The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-11

lake the precautions requisite to guard against
slch evils. On the other hand, privateers are
necessary weapon Of defence for such nations as
do not maintain large armies and navies. To
that class of nations the United States will ever
belong. They consider" says Mr.. Marcy very
justly that powerful nayies and large standing
armies, as permanent establishments, are detri-
mental to national prosperity and dangerous to
civil liberty Therefore they will not maintain
them and therefore they cannot divest them
selves OF the only arm which can be substituted
for theni-volunteer forces, whether naval or
military. We're they to do so, and to bind
themselves not to resort to privateering in the
event Of war, il might, 1t would, happen that
their antagonist--Great Britain, for instance
would employ portion Of her navy in keeping
our national vessels in port, while her other
fleets would sweep our merchant vessels from the
face Of the sea. BY adhering to the system Of
priyateering on the other hand, the United
States would be enabled to inflict ON the enemy s
trade as much injury as their own would suffer,
and would thus counterbalance the advantage
possessed by their antagonist in the shape of a
powerful national navy.
With such cogent reasoning does the Secre-
tary overthrow the argument of the Paris dplo-
matists. But he does not stop here. The effect,
he argues, Of a general Remuneration of the
right Of privateering by all the Powers would
be TO secure to one or two Powers-but probably
to one only-the potential sovereignty of the
seas Ii, for instance, privateering be universally
abolished, Great Britain, with her preponderating
navy, would be enabled to crush out all maritime
effort on the part Of weaker nations, and the old
song about Britannia ruling the waves would be
come a literal fact. Mr. Marcy argues with great
force that this consummation would be dangerous
if not fatal to the independence Of all the smaller
nations Of the world. To Illustrate his line of
reasoning by somewhat homely smile, his posi-
ton is that for England to propose to her weaker
neighbors to forego the use Of privateers, is as
the mastis were to propose to the cats that in all
future fights il would be unfair to use claws, and
only lawful TO combat with the teeth.
No answer 10 these reasons can, we appre-
bend, be made. Theory and practice alike refute
the doctrine sought to be imposed on the world
by the Paris Conference and it viii task the in
genuity of the statesmen who composed that body
to frame decent excuse for the boldness of their
proposal. When the despatch is transferred from
our columns to those Of the European press, these
gentlemen will probably find themselves the OBJ
iect of sharp criticism, even at home.
As Count Walewski prevailed upon the
Congress to make the four propositions en-
bodied in the Declaration indivisiblc, the
LIZ. tfpfs thn
two which they approve, and Of which they were
in fact the original authors The President is
forced therefore to reject the whole, as the De-
claration is only offered for his sanction in its
entirety. But he is prepared to acquiesce in the
whole, If the proposition relative TO privateers is
% amended as 10 exempt from -eizure by pub
lie armed vessels Of belligerents the private pro-
perry Of the subjects or citizens of a bclligerent
on the high seas That is to say, II the seven
Powers will agree not to seize merchant vessels
belonging 10 belligerents on the high seas, the
necessity e. r.:~~t.ss- In sv.~.s-an, nnd tho
United States will iorc2o Them. This proposal is
partly based on the theoretical doctrine which
Mr.. Marcy seems TO consider completely estab-
lished that private property on land i exempt
from seizure or injury by foreign armies in time
Of war. We arc aware that generals are fire.
quently blamed when they allow their troops to
consume or destroy private property: hut we
have never heard that the dread OF such eensure
was % strong as 10 prevent injuries TO the pro-
perry Of individuals. The citizens Of Kerich will
be surprised to learn that modern international
law reprehends Sir George Browns wholesale de-
yasiaiion OF their city aud the ucighborhood; and
the allied sdmirals viii feel equal establishment at
the quiet allusion to doctrine which stamps the
commandment Of Odessa ~ on act OF piracy. How
ever no doubt the theory i as Mr.. Marcy states II;
and some day perhaps when We are all better boy,
Il will BE- carried out 10 practice In that event,
there would seem 10 H. no good reason Why the
same system should not obtain on sca aud on
land n a private house j. exempt from spoia-
tiou, why not a private hip " Il b. ROBBERY
10 pillsge farm. NLa, must II " h. scze .
packet? No possible distinction, IN point - prin.
cipe could be drawn between the two
" the President amcndmca, 10 the Declare.
ton BE- adopted hs Tie European Powers an ca.
Tire revolution will ~ effected In the practice OF
warfare. Whom II J. universally Understood tial
private property. l-a'h en- sca aud go land /. in
yiolabc. war will ~ very different thing from
what we have Ecu and read of ia history In
yasions viii W impossible. n an army cannot
invade a territory without, ~ciking private dwell.
ings aud laying waste farm; and blockade will
h. out the question. for they canned h. enforced
without damaging merchant ship. Trade VIII
20 on as usual Nothing in isct viz be- changed
except in the naval and var departments. War
viii be o sort If ducl carried On by hired gladia.
tofs on both sides with The people Of 10th na-
tons looking on a. spectators ~ this view. il
would really not b. % bad thing a. safety
valve to LET of the -uperaucu- puguscity ~ ma.
tions from time to time
But such an arrangement would - too glorious
= victory or humanity over the animal instincts
for rs 10 hope that the Powers 1T Europe will