Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-24
lfhe Cnrtprrd pirnics.

II is stated, says the New York EUeai1g
Post that Government has under considera
tiop the question what disposition shall be
made of the crew of the pirate SAVANNAH,
who, previous to their capture by an Auerl-
can man of.war, had themselves captured an
American merchant brig. the Josephine, aod
fred several guns into United States vessel
IL seems to us this is g matter with which,
for the present at least, the Government has
nothing TO do. When these persons arrive at
any port in the United States, their case and
the charges against them will be passed upon
by the Grand jury of the district. If that
body finds an Indictment against them IL
will be the duty of tho District Attorney to
try them and it will rest with the jury be
fore whom they are tried to pronounce upon
their guilt or innocence, after n fair aud i'm
partial investigation Of facts and examination
of witDesses. .a.l.
If they are found guilty the Judge will
pronounce upon them sentence of DEATH
and only then can the President interpose
his pardoning power, if he is so inclined.
For the present, the Government can not
interfere without itself violating positive
law of the United States, cited in these col
umns few days aso, which in. the clearest
manner defines the crime which these per-
sons have committed to be piracy, aud sp-
points its proper punishment.
81 If any precedent be required by the Presi=
dent for permitting the law TO take its course,
he may find it in the action OF the United
States Government against Mexican priva-
tClfs ia 1868. So far as regards maritime
rights, the case of Mexico, then, is precisely
parallel TO that of the rebels now. Like
these, Mexico had long line of coast, which
United States vessels biockaded, though the
Mexican blockade was less efficient than that
OF the Southern coast. like our rebels,
Mexico had an insignificant mercantile
marine and no navy,
Unlike the rebels, however, Mexico had a
responsible Government, ackno wledGed by
ourselves ard oil the world, and a flag which
had its place as the recognized sign of an
established nationality; while the rebels OF
MOntgC emery have not received, and are not
likely 10 receive, that recognition at the
LANDS OF foreign nations without which they
can not claim the ben, fits of international
law. Nevertheless, when it became kno wn
that the Mexican Government had sent
abroad TO Cuba and 10 Europe letters oil
mBIQue, as Davis hiss now DONE authoriz. ug
private war upon our ocean commerce. the
| American Government did not hesitate a
moment to declare officially its determiua
, ton 10 consider all privateers under Mexicau
! colOrs as pirates, and hang them whenever il
| caught them. Aud this though the Mexican
authorities had taken the pre- caution TO join
! letters of naturalization to their letters oi
maTque, so that every privateersman who
/ should sail under their. .colors should also be
| lawful and sworn Mexican citizen.
! There was, of course, some clustering OF
| the part of the enemy, as there is now; but
/ MS our Secretary of State was firm, and aS
! there was every reason to believe that any
pTivateer caught would be hung without
/ tail, the whole piratic0l business was crushed
in its beginning, and the Mexican letters o.
marque remained unused in the hands o
their agents.
TIE theory Of our Administration in thai
decision was that Mexico was not a mari
time power; that, therefore, the war was o.
right purely a land war; and that while al
the amenities of war would be carefully OBJ
served by our armies, we should not hesitate
to treat as piratical every attempt BY pri
vateers to strike at our ocean commerce,
point where we could not retaliate on til,
enemy, who, like the Montgomery mutineers
lad DO mercantile marine.
Of course, the Mexican authorities threat
enCd TO hang our soldiers if we hung thei
prlvateersmen. But this was mere threat
and When they discovered thdJ we We're nd
to he bullied out of perfectly just position
they gave the matter up.
The attempt of our rebels to destroy ou
commerce is too dangerous, and strikes a
too vital part of our prosperity to be me
otherwise than firmly. If we suffer thes
pirates to escape we shall have to treat thei
fellows with the same lenity all over tn
world and in that case, American shppin;
may ss well be recalled as quickly as possib
to our ports, there to lie and rot. Were ou
Government and peopleas reckless as are th
mutiIeers, we should have replied to thei
threat to authorize privateeTs by threat t
declare their slaves free and call on them u
assert their liberty. This would have beer
simply iit for tat-a blow at their weakas
! point as is priyateering a blow at ours w
have rot done this But one of the most i'm
portant interests in the country demand
that we shall protectit, by the most vigorous
and determined measures, against this pirat
ical attempt OF the Montgomery men.