Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-30
The PrIvateering Quesuen-.-FOrsIgn In
IerVentiOn.


Prom the Paris Journal deI Dsbais August !.
People were astonished, after the Congress of
Paris, when the suppression of lawful and regular
" Authorized PrVateering by letters of marque was
voted by the European Powers, that the proposal
made the United States to Sgree in that vote had
not been favOrably received in America u is the
contrary lckich lcold haze surprised u.s. The reason
for il 10 apparent in the comparison we have Just
made between the navy Of the United States and
those Of the two principal European naval Powers
Without entering deeply into the question. and ex
aiming emily the political side which must have in
ment il is impossible not to discover that the COM
nOnsst pTItisRce diciated t. The republic of the
United States, it will be admitted, may have to
dread two Powers on the sea-FFance and England
especially England both, in different degree
very superior to her She is not ignorant that her
immense ocean commerce, more vulnerable than
her territory, would have no reason to expect any
consideration, and would itself 8 prey all the
world to the lentess pursuit Of the cruisers
of the royal British navy i've or SIX times more
numerous than theirs, pOwerless for protection in
sufficient for reprisals. What could she do in such
situation foreseen and inevitablel Should che al
low herself to be crushed and ruined or attempt to
eQualize as much possible the chances of war BY
returning blow for blow. damage for damage? Let
ters of maTque, being the ORlY regular means
Of public law, long IN existence, was it
auppOsable that the American Government
would sacrifice that supreme safeguard uncondi-
justice requires and what civilization demands the
absolute respect of the commerce of the belliger-
ents by vessels Of war, as well as by priVateers!
Without that addition to the vote of the Cogress of
Paris Is tempted to suspect The sincerity and diSia
teTestedaess Of he POtcsr that preteuds 10 rule the seas
for we find nothing in it but her own advantage
The autumn months, which are approach
ing, or the first months Of winter, must il would
SEEM precipitate the American crisis. The reasons
for it were clearly explained a few days since 10
M \
we believed that from either one side or the other
of the principals interested, the definite solution
which every enc foresees. but which no one pro-
poses-will come; it would be 10 wonderfully mis-
conceive tie pride of the American people and the
depth of the dissent which passiOnatey stirs them
now, and which has placed arms in their hands. In
our opinion is Europe ohch t1iH be led 70 look for
and point out the 1reU, GJ Of that fatal contest and
lchich ,0il perhaps soon be occupied IN so doing. We
pointed out month ago, in the first of articles
on the American armies, a possible s0lutiOn:-
"Would there not be room on the vast territory of
America for two three friendly republics of the
North South and West, and forming q confederacy
of nations instead of States? Do reason and in
terest apPear to eousel it, The time comes when
perhaps necessity will compel it.
Heneeforth affairs are in such position that
there is no longer any chose between friendly sep
aratiou or forced union. Every other solution be-
comes more and more improbable. Would forced
union be union and bow long would 1t last What
kind of existence would it bring to the cenqueror
and the conquered? In admitting, which Is doubt
full the dentive triumph of the North, after years
of struggle and torrents of blood poured out upon
ruins would the North Cesire to have. and does it
Imagine it could keep, at the South Venice, PO-
land, or even an Ireland2 Is young America, then,
80 presumptious that she hopes to escape the law
common to all nations Let her cast look a. this
very moment at old Europe, and let her profit by
the latters sad experience. She will see that there
are political blunders as well crimes which
not laid down, and which bequesth to futurity dis