The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-09
Y,y,yo.eer,nr. and .se Knights OF Neuuais ana

OF Commerce, mas gust given tue WOTlu 0notneT
proof of it, intelligence and usefulness. 4
meeting, with closed doors, as usual was held
on Thursday, over which Mr.. Pei I'll h PERT
presided, and at which Mr.. Walter r. Jones pro
posed resolutions for the suppression of priya-
teering. The resolutions were put by the chair,
and adopted with enthusiasm 7 he Blowing
were among the number
l. Poselved That in the opinion of this Chamber tho
system 81 on maritime warfare by means of pri
Saeers Is contrary the dictates Of sound morality
consistent IN les spirit with the principles Of justice
humanity and that the time has when it 81 oud
moi be tolerated BY the laws Of civilized nations.
2 Resolved, That the depredations Of priyateesi
private property occasion much Individual dssres
and ruin the hand without any adequate national
benefits On the other: that modern warfare be
red on etecuay without Ies0rting to such OF in
dyduai suffering and private plumber, which fall almost
/ entirely on he Commercial classes.
Resolved, THAT the efforts making in Europe to
extrgush priyaeegng, by arrangements be consum.
mated among The ligiomatsts OF the Ola World, call FOR
the cooperation of The government of the United states
4 Resolved That tie treaty made by the United
states and Eusta in 1855, negotiated by the far seeing
and keen sighted Franklin whereby both governments
bound themselves to issue Commissions 70 priya-
oers dsc!oses tic policy Of that early day, and i wen
4 worthy Of our snpport u this time
4 Resolved, That memorial be prepared and signed
by tho officers Of this Chamber addressed % tho Presi
dert Of the United states asking him - open nesotia-
os with other Powers Tor the suppression o. prYateer-
s. Resolved, That another memorial be prepared by
senHtSes OF tho United states asking them pas such
laws rs ~ n Il cir opinion check and essentially pat
| stcp 10 rriyatcering
We knew that Cheyalier Watson Webb had,
in convivial moment, and when dazzled by
the delights Of ordly hospitalities, been seduced
into pledging the faith Of his country to the
suppression Of priyateering by treaty with
England. The fact was surprising certainly;
but aristocratic smiles and lordly iavors viii
always upset certain class ofminds. We knew
also that the British ministry and a large por-
ton Of the British people had expressed a lively
anxiety on the subject: but that the New York
Chamber of Commerce, composed of leading
merchants, and usually credited with large
share of knowledge and experience should fol-
low their lead in the blrnder is an event for
which we were wholly unprepared. 1t will we
fear, be terrible shock to the nerves of that
venerable body to learn that the system of
privateering" against which it exclaims with
such virtuous Indignation has been suppressed
and held Illegal in these United States for the
last thirty-siX years; and that so far from 1.-THE
time" for its suppression having only snow
come,' it came when it is to be supposed that
the leading members of the Chamber of Com
merce were in the first period of a green old
age. Consolation may be derived from the dis
coyery that the arguments now put forth by
the Chamber of Commerce as original are in
general identical with those urged before the
fifteenth Congress; but We hardly think that
the point at which these mercantile Don Quix-
cites are aiming is as well put in their resou-
tons as in the statutes at large. The act of
April 20, 1918, which we beg to introduce to
the acquaintance of the Chamber Of Commerce.
declares
That if any citizen of the United States SHALL within
the territory and jurisdiction thereof accept receive
commission TO serve foreign prince State, colony dis
trct people, in war; by land by sea- against any
prince State, colony, district people with whom the
United States are at peace the person offending shall
be deemed guilty of high msdemeanor and shall be
fined not more than 50 Coo and shall be Imprisoned not
exceeding three years.
Sec 3.And be it further enacted That If any person
shall within the limit Of the United states At out AID
out ad armed OF shall knowingly be concerned in the
furnishing, Citing out or arming of any ship vessel
with intent that such ship vessel shall be employed
the service of foreign prince State colo
ny district or people, to cruise commit hostitie
against the subjects citizens property of any foreign
prince State &C. with whom the United States are al
peace, shall issue deliver commission within the
territory jurisdiction of the United states
for any ship vessel to the intent that
she may be employed aforesaid, every per-
son so offending sha lie deemed guilty Of high misde
imprisoned not more than three years and every such
shir vessel with the tackle apparel and furniture To-
eether with all material arms ammunition and stores
which may have been procured for tie building Iup
ment thereof shall be forfeited halfto the n'orner
the other half to the use of the United States.
Even these stringent enactments did not OK
haust the zeal of Congress for the suppression
Of privateering. Lest vessels should be fitted
out and armed here, and afterwards converted
into privateers. the following section was
added -
Sec 10 And be It further enacted That the owners and
eonSgnecs Of every armed ship or vessel sailing out Of
the ports IF the United States belonging wholly in
part 10 citizens thereof, shall enter into bond the
United States with sufficient surees, prior to clearing
the same in double the amount Of the value OF tho
sci and tie cargo board including her armament that
the said ship vessel shall be employed by such
10 commit hostiles against the subjects
citizens property of any foreign Prince State Of
any colony. district or people with whom the United
States are at peace.
The collectors Of ports were directed to de-
tain vessels until these bonds had been entered
into and the President was authorized to en-
ploy all the naval and military forces and the
militia to carry the act into effect.
Now, we should like to know from the Cham
Der Of Commerce, what more than this could
Congress do in order to prevent prvateering?
What law could be passed that would do more
than fine and imprison the individuals and con-
fiscate the ships engaged in that line Of bust
ness? We might certainly declare priva-
teering piracy but history shows us that
the spirit Of this act declares it to amount
to that already. President Polk declared
that he would tEeat privatcers during
the Mexoan war as pirates: we hardly think
that our government, with the act of 1918
staring them in the face, could make any seri-
Gus objection if Great Britain or Russia were
to do the same now. In one word, the act of
1878 is all that is wanted. Had the Chamber
Of Commerce and Chevalier Webb known Of its
existence, they would not have made them
selrns ridicilnns the ono hr its rn.nlniionr Tho