The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-04-18

occur commercial prizes instead of being converted
wondbe destroyed; lost to the captured lost the can
tor, md 10 the world. The seventies Of war
would e 'mitigated therefore, by the new rule to the
extentf carrying into maritime captures fire and bloo
in plac of acuteness enterprise and skill But Wby
talk Of mitigating the seventies OF war whilst eyey
government ON the earth encourages inquiries, inyen
tons aid discoveries which shall increase those seventies
and th efficiency OF It's means OF war II mitigation of
the nnner of he the grand object let us carry n
out and propose at To other powers that in case We
hayelhe misfortune Of quarrel shall fight with only
paper pellets instead of the tremendous enginery thai
modem science furnishes. Who does not know that wars
are los frequent of shorter DURATION and the whole
less destructive Of life in consequence of the fomia
bic Utmost miraculous, power OF the weapons now al
command let keep them let us improve them.
let be felt that hazardous and hurul and 80
substitute for great WARS on great occasions which
elevate national character and ehaacterisos constant
petty quarrcs, which would bettle them.
As 10 the declaration considered in the light of A
lmeasre of American policy" The United States
would share course in the evils that the adoption of the
new rule would he calculated to bring TO the rest the
world hut it would furthermore bring to them peculiar
and special mischief. The main military reliance both
at land and sea- of monarchica powers Is in their GOV
eminent establishments in regular armies ON land in
regular navies (if maritime States) by this for
the political reason that the basis of State ruled l.
not ms in country in the individuality and parc
patton in its government, and sclintercst and concern
in all its affairs OF the persons who compose il. With
respect OF the three powers which only could pretend TO
measure strength the with the United States
there are added geographical reasons why, in Of
u war With the United States, they could well forego
the use and provide beforehand for the prohibition Of
volunteers They have not the extended coasts and The
numerous harbois of the United States and consequent
facilities for getting prizes into port. Perhaps more.
over experience would Justify the opinion that any
volunteer force that either of those countries could com
mission for the would not possess In the de-
gree as American scamen and ships the especial good
qualities requisite 10 that service American piyatecrs
have heretofore carried their predatory warfare to the
very of the enemy, and seized prizes from under
his guns and have been able to cope with his YES.
scs-ofwar their supcriors IN size and equipment.
While regular establishments are the policy of mo.
nnrcbca mowers the ro,tecr system whether by land
or sea- essentially the policy and reliance of the Uni
ted States. Great military or naval forces, to be main
tanned i'm peace to be ready for war; every way
repugnant to American ideas and interests and so
declared at the beginning of our history They
way necessary to the purposes of government the
government must rest in the regards of the people and
not in force applied TO them, to exist at ALL
Besides the economical objections Of the ex.
penses that they entail and the withdrawal of great
numbers Of in the prime Of life from productive pur
suits, the American instinct has political objection
against the creation of separate banded classes with their
sympathes Withdrawn from the body OF the Common
wealth. and which may be turned to objects not
with the institutions and liberties of the country
Nor such establishments necessary for the public dc.
fence in case of whatever This is proved by the
history of all the that the country has been engaged
in; and at this time it is apparent than from
the vast increase and gallant spirit OF the interior popul
ton and the facilities which telegraph and railroad afford
for concentrating numbers threatened point Per-
hnps it would not be too much to that at fonights
notice five hundred thousand volunteers, If many
needed could be brought together to defend for example
the city of New York. In the remote and part OF
the Union where reside, and where have not yet the
facilities Of railroads, venture to state that two weeks
delay would bring, in an emergency fifty thousand men,
each with his rifle and blanket to defend the Chs
opile--thc Golden Gates of Hesperia. The United
thpnd 10 lot n 20
the substance threaten the liberties and emasculae the
patriotic and seli-reant spirit Of their citizens.
As little do they permanent naval establishment
beyond what is necessary to maintain the respectable,
and character ct the country in remote parts in peace
and to form nucleus for volunteer navy in OF
Witness the prompt well as efficient action of the vol
untecr marine both in the revolutionary and in the
war OF 1872 Within forty days after the proclamation
OF the Of 1872 hundred private cruisers at
sea- and at least thirty valuable captures made from the
enemy and brought safely into port Under one com.
mander Capt William Nichols, still living, believe, at
Ncwbuy, Connecticut twcnty-eieht prizes were taken
during the war By single vessel ttho schooner Chas.
seur OF Baltmorel the number OF captures were
made and by the America, Of New Haven, twenty mine
Is II not credible that these few that have
toned out of twenty five hundred commercial cap
lures that made, did To incline the enemy to
terms of peace than all the lives that he lost in battle
Moreover this volunteer army Of the exhibited III
repeated instances hcoism, gallantry, and skill not
passed in the respondent actions that brought the
regular navy of country iinperislabe fame |
will ut this time cite but q single example out
OF the hundreds that the official records and author
tic history show. The memorable defence Of the Phi.
vatccr brig General Armstrong, under Captain Reid,
attacked by three ycsscsof-war Of the enemy, in the
neutral port OF Fayal is that ii to me,
American call to mind without feeling both d
pride and shame pride at the galanty, skill and de.
termination shown by his couymcn in the unsurpassed
action shame that the country has not yndicatcd It's
rights in neutral port and that the sufferers by the VIC
laton of those rights after forty years OF pursuit
it, have not yet received and passing TO their graves
without their just indemnity The Is referred TO
here however, for the purpose OF illustrating how the
prirateer service has developed in American sailors tho
very highest qualities both of scamasp and manhood
kindred fact is worthy to he mentioned in this connex
ion: how The service has contributed TO bring out
the architectural ingenuity and skill that have made The
sailing qualities OF Amercan-bult vessels famous.
think il will he the general conclusion ihat the Paris
declaration that .prsatceing is and remains abolished
ought OF itself not 10 be adopted Mr.. Marcy, in his
consideration OF the subject concludes that il nadm
sibl: and the only gentleman Ar W. b. lawrence who
has undertaken 10 yindcatc by anything beyond mere
phrases Mr.. Aar,ys proposition supposes that ut
is not too much 10 say that the naked proposal Of the
Paris Conference has not advocate in the United
States" But il does not follow that the consideration
of the proposal ought TO be dropped except with the
tremcly well worthy OF consideration whether if
change Mt all Is to be made In the laws that govern the
rights OF belligcrcnts the ocean, the naed proposal
of the Paris Conference is not the least hrtul form in
which the modification can be made Whether Mr..
Marcys proposed addition to il would not increase the
mschiefs it is calculated to produce and especially 10 the
interests Of country These points propose to
examine in conneNon with
II Ought the declaration of the Paris Conference with
II 81 r E.-A at