateering.

So far as England and France are concerned,
the present war bids fair to be conducted on
more humane principles, and altogether in o
less savage and vindictive manner, than any
previous great European contest. France as
sumed the initiative, we believe, in refusing let
tiers of Didrgue, or commissions to Drlvateers;
and England has hitherto done the same; nor
is there the least probability that any license
will hereafter be granted to priyateers by the
British Government. Formerly, it was not un-
usual for letters of marque to be granted even
to the subjects Of neutral nations, and fears have
| been expressed that Russia will grant such Ii
censes to American priyateers. We have not
much apprehension on this score, relying secure-
| y as we think, on the honor and policy of the
United States Government to suppress any such
attempts for by Acts Of Congress in 1874 and
| of 1878. privateering was denounced, and the
1 Americans are not q retrograde people IN any
respect But it is certainly to be dreaded that
some of the half-lawless and wholly unprinci-
| pied republics of South America may be in
| cined to avail themselves Of Russian commits
sions to plunder our merchantmen; although IT
they do SO, they will pay dearly for it in the
end 1t is not improbable that Russia herself
| will send forth privateers from such of her
ports as may escape-but short will be their
cruise 7.r..-5zf .J.lss =sa- s1 .#
| <Priyateering is, or was--h we may venture
| to speak of it in the past tense-a mere system
| of piracy, under legal sanction, and proved q
monstrous aggrayation of the evils Of WAT. Not
one spark of patriotism animated the owners
and crews of priyateers. They neither sought
nor desired to meet with the enemy's armed
cruisers, for to them glory was thing Of
naught Their sole object was to make money
by plunder, and to do this with as little fighting
rs possible; but if hard knocks could not be
avoided, we must do them the justice to say
that they did not shrink from the combat, as
many an action fought with gallantry worthy
a better cause bears witness The ofhcers ana
crews were almost invariably desperate men,
| and no private peccadilloes whatever could dis
qualify them for the service, but rather the re-
J verse. The hu1ks the gallows, and the priva-
! teers refused no man. #I
I'll As a general rule, the owners of priyateers
! werenot very honorable nor reputable citizens,
e yet, half century ago, hardly voice was au-
dibly raised in condemnation of their enter
, prises The fitting out Of privateer was sort
Z Of gambling speculation, for the vessel might
| be captured within twenty -four hours after
i leaving port, or she might send home dozen
r valuable prizes in O cruise of as many days
All was lottery, and one of the most exciting
: nature. The captain of prlyateer nad gene
rally some share in the ownership OF the vessel,
e and officers and crew sailed, with distinct
J, agreement as to what per centage each would
i, receive of the booty. Under such system as
!, this, the inevitable consequence was, that prl-
l., yateersmen became demoralized and brutal to
e the last degree. Privateers and pirates were,
4 in fact, almost convertible terms. In many IN
j. stances, if a privateer had not the fortune 10
ar fall in with any of the enemy,s merchantmen
during cruise, he would have little or no com
IN junction in seizing neutral ship, rather than
8 return empty handed, and boldly risked all
ar consequences resulting from the pratlcal act
4 | But the system had yet darker traits, as the
n, following startling statement - anonymous,
iboweyer-- -testifes: SIT must be admitted that
re in more than one fagrant instance, the system
p. was not only brought to bear on English com
an merce by English capital, but even the very
,a parties who sent out the merchant ship, anc
insured her against the kings enemies, sent GU
,s also the priyateer that captured her, ana thu
ed made double gain, from the insurer OF TN
n captive vessel, and by the sale Of her cargo an
he hull as lawful prize. Many French priyatee
pe was owned by Englishmen, and manned by pl
'r ratcal renegades; and some English privateer
we're chartered by Frenchmen for the captnr
NV of their own merchant ships. In the conduc
of such crews, willful cruelty towards their cap
III tves was alone wanting to complete the charac
hi ter of the pirate On either side of the Chan
,,as mel, the day of the merchant ships saing an
~. her course was duly notified to the prlyatee
,eb that did the dirty work of the firm; and thus
f6 nnder the preteSt of honorable warfare, limo
,b cent indiyidu ais were swndled by their fellow
III ceuntrymen and the honor OF nation tarnlshe
mo- for filty lucre'' We have no means OF verifyin
this appalling chai se pues 1auSius ~ o. o.
are have read upon the sunJect, we nave no reaso
to disbeeye it. tlf
pom Priyateers, both French and English, were
will all sizes and rgs-from mere luggers of twent
ng. tons. carrying couple Of four Founders n and
dozen men, to fine full-rigged ships Of soo
rk. 800 tons, heavily armed and manned by cre'
ws, of 200 to 800 men. In word, the latter we
to formidable mem war, and capapie OF e
The changing broadsides with regular kings fri
two ates. Many privateers on both sides Of t
Tere Channel were fitted out at immense cos
!. as nothing was spared to render their equipmel
as nerfect, for the owners well knew that one su
If ccessful cruise might pay for all. The man
ieet of all was to insure swiftness; and
effect this, strength of hull was sacrificed
such degree that some privateers were me
orse shells, that close, we'll directed broadsi
from q man of war would send to the bottom
ang, moment This, however, was by no mea
always the case, as we shall hereafter sho