New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-16
PRIVATRERING,


it is important, aud justifes the opinion have
all along entertained, that Great Britain would fall
into perfectly friendly and satisfactory relation
to this country when time had been given her TO
understand the position Of affairs here, and to
reflect upon the course she ought to pursue both
for her interest aud for ours. Lord John Rus
sell, at we said some time ago, had unquestion-
ably run before he was sent, in proposing to
recognize the bcIigerent rights Of the insurgents
against this Government; but the English Min
istry, on reviewing that doctrine and how far il
could be sustained by her Majesty's ProclAms-
ton, have come TO the wiser conclusion that they
cannot even permit it to be supposed that they
meant to give any such recognition 10 the in
surrection in the United States. For manifestly
such is their decision. A beligerent with rights
recognized as such, has customarily, at least, if
by no positive law, certain privileges in the ports
of neutral and friendly powers which it is an
unfrendly and insulting act to refu,e En-
gland, in denying those privileges TO the Black
Confederacy, does so because sho means to explain
the Queens Proclamation as not intended 10 be
a recognition Of any national rights in tho insur-
rectionists whatever.
Nor ia il easy to see how, when the matter
was subjected to a careful consideration, she
could come 10 any other conclusion. The proc
lamaton of neutrality needed explanation, for if it
was intended rs n friendly act toward the COnfrd-
eracy trouble with the Union was likely to follow;
but if the explanation is that notwithstanding
the proposed neutrality no protection will be-
given 10 Southern priyatecrs in British ports,
then the act of friendship, which it was hastily
assumed to be, amounts 10 nothing And
this undoubtedly is precisely what she means,
and that which she sees ia the only wise course
for her to pursue. ii the Southern pryateers can
not 90 into British ports with prizes then they have
nowhere to go, and their priyaiecrng is put end
to as soon it begins. This is act OF
friendship toward us Oh the part Of Eng
land; for buster rs We will, aud as soiue
ofus have, the fact that Southern pryateers-whieh
means the whole slave-tradng fleet of the world,
with not a few other adyenturcn-eoud find an
asylum in English ports would have been death.
blow to the merchant marine OF this country; aud
such az encouragement of piracy could hardy have
fallen upon US alone in its disastrous consequences.
But we do not rec how England can
avoid following up this first friendly step by
others. In the siscussion Of this whole question OF
privateering the real merits OF the case seem 70
W t. have been entirely lost sight OF, and We
have allowed ourselves to be carried away by
mere words signiiying nothing. The only differ.
ence between a priyateer and naval vessel is
the difference merely between two bits OF paper
which the1 Captain has in lis port folio cbed
up in the ships cabin. Change the commission,
and the character OF the ship IL changed ut once,
and mere priyateer may be made, by the
dash of q pen, into al Admrals flagship.
If Mr.. JEFF Davis finds the fact that his pirates
are called priyateers is an obstacle in the pgr.
,uit OF their honorable calling, he has only 10
recall the letters Of marqae and exchange them
for naval commissions. Thus the priyateors be.
come men OF war with oil the rights thereto per.
tanning. England may say that she would
carry out her policy Of neutrality by refusing to
us also the right to bring prizes--supposing there
were any for us to take-intO English ports.
But would she take the same position in regard
10 men of war 1t would be an unfriendy act
that might still lead to an interruption of our
amcable relations. The truth 10, the only true
doctrine is the American doctrine as laid DOM
by Mr.. Marcy, and Mr.. Seward would have done
better to have adhered TO that rather than to
have consented now with bad grace to tho
agreement of the Allied Powers upon the subject.
1t is, no doubt, to avoid all possible misundcr.
standing in tho Of privateers that England has
announced this present decision. BY the English
law privateers of friendly Powers may be brought
into English ports. Suppose tho Confederacy
to assume from the Proclamation Of Neutrality
as che very well might-that England recognized
her as friendly Power. and prisatesr bearing