New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-04
PRIvATERgING.

The people Of the Cotton Confederacy are cap
ital financiers-on paper, as well as in paper
They are as full of eIpedients as of pluck. The
last item in their inventory is privateerlDg-cap-
turing Northern vessels to replenish Southern
Golfers. Their newspapers ASSERT that numerous
offers have been made by Northern shipowners to
furnish vessels ready manned TO act as priyateers
under commissions TO be issued by the Cotton
Confederacy, and that the aforesaid owners are
anxiously waiting for the collision which is to
precipitate declaration of war. Here is new
phase of Southern dependence on the North, no
matter what the kind Of help may be that is
wanted. But what else might have been ex-
pected IN tins enterprising branch of business
During the whole u our last war with England,
we cannot discover that more than single
privateer was on the ocean from any port south
Of Baltimore. This solitary vessel was the Saucy
Jack of Charleston; but she made poor work Of
it at sea, took few prizes, and cut no particular
figure IN the long catalogue Of brilliant exploits
performed by the private armed vessels of that
day. Baltimore fitted out swarms of privateers,
some of which captured vessels of superior force
belonging to the British Navy, and fairly swept
the ocean. New-York and the New-England
afloat by whom an incredible amount of British
property was captured. But the whole South
furnished but solitary vessel. She can do but
little better now. 1t is quite in character that
she should look this way for help, and doubtless
she may find Democratic sympathizers who would
n.eh cb,n 10 trait fInv
have already furnished nuskets and ammunition.
In response to this intimation from the South,
some Northern Democrats have expressed them
selves ready to afford ships whenever they may
be called for They do it constantly for the
slave-trade, and make good thing of it. Why
not make better one nearer home, by stealing
their neighbors' property A California steamer
would be prize of the richest kind. A Liverpool
packet would not be bad. A single China cargo
would make the captOr snug We grant that the
temptation would be great. Nevertheless, we
have q wel-defned idea that there would be
some danger in venturing on this buccaneering
recreation. The South, we know, has no ship
ping for US to prey upon in retaliation. Where
she has one ship We probably have thirty.
The shipbuilders Of the North have built
and put aAoat in single year a beaver
tunnage than that of our whole navy
Now, people who own property to this extent
and who at the same time have the power to
defend it, are not likely to stand with arms fold
ed and see it destroyed without some effort az
defense or retaliation. The enterprise OF hirins
pirates to plumber Northern shipping under cover
of commissions granted by the Cotton kePuo-
lie, would prove to be the poorest that could
be undertaken. If war should come, the South
ern ports would be eaectualy blockaded. The
blockading squadrons would pick up every prize
that might be sent in, for prizes could be sent
by their captors to no other ports No power
has recognized the Cotton Confederacy' and
hence all ports but their own would be closed
against them, and these would be guarded BY
our vessels il any Of their privateers escaped to