Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-09-08
X &c III MOND WHIG.


FROM fhs London Tine, Aug 2l
Inc 'sst act OF The late Conference at Pas "a. xrss,
''" >" 'ne ian OF nations II forbidden to hope
ior the speedy sfvs OF the tine when war, shall h 10
more tAere is at least the consolation that
~ e.eh succeeding century conducted ia more human.
and generous spirit. In this respect the nr.sn, =,
g ia detractors to be wanting in hghbrc cop,.., an,
e"'a'' SHOWS brightly in comparison with those old
s "heh the warrior was most romantic and poli.hed
No' 10 men'io" the vars Of the mdd. ages when Pr;u
ce the mirrors OF kng ghthood hanged and burn.d ,h.
prisoners without mercy, may think with .at,c,on
''.' 'ne oeeds oi "aensien aud Tily, Of Louis xiv
no even o. generals ss late the American war are now
Po-sehy- All plandering Of enemy's coun-
w no- asosded as much a. possible by commando
sho has the honor of his county at heart Ever th
nio measures the laws of allow the case of tovn
taken oy storm would hardly be nut in nr.ctc. n ~
Hses could oy any means restrain iurate and trum
phant soidery But unhappiy this nilder code has NOT
yst o'en extended TO maritime wahafe Ii ID evideut
tat mora, no difference exists between the pIupder d
Phvste goods in house and in shin Al sea n ar. f..
mer or tadesman has right 10 possess his own ne.c
e'en rhen the province he hhabits IL occupied ty
sodhry hostile to his Sovereign il l.. sursIx ,..
sonahie that the same property when in co.-.. Of
transport for sale should be sacred fo,, ,,a
sisy cruisers. But the fact is that the laws Of war
we're made in and for other than these In m 49,
there have been homesteads and workshops the nrnr,
OF the poor tor which both medieval priest and mad
et pound to demand protection but the freigh-
u eh merchantmen were condered TO belong TO veal
ht, and TO some extent, q governing class who had No
claim to the forbearance Of the hostile state Nv h
e, commerce Is the natural pursuit OF all classes and
every year sees men of humber means taking .ba, IN
the trade OF the New World, India and AustrsIi, In
~ war "th rance It was customary allow fishermen
tneir occupation in peace while letters of msruue
ISSUED Tor the capture OF every kind of trading
Forty years have refined this morality and tbonI
"" win Russia gave no opportunity for priyateernr
- DC '''e doubt that the issue OF letters of maraue
nave oeen looked upon unworthy of the time ".
I'VE in and IL resorted TO- would have greatly embtted
the struggle. s"'''e'eu
So alter settling the affairs of Turkey Greece the Pra
the BLACK Sea- and the Baltic-after reyieri,g
he position Of the Pope and the Kin0 NJ Nall. -
fienipotenaries at Paris resolved on DECLARING o,ns
-fai principles for the humanizing ns far a. :,
u'ure hosulues Count Walewski urged that as the
treaty OF WestPhalia established freedom of con.cepc
aud the Congress Of Vienna condemned the slave ,d AZ
ne conferences which closed the Russian war sbonJ Nc,
cone an END without doing something for the cause of
s[Auon Accordingly in the last protocol IL j. decl,r
ed uat pnNateeng Is aud remains abolished tba, tb
nag covers enemys goods that the tnemys fag
"o' conueinn TO forfeiture neutral goods and thai
olockades TO be binding be effective These reso
uos' Nneh agreed to by the contracting Powers were
sent 10 several Governments for acceptance and smopg
'leh 70 the Government Of the Uuned States The an
s~er oil Mr. Marcy, the American Secretary of State %.
Just been published. Ii is written with no small
toiity, and will, doubt command the .,,.D
ton OF European Governments NJ No. -.
out the obvious logical defect the principle
oy the Conference If il be desirable for the sske f In
'n'l private property shall be expected on sea as
on land n must be desirable that its capture by meno
Sar should be prohibited well as by pryateers Tn
European Governments therefore, the Secretary Of
state, have not consistently carried out their owr
e private property is TO be captured il must be bv
any species OF vessels which the begerent States eboo
70 employ Pdvaeers at analogous TO volunteer
evies on land and the United States which have neithe
iags army nor large navy, consent TO limit
themselves TO any description Of force in defending Them
selves comparison Is then made of the naval forces
OF England and America, and IL is added that NOT onv re-
tor her own safety, but sense of what is due
70 the other small naval Powers obges the Republc ~
'eg1Aaon which should debar any State from
making use OF volunteers by well as by land
NO"tlere Is much truth in ths though the Euronean
Governments are not inconsistent as may seem They
certainly have not taken broad view the subject sim
P because one two have possibly dee med that th.
neghbors we're unwilling TO countenance an svsa
ng change No one doubt that country ike En-
=Ahd whose commerce covers every sea would be ead
enough TO hnd the whole world agreeing to resuect mi;
'ae property on board ship But il was not ouite ce-
tam that some OF her neghbors would acouiesce in Soc
rne winch would seem TO give greater advantages TO
Ouon whose supposed monopoly commerce slreadr a.,
cites the envy Of the world Therefore phil.ntbropy
tired to Obtain much possible; and In spite az tb
arguments OF Mr. Marcy, think there is great differ
ehee between the morality OF privateering and the can
ure by ships OF alone No doubt the cantain and -
81 ship Of war 10 encouraged by hnna
pr,.e money; but It must be allowed that officers edu
eaed IN ahlgh sense OF honour and looking for their
IN reputation and good standing With their profes.
sion and the public likely carry out the system
ure ina very different spirit from adventrers united
ony Oy thirst OF gain The Of q Government yes
>el IS subjected discipline its capain il oia
TO furnish strict account Of all his proceedings Very
Inherent - the OF the privsteer crew are gene
rally the most wild and ruthless OF a profession which Is
happy to encourage disregard OF restraint they 90 anv
where aud do anything With little questioning from their
own Government Their responsibility il Iessened bv
their very obscury, and generally il such that nothing
short OF actual atrocities could lower them in the opinion
OF their fellows In fact pdvaeeng too apt to degen
crate into piracy The captain OF such vessel will take
every advantage, without pity remore while an officer
OF the regular navy hardly likely stretch rights 10 the
utmost and ember the contest by cruelty and rapactv
10 tar then the European Powers iustifed In nr
posing the abolition o privateering il they went no
further But nov they asked to 20 further The
American Government accepts their proposition but gen
eraizes the principle. III" saws Mr. Marcy in effect
will abolish altogether the right Of capturing private
property, prvseerng ends a matter Of course but
you retain this right will consent to limit the
exercise of 1t to any class Of vessels" Finally the
American Secretary moves his amendment To the words
Privateerng y and remains abolished" he proposes To
add land the private property OF the subjects or citizens
" Of bellgerent on the high shall be exempted
from seizure by public arned vessels Of the other bel
hgerents except IL be contrabanded Thus for the 6r
time important principle proposed for the adou-
ton Of the civilized world being nothing less than the
extension 20 maritime trade Of absolute immunity fom
acts OF warfare. Ii is question for the family Of
nations whether they vi decide that cargo OF sugar on
the Atlantic is sacred the article when stored
in the warehouses Of captured seaport II Is evident
that IL the proposition Of the United States lie adopted
modern warfare will be entirely revouOnized The sub
ject OF the highest importance, and WILL doubt be
discussed With earneStncss and good faith.