The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-10
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
Marcy and the New Maritime Law.
From the journal oes Debats, Oct. u

Mr.. Nsrcy POUNDS one Of his arguments on the en-
ploy made by France OF privateers. The example,
it must be admitted, was not well selected; for II t
is tue that France has, above all other nations,
waged war of priyateers, it 10 equally certain that
the experience she gained thereby formed one OF the
motives which led Der TO propose In the Congress OF
Paris the abolition OF privateers. In the course OF
the last two hundred years we have waged three
great maritime wars-lnder Louis XIV, Louis XVI,
and the Empire. In two OF these wars, which te,-
minated fatally for our navy, we conducted our pfi
Watering, operations with perseverance ana al
energy which allow ns to constitute ourselves sOve
reign judges OF the system. Now, what was
the Iesult Under Louis XIV, as under Napoleon,
we finished by abandoning letters of marque,
for daily experience taught that privateering may
affect the private fortunes OF the subjects OF great
rival maritime power but exercises no real influence
on The dscsion OF the contest. After La Hogae
after Trafalgar, our privaeers almost all terminal
ed their career on the pOntOons. On the contrary
In the successful war under Louis XVI tho exploits
of privateers null and it appears that all the
seanen verc pressed INTO the service Of the vessels
and fleets which offered or accepted a remarkable
number VI gran naval battles. If they were hot all
gained by France, she triumphel in a sufficient
number to entitle her to terminate the war by the
glorious peace of 1853. The American Secretary OF
State may perhaps not be familiar with these cir
cumstances; but II does seem strange TO us that so
enlightened man should appear disinclined TO ad
NIT that The ae OF wars, by OF by Land, depends
the Issue Of pitched battles, and that detailed
tions, in which privaeers alone take part, have
no appreciabe result; that, in word, a serious
war, which leads 10 treaty, Is conducted WIN
regular troops, Nth fleets, and not with priyatesgs
militia. But even in consulting the history 81
his own country, Mr.. Marcy might have seen that
In the War OF independence the Ailtia, com I.and
ed by Washington, Were generally unsuccessful
agalrsc the regular English troops, although the
American volunteers, individually, were very
peii0f, both in courage and morai worth, To the
Hessan or Hanoveran mercenaries who com.
posed The major potion Of the English army. The
zeal success OF the war was due to the regular
giments OF Lafayette and Rochambeau, who ob
famed the capitulation Of Yorktown, which I'D
TO the independence OF the United States He might
likewise have reflected on ibs events OF 49,
whtn the English army, having nearly everywhere
defeated the American militia, marched against
Washington IN O column OF 1900 strong, and
dispeiseo, almost without shot the $4,000 or 900
militia who had been collected TO oppose its passage
and who enjoyed all the advantage Of number and
position. The brilliant action at New Orleans does
not affect this rule; the American demo :racy may
believe TO the contrary but the enlightened men who
direct public affairs ought not to maintain that error
on the contrary, they would employ their efforts
q better manper were they to endeavor TO persuade
their country that militia or prvateers are even OF
less value, now that the organization aud material
Of land and naval forces have obtained Immense
an improvement. The changes which are a. pre-
sent being introduced into naval constructions must
endJw them more than ever with the empire Of thr
seas; and the Power which would be iii advised
enough TO employ privateers against IL would only
waste the elements Of strength H possesses without
any chance of success.