The New York herald., 1862-02-26
The Privntcer sumter.
LETTER FROM COMMANDER sENlfEs.


"r-An J,cle In tho Daily Necs. reviewing the rights
and duties OF bclgcrents and neutras has recently
under my observation, in which the following express
Al the time i, mus, be admitted that both the Sum-
lied warfare by burning merchant ships to the waters
edge instead carrying the before prize court
oe, the commander Of the sumter Nor is 1t clear
ns to be treated with the same which
accorded to those who themselves observe the
Now, the above remarks exceedingly uujust-not
that suppose you intended 1 but you have not
federate States havo been placed by these "civixed"
nations whose rule Of warfare you say has boon vio
lated Great Britain has dckn cifgcd belliaerent
This a. acknowledgement gipss all the rights Of equally
,rih the other rary One Of the most essential of these
rights on The HIGH ssas e right IF destroying ne eeys
commerce ond thus disabling him from corrWng on Ac
svar; right which Great Britain, In all her wars, has
exercised to its fullest extent aud with terrible effect
upon her enemies. And when shc has not found con-
venen her prizes into hor ports she has had
that ovcrweenng influence with the nations Of the Garth
which has enabled hor to send them into neutral ports
aud there 10 have them condemned by her own prize
courts.
about the LIST OF June 1851 Subsequently to this pc
rod and with full know OF the fact Great Britain,
France and Span and tho lesser maritime Powers Of
Europe all issued procamations defining their positions
IN tho IN these proclamations they prohibited bel
gerent cruisers from bringing their przcs into their
both the cruisers and their prizes wero 10 depart within
twenty -four hours. In this state OF facts, how can be
insisted that We shall send our prizes nto port for adu
cannot send them into eur own ports. for they arc block
aied-at least far blocksdcd 10 render u
difficult for ordinary sail ships TO enter tSsm.
We cannot send them into any Of tho ports OF those
cvtizod nations who shocked at tho barbarity
OF our burning them What, then, shall do with
them9 They lawful prizes, captured, says Ell.
rope, BY tho cruisers OF recognized de faco govern
mo-t Shall we let them 70? This would deprive us Of
our ght Of capture, render null that right which
the thing And can this be what impartial Europe
intended when II penncd its proclamations2
II Is readily admitted that the usual and proper
se for q cruiser ttburn
prizes TO the waters edge but 10 send them into
'spize court for adjudication and this 10 the
which | need not assure you We would be
glad " pursue Il the thing wero possible, for obvious
reasons. But " tho nations OF the earth put IL
out Of our power this course generous to
nnd fault with beca do not pursue ~ To show
yon the earnest desire which had In the beginning OF
my cruo TO send my prizes In for adjudication rather
than the responsibility OF sitting In Judgment
thrm myself send you encoscd copy of letter which
addressed to the Governor " tho town Of Cicnfuegos
M the Island of Cuba. early ~ the 9Th Of July l?.t
This letter will explain itself and have only 10 remark
with reference to n, that had not NJ It's date tho
Spar sh proclamation rely upon your sense OF justice
TO give place your columns both TO this communication
snd the letter.
r. SEMsES, Commander, Confederate States Navy.
C. =. STEAMER SUMTER, GIBRALTAR, Jan. 49, 1852.