Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-16
NUMBER IA
RICHMOND WHIG.
Pro. sts~ de Lo.ds. 7'~s', Nov. rs.


THE PRIvArEERING QUESTION. J,
Nobody can be surprised learn that Mr. CobJ>s h.
accepted without reserve the proposition Of Mr. ,cres.
Marcy with regard to the igh Of bslgerssss Or n Z
well known that that gsaseman we're COR War niuI<r
he would proceed at once 10 distub army 10 .eh.r
our navy TO dsmsntle fortcatons and N di-,o of
our stores at Woo~ch to the dealers in old iron We
too have all along confessed 10 strong leaning IN f,vo
Of Mr. harcys proposal and should be glad ue co.ld
SEQ our way 10 unqualified approval Of uhat on he
face at least, appears To be so fair.
There is no such gain Of time" says Lord Bacon, .as
70 erae often the state Of the question: and NAV there
fore be well to remind readers that st the Copg~s
OF Paris tho Pienpotentiares assembled declared ~. Re-
hall o their respective countries ha Il sbol
shed and that always excepting conraband Of var enc
mys goods in neutral vessels and neutral oods In enc,
mys vessels are exempt from spoaiion Il vas suppos-
ed that when the great European Powers were willing to
mi igate the horrors OF by voluntarily waving their
undoubted rights the whole civilized world would be rca
dy TO give la their adhesion agreement 90 bopora
be IL was found, however, that the United States
hesitated as to the first clause Of the declaration
namely. that which related to the abolition
OF privateering. ouly one condition was NJ.
Marcy willing to accede to this abolition-'that
the private property Of the subjects or citixens OF
belgerents the high sha exempted from Sci
zure by public armed vessels D the other bcecrenf ex
eept be contraband The proposal therefore, Is that
hostile Governments and their forces no private p.rt..
being attacked allowed attack We bav. s-ver.I
times expressed some surprise that American ;ends
have been unable To the difference between the dem
relations OF privateers and Of regular navy War h.
Comes necessarily inhuman when every person l. permit
ted 70 take part In the STRIFE subject to command
unaccustomed 10 discipline under restraint having NO
hope Of superior reward and looking only TO the
IL Is fearful 70 contemplate the exeesses to which r;va
teers far more than regular eombaants are tempted
All this, however Mr.. Marcy has overlooked he insists
upon the right important one bu, he l. willing
to sign IL away the above condiou-hat private ur
periy ON the high whether enemys or in neutral
vessels. be respected Hereupon Mr. Cobdcn takes up
the tale and draws pleasant picture Of the world at
peace and leaving kings aud to settle their
quarrels as best they cansometbng like the prz-Ggh-
ers, who with some Of their friends hire
special train go twenty miles out OF town. seec: some
quiet held and there, ..r .sslI--f
The world forgetting, by the world forgotp
ny AZ each other without fear OF the police and without
thought OF lite For the first time in the history Of the
human race the rights OF individuals are 10 be
There shall be plumber and prize money 10 slim
niae eupdty and to give zest to cruelty; there shall
De lever taxes to sustain great armies and Increase
great navies and In short trade will flourish more and
moro, war will gradually from the earth and the
eace society having done its work. will be dispersed,
even as the Anti-Corn Law League.
All this is very fne and mere matter of theory -
are willing TO pretty far with Mr. Cobden We do not
with him. believe it TO be possible abolish war but il Is
possible to reduce TO the condition Of duel between
respective Government and who would not welcome any
expedent that is likely the unoending peoples
IRON the crimes and miseries Of such fierce arbitra-
ment But evidently If war is to be reduced to the m-
its Of duel the duel be on fair terms IL "a not
air for who has all his life been accustomed 40
snuh ont candles With his pistol poor fellow
who knows not where the trigger is an exchange of
shots il is not fair for who Is perfect fenc,r 10
cross swords with another who pretends TO be nothing
better than good boxer and If close attention be es
en- TO the tendency Of this discussion il will be found that
while the proposal Of Mr. Marcy most specious in theo
~ its practical result be make Hgbt duel ON
unequal terms For let carry the theory to its log
ica consequences.
If to respect private property on the high seas
why not on the coas,why landg 1t Is impossible
to draw line Of distinction that shall have any ground in
The rule be made universal and N 40 "A h
quite apparent to what object tending. We are
tending TO the disarmament Of principal force in the
interest OF the continental Powers and of America We
rely upon our navy and VIC are told to abolish it. and to
light our battles with weakest against the stro
gest Of neighbcrs Il may suit America with her
vast seaboard entirely unprotected may suit the cout
mental States with their immense armies and feeble navcs
70 adopt Mr. Aafcys proposition and among themselves
IL may be quite fair that they should in this fashion,
The question Is willing fight duel on these
terms. Let no ono be surprised the whole civilized
world be against us and in favor Of Mr. Cobdens policy
OF peace All the civilized world win be ganers and We
alone have formidable navy and If we accent the erms
We shah be able only TO dash ships against stone walls
vi this kind oil warfare have had experience enough
IN the late conflict and il is not likely that We shall or
the benefit o our enemies, fght at such dis
advantage The truth IS indeed that carrying this prin
cple OF Mr.. Marcys TO its legitimate conclusions ve
should have 10 the end abolish blockades and there
would be absolutely erection OF
on an enemys coast for the protection Of arsenas or
~ PuPO7c " an army from landing. A
would be useless to attack such ottresses
our heets therefore would become null for cruising on
the high where there is other navy 10 oppose all
being snugly laid up behind impregnablc walls
appears to Us after reconsdefng the subject that in
consenting to respect the psvse property o neutras in
an enemys and the private properly enemy in peu-
tal vessels we have granted all that afford Mr.
Golden argues that the result Of such regulation win be
simply that enemies goods will be transferred 10 neutral
vessels and that shall be losers trade I'm so
arguing, however he goes entirely the assumption that
there Is no blockade OF the enemys coast aud that we
have not navy adequate the protection Of our nercap
tile teet The wish Is father the thought lie shows
tor example, thut If with France We should
have four times the Of property on the sea that
the French merchants have We should therefore be four
times much exposed TO the depredaons Of
cruisers.
What alurng vision fer those who inspire the lucu-
brauons OF the Assbee Nd,iondiei II has not entered
into Mr. Cobdens exceedingly pacific that IL
property atoat would be lour times valuable the
French, u would also In the proportion be better
Pro'ected And the hon. gentleman Is only wrong
MS anticipation OF evil consequences 70 ade from the
declaration Of the Paris Congress- but wrong also in his
tcpatons Of goriou. future the consequence Of Mr.
Mareys proposition. Ithat proposal might tend 10 ale
viae the s OF il would certainly tend 10 diin-
sh the armaments and 10 abolish the wars OF different
countries War, on the contrary would be proclaimed
more frequently than ever because Il would possible
Wsge u on easier terms II n the fear Of destruction
property that continually rcsrains from appealing
the force Of arms and II that restraint Of selfntercst
we're removed why should the nations freely indulge
their puguacy BY resOiting every idle occasion TO
bl0wsg