Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-13

~AC"P'"tS
Letter from Commander semmes Ed.toc OF
the Tendon News
Sr An article in the DAILY NerrS reviewing the
rights and duties OF belgerents aud neura has recent
ly come uuder my observation, in which the following
expressions occur
50 At the time, it must be admitted that both
the Sumter and the Nashville have grossly viated the
laws of civilized warfare, by burning merchant ships to
the waters edge, instead of carrying them before
prlza court Their conduct is certainly much more
like that OF pirates-hoses humGn gene,l as the com
mander Of the Sumter says. Nor is it clear that
community which sanctions such barbar0us proceedings
observes to be treated with the consideration which
universally accorded those who themselves observe
the laws OF civilized warfare"
Now, the above remarks exceedingly unjust-not
that suppose you intend injustice but you have not
rightly appreciated tie position in which we of the
Confederate States have been placed by these ciyi
Z7d nations whose rule Of warfare you say has been
violated Great Britain has acknowledged us as bel
igerent. This acknowledgment gives all the rights
OF equally with the other party. One OF the
essential of these rights the high is the right OF
destroying the enemys commerce, and thus disabling
him from carrying on the war right which Great
Britain, 10 all her wars, has exercised to IFS fullest ex
tent, and with terrible effect upon her enemies. And
when she has not found it convenient send her prizes
into Der ports she has had that 0verweeninr pfu
euce with the nations OF the earth which has enabled
her to send them into neutral ports and there to have
them condemned by her own prize courts.
TIE ports of the Confederate States were bIcckaded
on or about the lst of june 1861. Subsequently to
this period and with full knowledge of the fact Great
Britain, France, and Spain, and the lesser maritime
Powers of Europe, all issued procamations, dining
their positions 10 the In these procamatons they
prohibited beigerent cruisers from bringing their prizes
into their pOrtsexcept 10 of necessity and 10 that
event both the cruisers end their prizes depart
within twentyfour hours. Ia this state of facts how
it be insisted that shall send our prizes into port
for adjudication Into whose ports shall we send them
We cannot send them into own ports for they are
fcnlt for ordinary sail ships to enter them We cannot
send them into any OF the ports of those civilized
nations who shocked the barbarity of our burn
ing them? What then shall we do with them They
are our lawful prizes captured, says Europe by the
cruisers of recognized de facto Government Shall We
let them TOT This would d prve US of our right OF
capture, or render null that right which is the same
thing And can this be what impartial Europe intend
ed when it penned lis proclamations
1t IS readily admitted that the usual and rope
is, as you say for cruiser Lot to burn her pr
yes to the waters EDGE" but send them into "prize
court for adjudication and this is the which
need not you would be glad pursue if the
thing possible, for obvious reasons But if the
nations of the earth put it ont of power to pursue
this course, is it generous to ud fault with US because
do not pursue it? TO show you the earnest desire
which bad in the beginning of my cruise to send nv
prizes in for adjudication rather than take the RESPONSE
bity OF sitting in judgment them myself send you
enclosed copy OF letter which l addressed to the
Governor OF the town Of Centuegos, in the Island Of