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

Letters ~ Maraue ard Peo-isa1.
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 ia
it, are pleasantly informed that they viii,
if taken prisoners, most likely be hung
Some few OF them advise the Northern
Government 10 retaliate by issuing coun-
tern Proclamation, calling for privatcers
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 huently 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 20 pri-
vateers is as clear as the right to use pub
lie armed ships, and as incontestible as
any other right appertaining to billiger-
ants. The policy of the law has been oc-
cassionally questioned, not, however Is
the best authorities but the law. itself
has been universally admitted. and most
nations have not hesitated TO avail them
selves of D; It'll as well sustained by prac-
tice and public opinion as any other 70 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 power possessing much larger ma
val force, the fatal consequences Of an
inequality in the navy could only be rem
edied by the employment Of privateers.
If the reasoning was correct then, and it
was endorsed by nineteen-twenticths OF
the people we certainly cannot be wrong
in making the application now, while we
are in a state Of war with the Government
of the North. it is true the people oithe
North, when they gave their assent Or the
doctrine that privtteerinE Was az lawful a.
any other mode of warfare did not a pre-
hend that IL would be resoried 90 by amy
power likely TO injure their commerce,
but they now see that in all probability
few weeks at furthest VIII find the sea
swaming with armed paivateers- Their
commerce VIII IN short time be pros
trated, and their ships Of war viii have
enough 70 do IN conveying merchant yes-
sells, without. undertaking the blockade Of
the Southern ports from Cape henioden
10 the mouth of the hio Grande.
IN view Of the fact that the naval pow
er Of the Northern States ls much greater
than that Of the Confederate states, ~ ia
not very surprising that they should be-
willing TO forego. the privilege OF employ
ing privateers, az SUCH an arm oi the aer-
vice would be comparatively useless to
them at the present time but decent re-
gard for consistency should prevent North
ern people from denouncing priFatecrlug
a. piracy. We know they do not ike u.
bgi calling hard names does not help the
matter. No doubt the supporters 81 Mr.
Lincoln would BE- glad to have the Con-
federate States Government reconsider its
decision. and refuses to issue letters Of
rnaraue. as in that event their commerce
would be left unmOlested, and they could