Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-06-14
ENaLIsH VIEW ot, pR1yATEER1Na.


The argument of Lord Derby in the, recep.
debote in the English House Of Lords accord
Ing to. the o6hstruction Of the Times seems to
be that the North, hy declaring blockade Of
the Southern ports. claims from neutral ma
tions the respect due to its-righ:s MS a belger-
ent power; and therefore that, whatever the
North M chopse to do with the citizens of
the Sons,.- Stptes captured on board thespri-
vnteers fitted out under letters of marque
under Mr. Jefferson Davis. the North has no
right to treat the belligerent rights of the
South ns nulllty. with regard to the subjects
Of countries from whom il claims respect for
its own belligerent rights. The result would
be that the North. by declaring a blockade of
the Southern ports. has bound itself not to ex-
ucute as pirates TIE subjects of neutral S,ates
serving on board such priva' eers. The argu-
nrent is one Of great subtlety and refinement.
and seemed TO receive confirmation from the
arguments of Subsequent subsequent speakers.
1t is cleor that English subjects serving on
board an American '"privateers" are no. pi
rates. though. if TREY choose so 70 act. the
English Government by proclamation, seems
to avow its intention Of leaving them to pi.
rates fate.
The following was the language of Lord
Darby, and in his views, many of his learned
associates concurred:
The Northern States. therefore, must not be
allowed to entertain the opinion-although it
may be right that we should warn British sub.
jects that if they should engage in privat.er.
ing expeditions they will not be entitled to
claim the protection of their Government-that
they are at liberty so to strain the law as to
convert privnteering into piracy and visit it
with death. The punishment, under such cir
cumstances, OF persons entitled to her Majesty's
protection would not be viewed with indiffer.
ence, but would receive the most serious con-
siderntion by this country. 1t is right on the
oth": hand, nat the people of this country
should b "arred Of the peril of engaging in
privateerng undertakings; but it is essentially
necessary, on the other, that the Northern
States should not be induced TO rely upon our
law of nations by visiting privateoring with a
penalty which is not attached to it by that law
EHear]
1t is said that the Northern States treat the
Southern Confederation. not as having the
rights Of beligerents, but as rebels whose acts
will be visited with all tho penalties of high
treason, including capital punishment But
that is not q doctrine we admit, because we
have declared that the Southern States are en-.
titled to the rights of beIligererts. The North,
ern Statesi on the one hand, cannot be entil led
to claim the rights of belli erents for them
selves. and, ON the other, to trent the Southern
S,atesi not as belligereuts. but as rebels. These
are the points upon which it is most desirable
that clear understanding should become to
between her Majesty's ministers and the Gov
ernment of the United S,ates--tirst. that We
cannot recognize any except feafy effective
blockade, such as the United States may be
able to enforce; secondly, that We cannot Re-
cognize the doctrine that by any proclsma atio,I,
or any enactmenti the Northern States have
power, rs against the Southern Confederation
to treat privateering as piracy, dnd to visit it
with death.