Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-03-27
Letters Of Marque-Their Origin and
What They Mean.

What They Mean.
Letters of Marque (sars the Richmond
Whig) are extraordinary commissions.
granted by public authority to owners OF
a vessel, authorizing such vessel to make
capture and prize Of the persons, ships
and property of another nation which has
committed injuries, but negects or rfu.
ses to give proper redress theI efor The
vessel itself which bears such commission
is sometimes called letter of Marque.
The term marqus is derived from the
Anglo-Saxon mearca-bound or boundary.
Letters of marque and reprisal, as they
are more fully termed, signify literally,
therefore, commissions authorizing the
passing Of the frontiers, or boundary for
the purpose OF taking in return.
In their origin they had reference to
specific injuries in capturing, OBTAINING or
Withholding the property Of individuals
in time of peace, and issued only to the
party injured, cr his agents. Their issue
was not regarded as a declaration Of war,
though formal hostilities might be the
ultimate result. Some consider them "a
species of hostilities, an imperfect war,
but strictly, they are not breach of the
peace between nations, though a forcihle
redress of injury is contemplated. The
force may not inaptly be likened to a
redress for rent, which, in a measure, is n
remedy placed in the hands of the injured
party-the landlord himself
IL is unnecessary to trace the modifica-
ton and regulation to which letters Of
marque have been subjected from their
origin TO the present day. Reprisal:
between nation and nation, as one means
of obtaining justice, are of very ancient
origin, and have their foundation in the
nature OF the relations ofdifferent powers
Though not of frequen. occurrence now
yet as late as 1884, President Jackson, in
his Annual Message, suggested the pro-
priety of resorting to this method of
obtaining satisfaction against France.
Letters of marque and reprisal, howev'
er, with reference to operations at sea
were not known till much later period
when the increase in the number of
maritime powers, and the advance ot
commerce, gave rise to their necessity. In
modern practice they are seldom, if ever
issued till war has been declared, or is in
immediate prospect. Merchants, in time
of war, often deem IL advisable to carry
larger crews than usual, and more or less
of an armament for purposes of defense
and not unfreNaently take oUt letters o
marque, with the view, if opportunity
offers, to indemnify themselves for the
increased risk and expense of voyage
by taking prizes. Privateers, or vessels
fitted out at private expense, for the pur'
pose of cruising against an enemy's com
merce, are commissioned by letters ot
marque. The tern is now applied, in z
general sense, to the authority under
which all lawful private armed ships
act
In the United States, the power oi
granting letters Of marque and reprisal is
vested, by the Constitution, in Congress
In the war of 1912, this power was exer,
cised in the act Of June, 1912, declaring
war, ard provision made for the guidance
and regulation Of parties applying for
such a commission, and of vessel.
sailing under them, by the acts Of June
&c, 1913. These acts were temporary ir
their design, and are now obsolete
Special legislation would be required upor
any future occasion which called for Q
renewed exercise ofthis power.
1t would be a violation of the Neutrality
Act of April 90, 1878, for an American
vessel to be commissioned by letter o
marque in the service Of any foreign
power against nation with whom we are
at peace, or for any vessel to be fitted out
and armed in any Of our ports for the
purpose OF cruising under letters Q
marque against a friendly power.
TAKEN ABAcK.-One of the ridiculous
mishaps which will sometimes befall sol
ders. befell whole file Of the snug,y at
tired military of New Orleans on the da!
of the TwiGgs reception, They @er'
drawn up along the street in front of
building in course of construction, and
close in their rear was long mortar bed
two feet deep, with that plastic compost
ton. ready for the workmen. The space
between the files for the passage of th'
carriages being rather narrow, the office
ordered his men to take a step back
They did so, and about twenty feet o.
'so5ers' instantaneously disappeared from