The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-06
The Naval Power Conferred spon the
President by Congress.
We asaurod that tho I'M In afiOn haa


We are assured that the administration has
not as yet determined what course to pursue
under the law authorizing the Pre- ideat to
grant letters of marque and reprisals. 1t is
said that the Secretary of State is strongly in
favor of holding the privateer law over Eng
land and other governments as moral power
in case the precedent Of the Alabama be fol-
lowed. There can exist no doubt as to the
fact that the power of issuing letters of marque
and reprisd adds immensely to the weight
which toe rsmonstrances of our government
will now have in Europe.
Added to the unbounded resources which the
Consumption act conferred upon President Lin
coin, the privilege of issuing letters of marque
renders him more powerful than any despotic
monarch in the world. The people of the
North are an adventurous, hardy race, and
when called upon by their President to arm
privateers and sweep from the ocean the enc
mics of our country will respond to the ap
peal in manner which will give true idea of
the power Of this nation, and will result in the
triumph Of our government over all opposition.
The Powers Of Europe have always endeavor-
ed to deprive US of this tremendous engine of
warfare, and would gladly have enticed the
United States government into bonds against
the issue of letters of marque. Our statesmen,
however, were too farseeing to sacrifice the in
terests of their country, and thus we preserved
the great source Of power which Congress has
opened to our President
Surely Mr.. Lincoln will understand the i'm
mense advantage he now possesses, and will at
once call forth such naval force as will put
sudden and effectual end to the depredations Of
the rebel pirates. Private individuals will
gladly avail themselves of any opportunity
which the government may throw in their way.
But let the word 60 forth, and the seas will
swarm with heavily armed, swift steam vessels
Of war, which will render our blockade so
effectual that all intercourse between the rebels
and foreign Powers will entirely cease, while
the Alabamas and Floridas will be captured as
surely as they exist. That spirit Of invention
which distinguishes the people Of the North will
have fine field for action if the government
will at once issue letters of marque to all who
may apply for them. Iron-clads Of every
known and of many unknown descriptions
would soon swarm the seas, bearing the Stars
and Stripes, and crushing out the enemies Of
the Union. Thus aided the President could bid
defiance to all meddling in our affairs, and could,
above oil, repress instantly the malignant
efforts of England's hostility to this people.
The privateers she is now constructing we
should seize and convert to our uses. Her ven
lures in the way of blockade running We should
most effectualiy put stop to, by capturing all
vessels coming near the Southern ports with
friendly intent to the rebels and lastly but
not least, when we have conquered a peace
say at the expiration Of six months, which, with
our immense resources, we must dove can
then call England to account for her disloyal
conduct during this war, and exact from her
indemnities for the ravages committed upon our
commerce by vessels which are English-were
built in England, manned by English crews,
paid for with English money, and who pay over
to English capitalists their ill-gotten gains.
We will demand indemnities which, if refused,
we shall have the power to seize upon.
Her commerce would be at our mercy, and this
fact alone would render her anxious to refund
all losses suffered through her criminal compl-
city with the rebels. The moment it is under
stood in Europe that the government Of the
North issues letters Of marque we shall hear no
which has acted towards us with none of the
hostility shown by England will under stand
whom our privateers swarm the seas, that we
need no aid from foreign Powers to put down
our rebellious subjects, and we shall hear no
more of Napoleon's intention to favor avis
France has built no privateers for the rebels
has given them no material aid, and, though
her journals have shown favor to the cause OF
the South, the French government has given
us no subject of complaint such as has been
afforded by England.
We sincerely hope that President Lincoln APP
preciates the powerful weapon he now has
placed in his hands, and that he will at once use
| it. To do so will strike terror to the hearts Of
the rebels, who will look upon the unlimited
issue of letters of marque as death knell to
their hopes. They are well aware that the
yankees" are stirring race when once fully
aroused, and that we have the materials foI
manning innumerable prvatesrs, which would
shut them out from the outer world beyond all
hope of release. Europe will as surely abandon
the rebels to their fate as that we issue these
letters Of marque, and we hope the government
will not lose a day in putting them into execu
ton. Let us prove to the world that we are in
earnest, and we shall hear less OF mediation,
save that which would tend to make the rebels
lay down their arms and re.enter the Union
When we have issued our letters Of marque and
called out another half million of men Europe
will have proper understanding Of our power
and determination, as will the rebels, and we
shall make peace at our terms.
THE CONNECTICUT ErECTroS-We shall gel
rid of the Connecticut election today. From