The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-14

I'm PORTIONS OF the state. The policy OF the
South. on the other hand, appears to be I'm
settled, hasty, irregular, The materials at the
command OF the leaders, though fierce and
valiant, are difficult of control and imperfect
in organization. Such at least appears to us to
be the condition of things on both sides; and if
we ere correct as regards the South, it il not
difficult to predict that the conflict will be one
of short duration.
The Morale Of Our Southern RevoIutiou-
airy Dsspotism.
Revolving against the best government On
tie face Of the earth, the Confederate States''
Of the South have placed themselves under a
military despotism of the worst description.
They have surrendered the safeguards of con-
stitutional law, rights of property and indi-
vidual liberty into the hands of Jefferson Davis
and the chiefs Of his Venetian Council, who,
in the name Of Southern rights and Southern
independence, are proceeding to revolutionary
extremities which would disgrace camp of
Tartars.
The Congress OF the Confederate States, in
secret session, (all the legislative atrocities Of
secession Congresses, Conventions and Legis
latures are done in secret SESSION. has, for
example, passed can act recognizing the ex-
istence OF war between the United States and
the Confederate States, and concerning letters
of marque, prizes and prize goods" which
will fully sustain our accusation. In the pre-
amble Of this act the United States are charged
with "acts Of hostility and wanton aggressions
which are plainly intended to overawe, OPP.
press and finally subjugate the people of the
Confederate States" and that, from these acts
''war exists" Was there ever before exhibited
such an example of cool and unblrshing impu
dence? "Acts of hostility" after those South
December last in Selling and apprcpriating to
the uses of this rebellion United States custom
houses, minis, morey, magazines, forts, ships,
navy yards, &c, to tie extent of not less han
one hundred millions Of dollars! "Overawe,
Cypress and subjugate' the people of the
South! Why, they are overawed, op-
pressed and subjugated by the bankrupt
and irresponsible Southern despotism set
up among them; and the object of the
United States government is to release them
from this despotism and to restore them the
liberties, blessings and securities Of the Union,
OF which they have been despoiled
So much for the preamble of the legislative
act in question. The act itself is in keeping
with it. The war, which began practically with
the bombardment Of Fort Sumter, it Is declared
in the first secton shall be prosecuted by
system of piracy against the ships and cargoes
sailing under the flag of the United States, whe-
Their the property Of The government OF of its
citizens. Section 10 provides that "a bounty
shall be paid by the Confederate States of
twenty dollars for each person on board any
armed ship or vessel belonging to the United
States, at the commencement of an engagement,
which shall be burned, sunk or destroyed by
any vessel commissioned as aforesaid, which
shall be of equal or inferior force, the same
bounty to be divided, as in other cases of prize
money; and bounty of twenty-five dollars
shall be paid to The owners, officers and crews
of the private armed vessels, commissioned as
aforesaid for each and every prisoner by them
captured and brought into port
This is the cream of this extraordinary sta
tute. Twenty dollars for each dead man of
the enemy, and twenty-five for each living one
returned with any prize, is somewhat alarming
The expedient, however, is not a new one.
When the first Napoleon was besieging st. Jean
d'Acre, the old Turk in charge of the fortress
sat in the courtyard, and handed out coin
for every Frenchman's head added to the
CHASTITY pile before him. So, too, during the
Chinese opium war, the celestial Brother of the
sun offered reward for the heads of the "red
|, 'nC tna
proportion to their rank, fifty thousand dollars
being the highest prize, and this was offered
for the head Of the commander Of the squadron.
Our Southern Confedcrates exhibit margin
Of humanity in allowing difference Of five
dollars in favor of live Yankee skipper over
q dead one; but when an enemy's life is re
duced to the par value of five dollars, it be-
comes dead expense to keep him when pro
visions are scarce and high.
The proceeds of our ships and goods cap
tured are to be divided among the owners,
officers and crews of the privateers, deducting
thirty. three and a third per cent on the goods
on account of duties, and five per cent in be
half OF the families of the killed and wounded
Confederate cruisers. The spoils are to be di-
vided in any Confederate or in any foreign
port of a friendly Power into which the cap
tured vessel or vessels from the United States
may be taken; but we apprehend that 1t will
be some time before those piratical Con-
fedcrates find friendly port outside Of their
own borders. We presume, however, that,
from the number of applications (three thou
sandy reported for these letters Of marque and
reprisal, and from the desperate necessities
of the Confederates, some of their piratical
cruisers will slip out to sea; and even stray
vessel or two Of this sort, thus getting out, may
do some mischief unless properly provided
for. A coasting squadron Of swift little