The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-30

For the Union
THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
PRIyATEERING.
At dinner lately given in England to Lord Elgin then
about to return to Canada that distinguished Statesman
the American ambassador to the Court Of ST. James dr
cred speech in which the following passage:
aThe time will arrive when against private properly
the ocean viii be entirely prescribed by all civilized
TONS it has already been upon land and when the GAL
liant commanders Of the naves Of the world will esteem
great disgrace 10 rob peaceful merchant vessel upon
the the general Of army would do 10 PUN
der the private house Of m unoffending citizen
This language win be misunderstood and imply liz
possession Of opinions which, am persuaded he does
entertain if il be not interpreted with reference TO The
occasion on which it was uttered.
war, threatening be Of the most terrible wha
have scourged the world had commenced The rights
and interests of ueutrals engaging the attention
statesmen, and in their due protection no nation is
deeply interested this The British ministry had an.
nounced policy liberal than has heretofore prevailed
which is emnenty consonant with justice and which may
supposed to have been adopted quite much il more
in Difference to the interests and known sentiments Of
country to those of any or indeed, of all Others
1t graceful in our ambassador to make on the ear
lest occasion, public acknowledgment of this welmed
resolution and il less udcious in order 10
firm what declared to be temporary policy liable At
any moment TO be revoked that he should earnest and
emphatic language TO perpetuate it
1t under these circumstances that Mr. Buchanan
used the language in question: and which is therefore
be confined to the subject about which he was then speak
ingnamey punctilious respect to the property Of
trails
But as their expression may be distorted into the sane
ton, by that great man, of and PERM
cious opinion the opinion has been enter
tanned by many able different periods especially
l, to have gained ground in latter years. think
proper that its shallow rc,ensons philanthropy should
be discussed and its anAmeriean character exposed
The doctrines enormously sought 10 be neulottt
l. That there should be private vessels carry
ing private property
D. II such be tolerated privaeers should not he EN-
pIoycd.
As 10 the first propositiouar on private vessels car
rying private property.
There Is resemblance between the cases Of ships
their cagoes and the private house Of unosendiu
citizen
The essential difference between the two consists ia this
that in the destruction Of the private house the enemy
not Disabled II inticts pain the individual wthou
mparing the strength Of the nation The injury sustained
supposed to lie sustained by the public In the loss oc
stoned TO the citizen in the plumber and destruction Of hi
dwelling is too remote and insignificant 10 Justify the
verify Of the act while its inevitable tendency CROWNS
ont OF its apparent wanioune is exaspcrae the pas
sioas Of the beigercn aggvate The horrors Of war and
postpone and render difficult tho restoration peace
It is purs, umirod zeal the infection Of pain without
any prospective benet-condemncd alike by Chlgdang
and policy
Blu, the case entirely different with merchant ships
their cargo 1t is scarcely accurate 70 classify them phi
raie property. They belong intermediate species be
ween public and private property parkng Of the nature
lf both
Their owners are rightly considered, the agents o
The public, exercising temporary control over them re
civng profit for their capital invested IN and labor
pended on Them small in comparison with the benefit thai
'ery large classes of persons Intimately and Tho
whole nation remotely derive from their enterprise
Very large classes Of porsonsai those concerned either
changing by manufacture the form Of the cargo in
cnding it. after manufacture by wholesale or retail 10
cshipping IL and those 10 whom 1t Is reshpped often
colonial dependcncics-are associated with IL and ih'
'ow struck the ship jars interests expanded through an
mpre.
moments consideration OF the ds6psicees. Of prop
ry actively employed in commerce satisfies us that the
commerce Of great nsiion-Creat Britain for example
the sensoam Of people with which every nerve Of The
Commonwealth unies.
This is st more apparent when we remember that the
insurance Of ship and cargo has become universal pac
ice and that their capture Is not loss TO the owner but
the underwater Then the capital of insurance eoma
hes is represented by their stock which divided into
minute shares is ramed into ten thousand families be-
ween All OF whom the loss IL distributed As matter Of
act the only loss the owner susains is the profits on his
overture Insurance only guarantees indemnity and not
ain
In truth insurance Offices are copar,ners in every mari
mr. adrpp f,ro TI.,x .F Az,
cceived for taking The risk As merchant eberks his
aritai and labor in voyage where the probability is be
riI only get indemnity and NOT profits on bis
hrs reduces the chances OF his earning profits and there