The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-08

were injured in that service Bat thnk above and he
yond all that, there obligation resting upon us which
demands mat we shall continue these pensions until we
can see in figures. precisely he way ia which the fund
has been distributed; because, il il were fund taken
from what belonged TO those capos certain period OF
tme and under provision OF law that il was to consti.
tue fund out OF which the interest was 10 be paid 10
these nvads then, have disbursed il in any other
way we have treated these individuals differently from
what was the actual agreement under The provision OF
aw In either OF these views, think the BILL in this
respect should stand precisely came from The House
Mr. PEARCE. Mr.; Presidents we have no knowledge
OF any waste Of this fund by the government. never
heard OF It's being invested in any funds which have been
os II has been exhausted just other funds have been
Mr. HAMLlN. How exhausted,
Mr, fEAhCE. l suppose the senator lmagnes that
The original law provided that only the interest Of the
sions II that is what he means he is mistaken have
The law before me- Il provides The moneys arising
lheIefom"7tha is two per cent of the salvage OF re-
captures, and OF the prizes for captu shall be held
and hereby pledged by the government OF the United
Slales as fund for the support and maintenance OF the
widows and orphans of such persons as may be slain
anc Tor the support and maintenance of such persons
may be wounded and disabled board OF the private
armed vessels OF the United Sates &c.; that is, the
whole fund was pledged, and not merely the interest
have 10 doubt that the interest sufficient to pay
he pensions but that they paid out OF the prnc
pal Unquesdonably the fund could not have been ex
haus,ed except in that way We know very well that
the navy pension fund was exhausted in that way
and so was the privaieer pension fund If the gov
eminent is responsible for the consumption Of the fund
PN'ioioAS
ed under the law, 1t IS one thing; but there is no
evidence, and do not believe any evidence can be pro.
dueet TO show that there has been loss OF the fund by
bad Investments. or wasting of it by any improper USE
think II has been consumed by it's useby the applica-
ton OF it to the purposes for which il pledged do
not mean TO contest this matter at ALL leave il TO the
sense OF the Senate say whether proper that these
pensions should be paid out of the treasury or not but
wish 1t to be understood that the Committee Finance
have made this recommendation pursuance of their
duty, which IS to recommend appropriations according
existing laws.
Mr. HAMLIN, did not understand that The original
law provided that no more than the interest should be
paid; bas what stated this that the facts the de-
parment would show that not equal to the interest
had been paid; and that be true want TO know where
Mr.. PEARCE think the reverse will be shown by
reference to the documents.
MIR. BAfARD Mr.. President, if il can be established
that the government has moneys in its hands belonging
the prvateer pension fund which il ought Justly pay
have no doubt the amendment OF the Committee on Fl
nance ought 10 be Elected. Whatever we are properly
responsible for TO that fund ought be distributed for
the payment OF these pensions. cannot however. bring
myself to support the opinions the doctrines asserted
by my honorable iIiend from Mary land Mr. PRATT in
reference 10 The pfivaeer system. do mean to deny
that during our last with Great BIiian there were
gallant actions performed by privateers but think the
general sentiment OF the country against it, and should
certainly be unwilling TO place The prvaeers on footing
with the regular forces OF the country, regards either
The honor character OF the nation or the lusle which
was thrown upon that character by the deeds Of sea-
men.
Sir, The principle Of prvaeerng is founded in public
pundef and private punuer. IL Is false principle
Piled to commercial nation, such the United States
one which our ss s hf sa f fSg4an
by The insertion OF such provisions in our rea-
ties with other nations would prevent il in future
Wh- is the prncpe--what is the object OF pnvaeerng,
but 10 take opt OF the hands OF the conduct
of the war, and give TO individuals who choose 10 fl
privaiseTs for greedy gain the right
their fellow men, Tor private purposes and pnsae plum
der aonel That j. the only basis on which the system
Of pTva,eeung stands think, II you take the general
opinion Of educated men n reference to The policy Of
tons WHO desire 10 ameorate the horrors 81 you
will find that they will demand that the system OF puys-
teeTng should be altogether abandoned Most certainly,
in highly commercial natlon such as toe American
ton is, il is practice which ought not 10 be coune
nanced II we were TO regard interest alone.
! There is no gentleman here who does not know that
has ever yet occurred, u which prlvateerlng has
been extensively carried on, where II has not ended in
piracy. Sir, llne OF Discrimination between the two is
very slight The man who, under private Authority rom
the government out io The purpose OF plundefng,
for private benei, the individual property OF individual
citizens OF the enemy will hardly the result produce
moral effect than the man who goes out for the
purpose OF priyae plunder without the authority OF the
government My own convictions on this subject ae so
strong, and strongly satisfied as 20 the impro-
pely OF the system Of priyaeerng as connected with
any principle OF humanity. and OF the impolcy OF a
commercial nation like the United States, recognising
the right OF prlyaeerng during the existence OF public
hostes, that shall never vote Tor placing those who
have gone into the pryaleering system upon the same
footing with those who have enlisted IN the regular
service.
Again, there another objection to the system Of ph.
watering During the war, lndlvlduas, under The nope
OF gain. h out prvateers, and they give exorbant
amount to the seamen whom they thus engage they thus
prevent the regular navy from being furnished with sea-
men and cripple the government in the prosecution OF
public war while that system obtains.
have recently-l hink IN the papers OF to-day
that proposition has been presented TO the Parliament OF
Great Britain that Great Britain and France shall declare
pnvateeng be piracy under the laws OF nations, and
that they shall hang any seamen or officers caught on
board a Russian privaeer IN the event OF with
| Russia Sir, that is advancing the laws OF nations in
raIher mapuer-I believe without al Te-
vous treaty 1t certainly is changing them but is
change which consider desirable and which am
the policy oil this country, the laws o humanity and
ersl morals require in reference TO future though
admit the change must be made by treaty by the
common consent of nations Everything tending to DIS
counenanee the system OF prvaeerng will always meet
nv approbalon and shall always endeavor TO sustain
any principle which wlll have that elect cannot,
therefore, consent matter how gallant may have been
the men who fought on board prvsteers 10 place them
on the footing with the officers IN your regular
navy engaged in the public service OF the country, and
performing that service with view TO the honor and
character OF the country | cannot put the men IN your
navy in the same condition with those who were in the
employment of private individuals, whose great object
private plunder from the citizens ot the public enc
my, with a view to their own gain. There ~ an essen
opposition 10 the principle of privaleerng is strong,
and my conviction of the impocy OF great commercial
nation recognising the principle IN any mode strong,
that cannot bring myself to vote for any provision which
shall tend TO sanction H.
Enferlaining these views as to the whole sysiem, be-
leylng would be wise for this government, If il
could by treaty by the consent OF nations to
abandon completely for ali future time. am unwilling
TO recognise the proprety Of the system in past time
al