Daily national Republican., 1863-04-25
LETTERS OF MARQUE AND RE-
PRISAL.
Letter from Mr.. sumner.

The following letter from Senator Sumner,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign Rcla-
tions, is attracting much attention. The sub
ject is highly important one at the present
time;
"WAsHINGToS, March II, lsG3.-Hy Dear
Sir! In the freedom of that conversation which
l had with you as We drove to the Capitol re-
Gently, allow me for a moment to speak again
of the question which interested US then. .
"1 confess that am anxious that the issuing
Of letters of marquc should be avoided, not
merely because ii will give us a bad name,
without any commensurate good; nor because
1t will be departure from The only aud often
declared policy Of our Government, which has
not hesitatcd, by the pen Of Benjamin Franklin
and John Quincy Adams, to denounCe priva-
teering as an 'enormty,' but because It does
not meet, in practical way, the precise ne
cessity of this time. People who advocate il
are obviously mislcd by our experience in
another generation, when we were at war with
a nation whose commerce was temptation
and a reward to private enterprise. The case
is so different now that the old agency is en-
tirely inapplicablc.
"Thc privatccr cruises for booty. which is
instead of rations and pay to owners, officers.
and men. But if the booty docs not exist, or
If II Is in such uncomfortable quantities as to
afford small chance of valuable prizes, II X cvi.
dent that you must find some other system Of
compensation; in other words. YOU must aban-
don the idea Of private enterprise. stimulated
and sustained by booty. An agency must be
employed which is applicable 10 the present
case-prCclsely as In machinery force must
be employed best calculated to do the work ia
hand.
Now our present business is to help the
Government in capturing the Alabama and her
pratcal comrades, and also to catch blockade
prtf l.rff. Of l.
proper instrument for this purpose; nor will
the chance Of booty he the best way to ttimu-
late and sustain the cruiser. lille 1t Is obvious
that such a ship, invested, as 1t will be, with
the bclligcrCnt right of search, which for the
sake Of booty ii will be tempted to exercise on
neutral commerce, may become the occasion of
contention and strife With foreign Powers.
"Privateers have never been remarkable for
the caution or reserve with which they en-
plOyed helligerCnt rights. | would not uXag-
geratc the troubles which might cnsue, but
when think of these sea rovCrs now, with a
license to overhaul neutral ships, and to inlCt
upon them visitation and search, feel how
much evil may cnsuc compared with the good.
You would not threaten whole street in order
TO catch few robbers who bad 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 a pig.
1" seems to be only according to common
prudence, that private enterprise, II enlisted
now, should be regulated by the object in view.
To this end, 1t is not necessary that ii should
assume a form calculated to awaken sOctudc.
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 commits
stoned as national ships, and let the Govern
ment on its part offer bounty and prize money
in addition to pay and rat!ons, for the capture
of the Alabama and her piratical comrades.
The motive power will thus be adapted to the
object in view, while our country will be saved
from all chance of additional complication, and
also from the stigma of revivInga policy which
civilization condemns.
"The argument of economy is sometimes
pressed in favor of letters of marquc. But it is
poor economy to employ an agency which, in
its very nature, seems inapplicable 10 the pres
ent case. Besides, doubt If any success which
can be reasonably expected from such ships.
called by the French cOrSdrcS, will be a COM
ptnsation for the bad name they will give u.s.
and the bad passions they will engender,
81 hope do not take too great a liberty in
sending you this sequel to our conversation
At all events you will be pleased to accept my
best wishes, and believe me, my dear sr,
"With much regard, very faithfully yours.
"CHARLEs SUMNER.
"JouN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Esd, &C., &c