The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-11
ABOLITION OF pRIvArEERNG AND OF OCEAN

WAR.
1t viii be remembered that the representatives Of
tho great European Powers assembled at Paris made
time ago certain declarations with reference to
privateering. The governments of Austria, France,
Great Bsitain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey arc
the immediate authors Of these declarations, viz
!. That privateering is and remains abolished.
H. That the neutral flag eouers the cargo Of the enemy
except when it is contraband of
AI. That neutral goods, except contraband of war,
are rot seizsble under the enemies flag.
Nv. That blockades to be obligatory to be ei
fectivs--this is to say, maintained by sufficient
force to shut out the access of the enemies ships
and other vessels in reality.
1t will be seen by memorandum to the EN-
peror,'' translated for the New York Herald which
repablish, that all the States except this govern
mont, Spain, and Mexico have assented to the modf
cations and terms Of the Paris Declaration.
No government on earth has manifested stronger
purpose than the United States not only to mitigate
the horrors of war; but place the nations upon such
basis Of action and under such rules will render
hostiities next to impossible Tho example Of this
republic of maintaining only a skeleton army and
navy force the land hardly sufficient to protect
their frontiers and the 30 limited as scarce
ly to be the equal Of fthrate States should not in
view Of the Paris discussions, be overlooked. 1t
has been the habit of nations to e:gnaze their pow
or by the construction and maintenance of great ma
val squadrons and with the exceptions of Russia
and the United States and perhaps Austria they may
now bo ranked by the extent of their vessels-ofwar
kJofon fada h,x,
acted considering the amount of their commerce and
their long line Of ocean exposure, upon entirely
new basis. The public mind of this country has al
ways been irreconcably hostile to large army and
navy. We have been perfectly advised, in pursuing
the line of policy indicated blythe condition of the pop
ular Judgment of the States in this respect that tho
great governments of Europe have been controlled
by considerations exactly in opposition to US. In
the course we have thought proper to pursue, our
transatlantic brethren must not infer that we have
regarded ourselves in the least degree defence
less. Creeping up to be the superior Of all the
tions except England, and the equal Of the latter
power in active commercial marine, with more and
better qualified seamen, long as Great Britain and
France should rank trading States, were usti-
fed in regarding ourselves armed with destructive
elements sufficient to put them under bonds to keep
the peace with US. This consideration we have al
ways regarded as an admirable substitute, cheaply
maintained, for naval Bquadrons. With q very linn
tied army, We have large population accustomed
to the use of and more or less experienced in
the arts of war. This fact, in connection with the
isolation Of our position and geographical de-
fences, to say nothing Of experience in the field
against the rstpower Of the world we have held as
sufficient protective and aggressive force to meet
every possible demand upon our national resources.
1t 10 now proposed by the great naval powers of
Europe to abolish prvatecring. Such proposition,
without appending other conditions to it, we regard
AZ equivalent to demand upon the American gov
eminent either to withdraw their merchant ships from
the Ocean to increase their naval force so that
shall be upon footing with France and England.
10 such measure cannot be parties. This
government, we understand, have instructed their
representatives charged with the matter to suspend
all negotiation upon the subject till further advised
We have little faith in those humanitarian projects
which have come of late in quick succession from
the Exeter Hall men Of Europe, looking to the adop-
ton Of for the redress of public grevan-
NVS' aAoy may 6uncIdiiy, anu WIFI baiety, DO SGT
down as either Utopian in character or mischievous
in purpose. We discuss the subject as one Of pub
lie interest and with little confidence in the adop-
ton Of any really philanthropic scheme Of practical
value to the people of Europe or America. Every
nation, we take it, has the right to protect it.
self in lawful way. Self-preservaton is princi-
pie necessary and applicable in State as in indi-
vidual cases. Privatecring is sanctioned by the
laws Of nations and a. the people of the United
States possess boundess resources above any other
for that kind Of aggressive warfare and have thought
proper to rely upon it instead of great naval esab
shment. we earthly for asserting TO its
abolition 1t is the militia force Of our people, upon
the high sens our chief reliance in avoidance of war
We can part with it only when such other modifica-
tions of the international code shall have been made
a. to render its exercise by us unnecessary as a
means of keeping the peace. II is manifest in this
view at least 30 far government is concerned
that the right Of privatcerng is rather guarantee Of
peace than an offensive and unjust means of war;
We hold il mp IN terrorem over the great commerce
Of England and France, trusting to it's laws
and to the chances Of capture. In respect to this
principle Of intercourse between the States Of the
world we are perhaps the equals of the European
powers. We are, too, their equals and their supe