The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-10
prIvateertng,

WE'D EsDAY MoBNINU...-..............APRIL 10
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PrIvateering.
One of the favorite theories of the Southern
conspirators as to how they hope to sustain
q desperate cause is, that should our Gov
eminent attempt to blockade the Southern
ports, JEFF Davis will issue letters of marque
and reprisal to privateers which will sweep
the commerce of the free States from the
face of the ocean. This theory is rolled IN
der the Secessionist tongue as sweet NOR
sel-it is the tune which is most vigorously
whistled to keep up their courage that 9TH
erwise seems likely to flag. So 6ereely has
the privateering dodge been advocated by
the papers of the Confederate States, that it
has led to a rummaging in the past, on the
part of some of the New York press, who
have been unable to discover that more than
a single privateer-the Saucy Jack, of
Charleston-vas on the ocean from any port
south of Baltimore during the whole of our
last war with Great Britain.
But presuming they have the skill and
energy to fit out privateers grant that they
may intercept and capture some Of our Cali
fornia steamers heavily laden with treasure,
or seize some of orr East Indiamen, loaded
with the wealth of the East what will
they do with their captives They cannot
take their prizes into foreign ports, for the
Confederate flag is recognized by no one OF
the Nations of the Earth-and the valienl
privateers would be regarded as pirates and
pirates only. They couldn't take theiI
prizes into the Confederate ports, for these
would all be blockaded by our navy, who
would intercept the freebooters, and {
dance in the open air upon nothing would
be the ultimate reward OF the bold priva
teersaan. Privateering is delightful enough
when pursued through the sensational pa
ges of a % cent yellow backed novel; bu
privateering with the chances of gettinI
your neck in sling to the edifcation ant
amusement of crew Of man-of-war's mel
presents different aspect. When tn,
chances of swinging from the yard-arm ar
about double those of getting rich, we MAJ
conclude there will be little done in th
reprisal line. AS our market reports expires
1.-THE investments will be small and th
transactions of no particular Importance.
Ofall the silly stuff with which the secession
papers have been quilting their readers sine
the commencement of difficulties, the pres
ent talk about privateers is the most ridicu
lous. With an unprotected coast-line, dotted
with rich rice and cotton plantations, thous
ands of miles in extent, subject to the in
roads Of every fanatical John Brown VIII
may esteem himself specially commissioner
of heaven to liberate the slave, the peopl
of the Cotton States will have about a
much as they can attend to if they take car,
Of homo interests. " Only twelve days afle
the declaration of war against England
Massachusetts had her privateers at sea, an,
in ninety days New York alone had twenty
six, carrying 2l2 guns and 1900 men
Where one was fitted out then, a dozel
could be had now. These ships would la,
every Southern city in ashes, unless defend
ed as Charleston is"
The twaddIe abont sweeping the com
merce OF the free states from the ocean b.
prvateers is only excelled as n specimen 0
buster by the still more ridiculous gascon
ade about marching on Washington ant
selling the federal city.
Until the confederate states succeed il
capturing those 20 men located in For
Sumter they had better stop telegraphing q
to the wonderful things the very wonder
full Jeff. Davis designs accomplishing,