Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-06-24

e. permanent Government
The PTlvatcer System.
1t il understood that Mr.. Seward
supported Of course by the counsels Il
not impelled by the orders of the Presi
dent, is taking steps towards cutting of
or entirely psralysiDg that strong arm
OF power which the Government hal
enjoyed in its privateer system. The
wisdom of such step will be most seri
ously questioned by the American PEG
pie. The very nature Of this Govern
ment requires the holding in full force
and effect that provision of the Con.ti.
tuition Of the United States which says
Congress shall have the power to de.
clare war, grant letters Of marque and
reprisal, and make rules concerning cap.
lures on land and water" The trainers
Of the Constitution, who had and still
ought to have the credit of understand
ing tho wants and demands OF this Gov
eminent, took into careful consideration
the subject matter contained in the
above question, and came to the wise
conclusion that it was a stern necessity,
and hence thus incorporated the same
in that document. But in these days
of tho nation it has come to pass that
jeff. Davis has taken upon himself as
President of the "Southern Confederacy"
to incorporate into his constitution
which he and his confreres have trumped
up, q similar clause, and has issued to
bis subjects letters Of marque, conse-
quently, Mr.. Lincoln and his Premier
have taken it into their heads to forego
the privilege which our Constitution
grants to Congress. II JEFF. Davis, in
his mad career, has seen fiji to issue ''his
does it furnish our Govern.
ment any good reason for throwing the
same provision overheard, and thus
granting to England the very advantage
she is itching fors jeff. Davis has pre-
pared for his Confcderacy, Constitu
ton; shall the Government of the
United States in consequence thereof,
throw its Constitution overheard! Be-
cause that rendgade and traitor chooses
to copy the thunder of the United
States Government, shall our Executive
be authorized to abandon the original 2
That is a rule that will hardly work.
1t is evident to the minds of most
people, that nothing could be done that
would suit the British Government bet
ter than the abandonment on our part,
Of the right to send out privateers.
John Bull has learned to his sorrow, the
immense power which our "militia Of
the sea" wields. He pays enormous
sums to maintain his navy, and i. is Of
the most superior and effective order.
This country has not the right to keep
up any such naval armament, and con-
scqucntIy to maintain her balance in the
scale of nations has and should continue
to keep in full force and effect the pri-
vateer system. There is no telling how
soon there may be an actual necessity
for it. 1t is not impossible at all, that
Great Britain may get her finger in this
trouble, and preparatory TO such a step
it would please her to have the United
States concur in tho anti-privateering
treaty.
AS yet, we cannot see what right Mr..
Seward has to accept the provisions of
the Paris Treaty, and we hope that SO
long as our present form of Government
the time will not arrive when
the American people will see fit thus to
play into the hands Of jeff. Davis, or the
European nations, by the abolition Of
the "marine militia" system. 1t is a
contingency which the people Of the
United States will never see fit TO aban-
don, whatever Mr.. Seward or his supe-
rior may see fit to do.
THE Gazette says that none but seces-
sionists at heart or by boast would be
raising questions" touching tbs constitu-
tionality Of the Presidents acts. That
is the pass, then to which the country
has arrived. To stand up and defend
the Constitution is now the work of
traitors, is it? To express our opinion
that the Chief Executive has oycrstep-
ped his Constitutional limit, is the true
test of secession proclivities, according
to Republican code. Then we are of
that unpopular school. Then we are
playing into the hands of jeff. Davis
but upon our honor, we did not know it
before. We thought we were a loyal
citizen of the United States, and that
we were down on jeff. Davis and his