Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-27
Southern PrIyatecTiug..Its Effects on Our
Tonnage aud Trade 1vIth The West Inaie..

Southern PriyatecTiug-.Its Effects on Our
Tonnage and Trade with the West Indies.
Since the fatal mistake Of allowing privateers TO
escape from rebel ports which could BY proper and
prompt measures, have been sffsctualy closed our
merchant service has suffered TO an extent which
is" understand or appreciIte. We have reliable
lnforms ton that between sixty and seventy Of cur
vessels, with clgOes ranging from five thousand 70
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars have bean
captured by these parties thus let loose upon some
OF which they have burned run on shore or sunk
End the ba'aucs have been taken safely into raboI
ports, where taey IN turn have been on viii be fl
ted out a. prlvatesTs, sni perhaps, through cur
turthrr delay 10 making the blockade # ctive will
succeed N 4g'n getting to sea to prey Cur cum
maTcs-
With this knowledge before cur merchants and
shippers 20 West India and South American ports.
snd tRe additional fact staring them in the face that
tbeir vessels and cargOcs must pay four OF five per
cent more insurance than foreign vessss they were
competed as 3 measure Of economy and safety to
p4ce their property under another flag. These
reasons have undoubtedly IN most cases, PROMPTED
these transfers to foreigners yet IN msuy cases we
sre led TO beieve that the transfers have bsen Oaly
nominal AMI that the properly Is Stid bela by. or
sacred 20, American Ciuz.as 70 making appiic1-
ton fer a change Of nationality OF an American To
a British YES e. most Of those sold having been
Daced under that Zig, it is required by the British
law thai the applicant shall make and subscrioe -
de- laratJOn that be is natural born suoizct and
elgn state, Tor that he hRs ben nsturalizd BY act
of Parliament or by an ordinance Of tie profe,
lglslative authority, and has since taken oath Of
allegiance TO her majesty) and that no person or
persons other than such are by the Merchants'
shipping act Of 1854 qualified to be owners OF Brit
h sdlps is entitled owner to any interest what
ever, either legal or beue fetal, in said ship.
Upon this declaration register or sea letter ia
issued. and the vessel at once placed beyond the
reach OF return TO our flag. except by SPECIAL act
OF Congress. The owner, If disposed can then
carry on. any tacit agreement or private under
standing he may have had with his friends or for
mer owners- and not execute mortgage or an agree
ment with them, by which they are made secure IN
he future possession Of the vessel or her anticipated
earnings. Promising that this can be dOne we can
readily perceive and appreciate an inducsmsnt other
han that OF realization of feeling of greater
ateiy and security, which has led so many of our
hlP owners 70 place their vessels under a foreign
lag. At this port alone about sixty Eve Of our
Fessels with an aggregate tonnage of twenty thou
and tons, have been put under foreign flgs since
he commencement Of our trouble with the South /:
nd should no more active measures be adopted to
rive these pirates from the seas these changes
'nl scarcely be seen in Southern waters except az
be m4stheads of our vessels Of war.