Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23

P. :t4' P o'iTciy useless to them of en- 80 The
privateers upon condition that weaker no VI employing
part with their most effective means Of r.
maritime rights. 1t is, in the opinion ~ n their
ment, to be seriously apprehended that Is govern
vateers be abandoned, the dominion ovo ~ use Of pf
be surrendered to those powers which ado e seas will
and have the means OF keeping up large nave we policy
which has decided naval superiority wonIJ One
tiay Tue mistress OF the ocean, and by the aho. oen
prlvaeerlng, that domination would be oCtlOn Of
cured. Such power engaged in war viz nfmIy Sc
inferior In naval strength, would have notbin laioD
the security and protection of its Commerce 70 Do for
after the ships OF the regular navy of ts U block
might be held in check by one-balf, Or oes Ivy These
force, and the other might sweep the VI us naval
enemy from the ocean Nor would the ;nr Of i
of vast naval superiority to weaker Sfato ELECTS
diminished if that superiority was sharrd w" De much
or four great powers. 1t is unquestionahI ~ three
of such weaker States to discountenanca n Interest
measure which fosters the growth of regnlar resist
Establishments. 0"' naval es.
In discussing the effect Of the proposed mo,..
abolition of privateering-a reference to h aSOte-e
condition of nations is almost unavoidable Az Existing
will at present itself in regard to two INSTANCE
the commerce of each is about equal and abont Where
widespread over the world As commero;ai equally
they approach to equality, but as naval no" powers
is great disparity between them. The rppnIo There
one vastly exceeds that of the other In Case navy
between them, only an inconsderabe part If W war
of the would be required to prevent that Of W navy
from being used for defence or aggression wb ue Ole
maiudcr would be devoted to the unembarrao,. Tue Re
poyment of destroying the commerce of tho ooI el,
naval strength The fatal consequences of This AeI
inequality of naval force between two such boM great
would be in part remeded by the use of r8eel
tibet case, while either might assail the commnroo
other in every sea, they would be obliged to dstst
and employ their respective navieS in the work f "uV
lection. This statement only illustrates what vOn
the case, with some modification, in ey,rv wa "OuG
there may be considerable disparity 10 the naval st, "
of the belligerents. o~
History throws much light upon this opesio,
France, at an early period, was without navv aoI
her wars with Great Britain and Spain both tbo Nu
powers she resorted with signal good effect to nra lava
ing, not only for protection but successful apgrpsn
She obtained many privateers from Holland, and hv3
force gained decided advantages on the ocean cv L
enemy. Whilst in that condition, France cmn S.T
have been expected to originate or concur in rrno
ton to abolish privateering. The condition Of man.
of the smaller States of the world is now, in ,I
ton to naval powers, not much unlike that of Franc
the middle of the sixteenth century. At later neT5
during the reign of Louis the Fourteenth several p
ditons we're fitted out by him, composed wholly Of \.
vateers, which were most effectively employed in ms
cutting bostities with naval powers.
Those who may have at any time control On i,
ocean will be strongly tempted to regulate its use M
manner to subserve their own interests and amhtnm
projects. The ocean is the common property Of 0Dna
tions, and instead of yielding to measure which vh
likely to secure to few-possibly to one-au as,rl
ancy over it, each should pertnaciously retain al Il
means it possesses to defend the common heritage
predominant power upon the ocean is more menacDgn
the we-being of others than such power on land and
all are alike interested in resisting measure Calculate
to facilitate the permanent establishment Of such an
nation, whether to be welded by one power or shaa
among few others.
The injuries likely to result from surrenderpg III
dominion of the to one or few nations which hr
powerful navies, arise mainly from the practice Of 50,
ecting private property the to seizure by b.
gerents. Justice and humanity demand that this p2
tice should be abandoned and that the rule in rea-
to such property on land should be extended iVa
found upon the high seas.
The President therefore, proposes to add to The fBt
proposition in the declaration " of the Congress
Paris, the following words And that the piylHE2
perty of the subjects or citizens of belgeren on M
high seas shall be exempted from seizure by pubcand
vessels of the other beigerent, except it be conbD
Thus amended the Government of the United Stats
will adopt it, together with the other three prIGP&
contained in that declaration"
[ am directed to communicate the approval Ofta
President to the second, third and fourth prOpGDG
independently of the first, should the amendment be
+ acceptable. The amendment is commended by sOmGy
for it has so long had the emphatic sanction all
lightened nations in military operations on land La.
u the President is reluctant to believe it will meet With
: any serious opposition. Without the proposed mNl
cation of the first principle, be cannot cOnVce hns
that it would be wise or safe to change the existing Law
y in regard to the right of privateering.
L If the amendment should not be adopted II VIII Dc
proper for the United States to have some undSanl
in regard to the treatment of their prvateerS when a
ohon hoy To tbp
g which are or may become parties to the decaIauA"
. the Congress at Paris. The United States WILL q~
the ground of right and comfy, claim for them tea
consideration to which they entitled and Wlca
u extended to them under the law of nations, before
g attempted modification of it by that Congress
d AS connected with the subject herein d8cusl ~
~ not inappropriate TO remark, that due regard ~
= fair claims of neutrals would seem to require sOn Wy
Il ifcation, if not an abandonment of the docrDe t
ton to contraband trade. Nations which PFSaG
III relations of peace should not be injurOusly alN|a
he Their commercial intercourse by those which cuyS
Sc involve themselves in war; provided the cIz1ns
1t peaceful nations do not compromise Their chaEau
s. neutras by direct interference with the militia!
r ations of the begerents. The laws OF siege a a
Or ade, it is believed, afford all the remedies agans TINS
that the parties to the war can justly caI t,tsl
re laws interdict all trade with the beseged or OO
E. places. A further interference with the odD1!
ii suits OF neutras, in no wise to blame lo az c4ta
a. state of hostities is contrary to the obvious o3
v. Justice. If this view of the subject could W L
and practically observed by all civilized na'ou nob @
ne of search, which has been the source OF SO nu.
ne ance and of so many injuries to neutral cop
re be restricted to such cases only as juSned s
IN an attempt to trade with places actually III .
r. siege or blockade. .,omffs
to Humanity and justice demand that the c .ha E
ne cident to war should be strictly limited 10 ;L ts G
IS, ents themselves and to those who voluntary b r
al with them but neuras absaining ID goG Io nl
ly such completely ought to be left to pursue f
ir trade with either belligerent without re''t'"'
r. pect to the articles entering into It, an enr
Sc Though the United States do not propO'tt otbsr
ID rass the other pending negotiations relative i've law
It. of neutrals, by pressing this change 10 I their SAM
at traband, they will be ready to give ro,, 'bL rec
D. whenever there is a prospect of It's lH'0'1''
ch by other maritime powers. az .s;s orportuDr
s. The under signed avas himself Of lDn n URpe
be renew to the Count de Sartiges tG 1s, MARC
ce high consideration. 20
ce The Count DE SARTIGEs, &c, &C" Wv
be .The scotch Boys" rdns|
ch Company of Richmond County, :.
ICTYo ualOT