The Placer herald., 1861-12-07

nations, the killing of men in mortal strife, is not
only held to be innocent of crime but make the
act virtue and the more scalp-locks the chief
bangles at his belt the greater the hero. The
question Of right in producing the state of war,
has nothing to do with this sentiment, it is a
merit, simply because it has the sanction of or
ganized society-eithe more or less permanent.
From the earliest period of our national exs-
tence-even whilst struggling in the labor pains
of birth -privateering received the sanction of
the American Government and people. The bril-
liant exploits of our volunteer navy, under sane
ton of letters of marque. were only rvalled in
the Revolution and the contest of 1912, by the
daring of the regular navy. So tenacious were
the people in protecting this branch of the sea
army. that all ovcrtures to abolish its use in time
Of hostilties, have been stubborny rejected,
when made by foreign powers.
1t was means of warfare sanctioned by the
usage Of nations-and very efficient one in the
hands of the United States Government. But q
Republican Administration has seen fit to ignore
the policy Of the past and has declared as be-
tween the Government and the people OF the
Southern seeded States that all persons assum-
ing to act as privateers under color OF authority
from the latter shall be held and punished ms
pirates. Acting under this law, privatcersmen
have been captured, tried as pirates, and jury
of Philadephians have declared by their verdict
that they are pirates. The punishment for this
crime is death, and nothing bnt sense Of policy
will save the lives of these men. While this has
been done, Il grave Inconsistency will be no
ticed in the course Of the Administration, in the
fact that they have not. or do not propose. far
as the public is advised, to put upon trial for their
lives, soldiers who have been captured from the
land forces OF the Southern States.
But if the sanction of Government makes this
treatment of captured privateersmen correct.
what shall we say of the action of certain ruffians
in the West? Early in the days of the Kansas
imbroglo one Jim Lane made himself conspicu-
Gus as flctious trlitorous outlaw, acting on the
side of the Abolitonsts. Since the war in Mis-
souri, he has congregated around himself the
most desperate rufiins, armed them from the
arscnals Of the United States, and is now wagng
the most cruel and intolerable war upon the bor-
ders of that State -ravagng the country, saugh-
tcrng the people, and burning their towns and
no commission under the United States, nor is he
recognized as an officer in the service of the Unit
ed States the officers of the regular army. and
the Secretary of War, holding him and his band
in utter horror and detestation.
Now. if the officers and crew of u captured let
ter OF marqnc acting under the authority of
Government, althoufh revolutionary one. are
guilty Of piracy. how much more is this man Laue
guilty OF the most damning crimes known to
the criminal code of all civilized nations. who
perpetrltes these outrages, without the color OF
law from any autohrty of any Government igiti
mate or de facto assuming to be in state Of
war. but out of his own viscious heart. and TO
crafty his own black, malignant nature. The
rules of should be enforced against this ruffan
Consistency. humanity and common dccency de-
mInd it.