The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-04

present or auto pated self Interest; but this
se without fear OF contradiction that all the special
pleading Of Mr. Marcy favor priyateerng is directly
ard diameueaiy opposed to the declared and uniform
down 10 the period OF Mr.. Percs's Presidentshp Or
Wheaton, in tbs elements of International Law states
mat ths treaty Negotiated by Franklin between the
United states and Prussia in 1885, by which Il
stipulated that in case Of neither Power should
mission pryateers To depredae upon the com merce
OTHER, furnishes an example worthy O. applause AMI
imitation Franklin, writing at the same time, OBJ
serves 10 ~ time for the sake OF humanity, to
put stop this e. ormty. The United States OF Ameri
ca though better situate. than any European nation 10
make proht by priva eerl e. are, far them lies.
endeavorng TO abol "a The y aoce" France in her last
war against Spain hav deca ed that would grant
commissions TO private r.. pres,oept Monroe in ns
annual message s23) stated This declaration which
appears been faithfully ca re no eject concur.
ring with principles procs lined and che Dy the Uni
ted States from the first Establishment their Indepen-
dence, suggested the hope that the time arrived
invariabe rule in all future maritime wars might
meet the favorable consideration Of the great Eu-
given 10 our Minister'S with France, Russia and
Great Britain, TO make these proposals TO their
respective governments; and, when the friends
OF the human which would result from the abolition
OF private war on the sea- and the great facility by
which might be ccompished-requrng the consent Of
few soveregns-an earnest hope INDUCED these
ventures will meet with an attentive consideration, ami
mated by the spirit in which hey made and that
will ultimately be successful Mr. Adams the Ameri
Secretary OF State, writing in 1924 to Mr.. Rush. the
American Minister at ST. Jamess these remarkable
WOrus - we press no usaVOWR on ner (Eug&Gu) out
We think the present time eminenty auspcious for urging
upon her and upon others which has long been
dear to the hearts and ardent in the ASPIRATIONS Of the
benevolent and the wise an object essentially congenal
10 the true spirit OF Christianity and therefore peculiarly
fitting for the support of nations INTENT in the spirit,
upon the nal and total suppression OF the slave trade
and of soveregns who have given pedee world OF
their determination TO administer imperial dominion upon
the genuine principles OF Christianity. The object TO
which Rllude the abolition Of private war upon the
seao
Feeling bound by the authority of these
great men, and perhaps being afraid directly 10 ignore
the ancient and uniform policy OF his country Mr. Marcy
expresses his willingness 10 abolish prvateerng .rovid
ed that there be added to the first proposition IN he de-
property of the subjects citizens OF behgeren on
the high seas shall be exempted from seizure by public
armed vessels OF the other ents, except be con
trabandn The object of this addition is doubt to
assmiate the rules OF with those which pre-
vail in en- land. In maritime warfare !. is well
known that private property becomes the properly OF the
capturing State or OF ts officers; whist IN war oy land
the private property OF individuals Is Usually respected
and excluded from the subject OF booty. But
private property captured upon land e in very
different condition from thai captured at sea. Ia the
case, the fact Of capture shows that the place
or territory is in the possession successful be
gerent who in position to prevent its transmission to
aid his enemy But in the other private property, not
my would have the whole world at his command, pro-
vided he had the pecunary to carry his usual
commerce, and thus, without impeachment, he would be
enabled obtain resources for the supply OF his armies
and fleets. The principle urged by Mr. Marcy In the
name Of humanity would IN reality amount 70 renne.
ment Of cruelty Wars would become more protracted
and disastrous in their consequences. lavish expendi
ture Of blood would every case be substituted for those
operations on hostile commerce which, no doubt, entail
ruin lyon individuals, but which oftentiDes
efectual means of procuring peace than tue most
paper but he has proposed condition which must be
Impossible until the arrival Of that happy time when
"wAs shall cease In the Garth"
from the london Post, Aug. 22l
II can hardly be Denied even by the most strenuous
upnodcr Of the virtues OF ancient days. by him VINO
laments most bitterly the degenerate chvary OF
81 whfHt
decided improvement that Of former years that its
ends better and more fairly directed than
which government is the strongest in council and in bat;
tie. There use, though there is much mischief, IN
mixing up private warfare with rubhc-in letting slp
the dogs war through all classes Of societyin armng
bodies Of prvateers prey for the ucre OF GAIN the
OF foes The Congress Of Paris did wisely,
ard accordance with the spirit OF the age, when
nounc,d in the frat Of its four decara omitted to
tie Courts OF Europe and to the councils Of America that
the system Of privateefng was abolished
is well known that the government OF the United
states which long since exhibited Medication
enter strongly than has hitherto done ino Euro
pean politics, refused 70 recognise the sound policy o.
TINS declaration, ard the truth OF the motives which
prompted H. and declined 10 surrender the old trad
tona right which declares that possesses OF usipg
the services OF prvaieers whensoever may think fit.
There H. however, one condition on which the United
states ready 10 accept this article That is that the
private properly OF bellgerents should be entirely
speced should be utterly tree IRON assault This oud
mode n ricA ic9ad " ers dtsnTm N, great mari
time Pocsrs Of England and Frame Uhih iootld convert
their tecpnS u gene into shiny pldytsiJs which would
have the effect between them and their opponents
has the Of dneling with pistols between big
and little one. The former sscri1ces his weight and
his strength the sties pques himself the smalness Of
the mark that he offers.
We have already analysed the despatch In which Mr..
Marcy La down the winch the United Sates
round their refusal 10 accede 70 the declaration Of the
Congress except with the modest addition which we have
mentioned Il Is OF course highly elaborate, and. no
doubt. a very ingenious document. II IS tina. u
seems rather strange in pure republican authorw .
take Louis XIV IL guide in priRcipe practice Mac!
mr.. prv wp~p ~ no fhaf
great and absolute parsonage, which would make u ire
mendous uprosr we're they introduced a, Washington.
Mr.. Marcy. however, takes Louis Qraiorze and Mr..
Vain his star and his example the matter Of priva
tceriug and proves from them exceedingly well that
the United States than that which lets loose all tie
ruans that they possess prey upon tucr neighbours
their opponents This may be So but we canno, help
thinking that whatever may be said OF hts authorities
Mr.. Marcys arguments In support Of hs weak
and sided and that the carrying them out will not be
found to answer The authorities refer 10 former state
Of things which is the object OF the civilization OF
present reform aud ameliorate There worse,
more dangerous or more mischevous class than the
privsteers OF our former wars. they would not be
much improved in the present dav, nor would those
OF the United States be much better than their rivals.
Armed eor the sake Of sain-scourng the seas for
pront-these volunteer warriors would doubt. be
.courge and terror 10 the peaceful Industry OF other
Hsngerscn ihe,outkrts OF the contest they
would have effect in deciding Us issue, however much
they might increase horrors The government OF the
United states cannot will net afford 70 keep up large
navy 1, considers the temptation to use il dangerous
and that the act OF maintaining armed force
expensive But Il thinks the system Of prvateering
the very one TO suit t great mercantile marine-tts
formidable body Of well built ships manned BY stout
fellows who would Ike nothing better than making
their own account for their profit.
though they might obiest 10 doing under strict
discipline, and for the good OF their beloved country
We must, for yart regret their refusal ain
10 declaration which prompted solely by the spirit Of
progress and OF advanced civilization Bat they
hardly expect other nations 70 70 far 20 1sarm
themselves in order 10 meet their IN the contra
ry, II differences should unnarpiy arise between them
and any European staten they should the old and
bsrbaious appliances Of war, they must expect to be
esied accordingly Thy mtsi expe % hare If ht
seaport ,o-s held sacred Thy ell b tBsi about her
ears he stronghold q Tvtuiees They hold
the ancient traditions Of battle; they canuot infc them
others and claim to be treated themselves with the
gebteness Of modern civilization. II they persist be-
ing barbarous, they may depend that their reward
will tie rough usage when II Ia needed.
fFrom the London Chronicle Aug 23l
The desach Of Mr. Marcy, in reference to resolu.
tons o the Congress Of Paris the subject o. privaeer
ing, q document Of much greater Importance than
nrs sight appear In perusing IL il impossible not 10
struck with the marked difference which exists be-
tween the tone OF the militant democrats classes in the
United States and that Of the government in the dipo