The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-10

Letters of MarQue and Rsprisal.


The Proclamation of President Davis
in reference to granting letters of marque
and reprisal has been very extensively
published by the journals of the North,
and we are now in receipt of some Of
their indignant comments thereon. Epith-
cts without stint are bestowed upon the
President of the Confederate States; pri-
watering is denounced as piracy, and
those who have the temerity to engage in
it, are pleasantly informed that they will,
if taken prisoners, most likely be hung.
Some few of them advise the Northern
Government to retaliate by issuing coun-
tern Proclamation, calling for privateers
to aid the North, but the greater number
oppose this, having all at once been seized
with holy horror of so irregular mode
of warfare as privateering Yet these
men, now SO fluently denunciatory of the
practice OF privateering, are the ones who
during the Presidency of Franklin Pierce,
applauded to the echo the following de-
claration of Mr.. Marcy, the then Secreta-
ry of State: ''The right to resort to pri-
vateers is as clear as the right TO use pub
lie armed ships, and as incontestible as
any other right appertaining to biliger-
ants. The policy of the law has been oc-
cassionally questioned, not, however, by
the best authorities but the law. itself
has been universally admitted, and most
! nations have not hesitated to avail them
selves of D; it is as well sustained by prac-
tice and public opinion as any other TO be
found in the maritime code"
The. argument employed by Secretary
Marcy at that time, and generally adopted
| by the people of the country as sound and
| reasonable, was that this country could
not afford to give up the of employing
privateers in time of war, as. in the event
of hostilities between the United States
and a power possessing a much larger ma
val force, the fatal consequences of an
| inequality in the navy could only be rem
edied by the employment of priyateers.
| IF the reasoning was correct then. and it
| was endorsed by nineteen-twentieths OF
the people we certainly cannot be wrong
in making the application now, while we
are in state of war with the Government
of the North. 1t is true the people ofthe
North, when they gave their assent to the
doctrine that privateering was as lawful as
any other mode of warfare did not a, pre-
hend that it would be resorted to by any
power likely to injure their commerce,
but they now see that in all probability a
few weeks at furthest will find the sea
SWoAAAAiS WIN ifetAfdNNNtSs AAAtlA
commerce will in a short time be pros
trated, and their ships of war will have
enough to do in convoying merchant yes
sells, without. undertaking the blockade d
the Southern ports from Cape Henloder
TO the mouth of the Rio Grande.
In view of the fact that the naval pow
er OF the Northern States is much greater
than that of the Confederate States, it i
not very surprising that they should b,
willing to forego. the privilege of employ
ing privateers, as such an arm of the ser.
vice would be comparatively useless t
them at the present time, but decent re
gard for consistency should prevent North
ern people from denouncing privateerine
as piracy. We know they do not like it
but calling hard names does not help the
matter. No doubt the supporters OF Mr
: Lincoln would be glad to have the Con
federate States Government reconsider It's
decision, and refuses to issue letters o.
J marque, as in that event their commerce
would be left unmolested and they could
then turn the whole naval power Of the
, country upon the South, making an etfori
at least to blockade three thousand miles
of its seacoast. We have no idea that
! thew will be gratifed. As soon as the ne
! | cessarv arrangements are made q large
! number of commissions win be granted
! and then we give our Northern enemies
: fair warning to look out well for the safe
/. ty of their property. The bold and ad
yenturous privateers viii give them nc
! rest until peace is declared, or until theil
! commerce is isentirely driven from the wa
: ters of the ocean.
! Policy would dietate-and we have nC
! : doubt the subject will receive proper at
: tention at the hands of our government
|, that some distinction should be made be
! tween even Northern vessels carrying
! merchandise destined for some Southern
: mort and vessels running to ports in tn,
: North. The law in reference to priyateer
ing will most likely be so framed as to in
fiict the greatest injury upon the com
a merce of our enemy, while at the sam
!. time affording every facility to Souther
/. exporters and importers. 1t is not es
pected that the people of the North Wi
be consulted concerning the provisions {
q this law, and it will not be at all surpri.
n ing if it should prove distasteful to ther
i in some particulars.
a |