Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-27
Of issuine letterg Of marque:

The following letter from Mr.. Sumner
discusses with earnestness the proPriety
Of issuing letters Of marque;
aWAsH1NsTOS, March II, 1893.
MYDEAR Sn: In the freedom Of that
conversation which had with you as We
drove to the Capitol recently, allow me for
q moment 10 speak again Of the question
which interested US then.
al confess that 1 am anxious that the
issuing Of letters Of marque should be
avoided, not merely because it would give
us 8 bad name, without any commensurate
good; nor because it viii be a departure
from the ONLY and often-declRred policy Of
our Government, which has not hesitated,
by the pen Of Benjamin Franklin and
John Quincy Adams, TO denounce priVa-
teering as an 'enormity, but because il
does not meet, in practical way, the pre-
else necessity Of this time. People who
advocate it are obviously misled by our ex-
perience in another generation, when we
were ct war with nation whose commerce
was temptation and a reward to private
enterprise. The case is so different now
that the old agency is entirely inapplica-
bic.
"The privateer cruises for booty, which
is instead Of rations and pay to owners,
officers and men. But if the booty does
not exist, or if it is in such incOnsiderable
Quantities as TO afford small chance of val
liable prizes, it is evident you must find
some other system Of compensation in
other words, you must abandon the idea Of
private enterprise, stimulated and sus-
tsined by booty. An agency must be en-
ployed which is applicable to the present
case-precisely as in machinery a force
must be employed best calculated to do the
work in hand.
"NOW our present business is to help
the Government in capturing the Alabama
and her pirstical comrades, and also TO
catch blockade runners Rat Letter Of
marque is not the proper instrument for
this purpose nor will the chance Of booty
be the best way to stimulate and sustain
the cruiser, while it is obvious that such
q ship, invested, as it will be, with the
belligerent right Of search, which for the
sake Of booty it will be tempted to exercise
on neutral commerce, may become the oc-
cssion Of contention and strife with for
eign powers.
"PriVateers have never been remarka-
bic for the caution or reserve with which
they employed belligerent rights. l would
not exaggerate the troubles which might
ensue, but when think Of these sea-roYers
now, with license to overhaul neutral
ships, and to infiet upon them visitation
and search, feel how much evil may en-
sue compared with the good. You would
not threaten whole street in order to
catch q few robbers who had sought shelter
in some Of its recesses; nor would you
burn down your house, according TO the
amusing story Of Charles Lamb, in order to
roast pig. l=
at seems to be only according to com
mon prudence, that private enterprise, if
enlisted now, should be regulated by the
object in view. To this end, it is not ne
cessary that it should assume form cal
cula.ed to awaken solicitude. The way is
simple. If citizens are willing to unite in
the efforts of the Government, let them
place their ships at its disposal, to be com
missioned as national ships, and let the
Government on its part offer bounty and
prize money in addition to pay and rations,
for the capture Of the Alabama and her
pirstical comrades. The motive power will
thus be adapted to the o6jectin view, while
our country will be saved from all chance
Of additional complication, and also from
the stigma Of reviving policy which civ
ilization condemns.
" The argument of economy is sometimes
pressed in favor Of letters Of marque. But
it is poor economy to employ an agency
which, in its very nature, seems inappli-
cable to the present case. Besides, doubt
il any success which can be reasonably
expected from such ships called by the
French eOrsaires, will be a compensation
for the bad name they will give as, and the
bad passions they will engender.
~ hopeI I do not take too great liberty
in sending you this sequel to our converse
tiOD. At all events, you will be pleased to
accept my best wishes, and believe me, my
dear sir,
With much regard,
"Yery faithfully yours,
" CHARLES SUMNER.
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