Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-09

which has proved 10 De 50 IorihuAoie VI iAuu' =" Jun"
mo our naval strength. Patriotic and wealthy citizens
furnish and arm ships, aud tender them to the use OF
tho Government which commissions them, subjects
len, n reguar naval rules and regulations, and, in
short. makes them part Of our Navy.
The officers are paid BY, and subject to, the orders Of
the Government portion of prize money will Pro6a-
M reimburse the Government for the pay, and an0kher
will probaby be reserved to make fund for the
,o,nded. and the widows and orphans of the killed
Al, the rest of the psze money will probably go the
csptors. HsSlY any difference is dstinguishable be-
tween this and the plan Of the regular Navy. At all
events it eeyates prva,eering above the ban attempted
to be nut upon by the Paris Convention of 1886, and
really obvia,es the objections there urged.
We copy here the article seeing forth the scheme, as
pubkhcd in this paper of December 25th, 1861;
PRIyATEERING.
70 tie Editor of tie Wig:
Arc We giving up pyiyateering: Practically we seem
to De; and it is giving up one ot'ta most formidable
means of harrassing the eaemy.
If volunteers on land eau be organized and used as
REGULAR army why cannot volunteers on the sea be
made to supply the place Of regular navy' Regard
them a, .mitiamcn of the seas aud govern them ac-
cordnsly If there be danger of private armed ships
depen,ratinc into buccaneerS-the only danger the
great maritime powers pretend to fear, and aim to
Guard against in their attempt abolish prvaeerins-
let them be governed by proper naval laws and regua-
ticqs.
WHY not sssimilate them TO naval ships: Let them
h, rooul,rly commissioned, and such men from the
merchant seriee be put on board officers as shall be
onpd competent in nautical knowledge and experience,
as well Is intelligence and character II there be any
pecuar virtue or merit in naval officers, let sufficient
Of them be PIT on board in proper capacities In gun
nery and naval tactics these would be desirable II not
Indispensable. Many merchant captains arr just as
braye-haye the same high dignity and honor, and as
much ntcsenc, ani saglcty as regular naval officers
and ,bey would be "a likely to act in conformity to the
high character, which glad and proud to see our
Government assure, and strive to maintain.
Whv. then, should there not be regular board of
examiners, and regular comm s.ions issued to those
found TO be thoroughly competent, aud naval officers
n's,ed on bolrd Of such crafts az far as prOper-in
coumAud, If necessary? SI;h vessel regularly COM
mi sioaed though aalat o. private capital, would
b, virtually national slips rescued from the ban at
tempted to be pat p-sateerng, and entitled to the
eatss of all ports o: powers tina, shall recognize the
Southern Coarederacy { IS belligerentsl
If Of planters, lawyers merchants, doctors aud me-
chanics, who a. enlistment know nothing of the bust
ness W, make m g1ty 'men ocwlr" allo wing them sai
nv bat,oni G cal them olpt@n', cOloael' brgaiiers,
&c and puy them in command Of troops to fight our
national blr.5-a tor'ior. m9rchlnt-mirine olIi;ers
might b., made .captrns, lculeaants and midshipmen
for the same purpose for they Well know having lcIrd
in actual SERVICE all the chief duties Of such officers,
and have already bcn ed To the almost despo,c com
At all events, III guaranty th4l vessel gun
cutes aceJrdngt its handling and am, withou. prev
osy as,n, Nh cher it il oSpcd by John Smith the
Government or whether it is directed by Lieut.. Mart
net OF Capt; Jack TAR aud prospective priz, money,
added to patriotism, ia not supposed to weaken this
lagdable motive
The following is in Niles Register for 1872 and is
under, ooI TO DC the language Of dr. Jefferson;
"Wlat difference whether the harm of war ia pro-
duced b7 n national Or private armed vessel. Did our
merchants who have lost 9l7 vessels by British cap
turs feel any Qualification that lie most OF them were
taken by his IpeSI's rnen OF war. Were spos less
rigly Cxacted by II gun ship than priyateer Of four
guns, and were not all equally condemned One man
fights for wages paid him by the Government or ANNA
tel bv patriotic zeal for the defence Of his county
Another duly authorized aud giving the proper pledges
for his good conduct, With motives equally patriotic,
undertakes 10 pay himself at the expense OF the Zoe,
and serves his COiutry ~ cifeCuay the former
The Government drawing all its supplies from the peo-
pie IS in reality, much affected by the loss OF the
one the other.
Ia the United States, every possible en-
cOuratcment should be given to privatoering when at
war with commercial nation. By licensing private
armed vessels the whole naval force OF the nation Is
trav brought to bear the foe. Aud while the
test lasts that NAV have the Speeder termination let
every individual contribute his mite in the best way that
-. -
him 70 peace. i
Al this is Just rs true rs 1t then, and much
more important to the Confederate Sltes-wth little
or no navy Ainemoria the United States Congress
abonl the same time declared "th,t the successful is
sue Of the prescn; war materially depends the eIec,
tua annoyance Of the enemy By priyateers that the
e1tcu. to which that species Of warfare may be
fully prosecuted is nca'eulable for bounds be
prescribed to the daring aad hardhoOd Of American
seaneu; that it is particularly entitled the fostering
OF Congress aud that it is indispensable to the
prosecution Of the war;
The fostering care of Congress was given. With
what effect.
By the end Of the War, it is stated that the United
STATES had aaoa 5l7 authorized prvateers with $500
runs and over 25 OlG men, which captured according to
the New York Herald 2.S4S vessels-a number of them
well armed English privateers.
It this that enabled the United States to cope
with the mistress of the with her thousand ships"
England then had O9l vessels of war.
b. j. g, of LIS.
The Late Railroad Disaster in the South.
TIE telegraph brought than a week ago
of a terrible railroad accident which occurred on the
night of the 10th February in consequence of the Civ
ing way OF the bridge Chunkey river in Mississippi
while a train loaded with passengers crossing il.