Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-09-12
From the London Times.
.o,,,s Ameudment TO the Law Of Nations.

Mr. aa- settling the affairs of Turkey, Greece the
Al.onoI;ties. the Black Sea and the Baltc-atter
Pn1;no the position of the Pope and the King OF
teIGss|fhe Plenipotentiaries at Paris resolved on
Na;nu some general principles tor Inc nnmanlZlng,
dea as nossible, of future hostillties Count Wa.
IS tar 40 rTod that as the treaty of Westphaa es-
eWsAt {peedom of conscience, and the Congress of
taDlon' condemned The slave trade, so the conferen-
i0nb;cb closed The Russian war should not come
ces nnd without doing something for the cause of
piraton. Accordingly, III the last Protocol, it is
G.Iorpd that privateerng is and remains abolished,
hat the neutral flag covers enemy goods mat the
enemy 90 That bockades, 10 be binding, must be eff.
eCive. $500. ,ubo,, orrood % h., .ho ,on,uo.t
povors were sent to several governments for &C.
IaSnance, and among them to the government of the
GTP;tod States The answer of Mr. Marcy, the Amer
Socretarv of ate has Just been published. 1t
S ia item with no small ability. and will no doubt,
DSou,mand the attention of European governments -
,Jr Marcy points out the obvious logical detect IN
~ nrnciple enuncated by the Conference. II II be
JsIabe for the sake of humanity, that private pro-
tv shall be respected on sea as on land, it must
20 josrahle that its capture by men ofwar shouldIbe
Uooob;b;ted as we'll as by privaleers The European
Pnnrrorte therefore, says the Secretary of State
sOro not consistently carried out their own principle
r. ~;yota nronerty is 10 be captured, 1t must be BY
., sraeies Of vessels which the belgerent states
nboose to employ Prvateers at sea are analogous
N Iolrnteer levies on land, and the United States
which have neither large army nor a large navy,
onno, consent TO limit themselves to any descrip-
n If force in defending themselves. A comparison
;s then made of the naval forces OF England and
S,orca and it is added that not only regard for her
.nr sofev but even a sense of what is due to the
tber small naval powers, obliges the republic to op.
oee = regulation which should debar any state from
Iokinp use of volunteers by as well as by land
Now there is much truth in this, though the Euro
roan governments are not SO inconsistent may
seem They certainly have not taken broad view
IF the subject, simply because one Two have pos
s;bIv deemed that their neighbors were as yet unw
ling to countenance any sweeping change. No one
ran doubt that a country like England, whose com
merce covers every sea, would be glad enough to fine
he whole world agreeing to respect private property
m board ship. But it was not quite certain that some
NJ her neighbors would acquiesce in doctrine which
would seem to give greater advantages to a nation
whose supposed monopoly of commerce already eX
cites the envy of the world. Therefore philanthropy
has tried 10 obtain much possible and, in spit
Of the arguments of MIR. Marcy, we think there is
treat difference between the morality of prvateerin}
and the capture by ships of war alone No doub
the captain and crew of ship of war are to SOM
extent encouraged by hope of prize money but
must be allowed that officers educated in high sens
of honor and looking for their reward in reputation
and good standing in their profession and the pub
Ic are likely to carry out the system of capture in
yery different spirit from adventures united on
" by thirst of gain. The crew OF a government
vessel is subjected to severe discipline its captain
s obliged to furnish a strict account of all its pro
ceedings Very different is the case of the privateel
the crew are generally the most wild and ruthles
of profession which is apt TO encourage disregar
of restraint they go anywhere and do anything will
little questioning from their own government. Thei
responsibility is lessened by their very obscurity, an
generally is such that nothing short of actual arocl
lies could lower them in the opinion of their fellows
In fact priVateering is to apt to degenerate into pIra
Cy. The captain of such vessel will take every ad
vantage, without pity or remorse, while an officer
the regular navy is hardly likely to stretch rights
the utmost and embitter the contest by cruelty an
rapaCity.
So far, then, the European Powers were justice
in proposing the abolition of privateering, even
they went no fulther. But now they are asked
90 further The American Government accepts thei
proposition, but generalizes the principle. "If,
says Mr.. Marcy, in effect, "you abolish altogethe
the right of capturing private property, prvateenn
ends as matter of course; but, if you retain thu
right, we will not consent 10 limit the exercise OF
TO any class of vessels" Finally the American SEE
rotary moves his amendment. To the words, " Pr
Watering is and remains abolished,' he proposes
add, and the private property OF the subjects G
citizens of bellgerent on the high seas snail
exempted from seizure by public armed vessels {
the other bellgerent, except it be contraband."
Thus for the first time a most important prInclpl
is proposed for the adoption of the civilized worlc
being nothing less than the extension to martini
trade of absolute immunity from the acts of warfare
1t is question for the family of nations whe!t
er they will decide that cargo of sugar on the A
lantC is sacred the same article when stored l
the warehouse of a captured seaport. 1t is evder
that if the proposition of the United States be adoI
led modern warfare will be entirely revou,ionizet
The subject is of the highest importance, and vii
no doubt, be discussed with earnestness and GOO
faith.