New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-14
A sELP-CONvICTRD Pirate.

It is known that Capt. Semmes. late OF the
Alabama, is an author having written book
entitled Service Aaoat and Ashore" which
was published in 1851, but ia now out Of print.
II nsrrates portion Of the services rendered by
our Navy during the Mexican war, in which the
author was a junior officer. Part of his - scr-
vices aAost, by the way. consisted IN losing the
| u. S. brig Somers, which went down with half
her crew while bl0ksding the port Of Vera
Cruz, Semmes being in command As Lieutenant.
During the war Mexico attempted 10 organize
System Of priyateering, which was not at
tended with success. This is made the subject
of some remarks in the volume, condemning the
resort to privateering "a barbarous at best. and,
in cases where the vessels crew, or at least a
majority Of it. are not bona fde citizens, a. Pr
ratieai! We copy from pages ~, 81, and 81 Of
the work:
few fast sailing vessels distributed in the different
and Differed .nd manned by bold fellow. In The pursui
OF plumber ish, have inflicted in.cnabe injury upon
This sysism Of predatory wafrs than any other equal
lie. the strength Of nations tho waior To render
prvaieering ayssble her heIeo under tho law Of
tons necessary majority u the officers and
Of each should be entens citizen. made al m
fraud OF the law bat bona de csensi and any vessel
which might havs attempted under letter Of
repriss without this essential requisite. would have BE-
come rom that moment pirate. Without the
Observance Of Theses principles trAnsr hiI ss
gancs another country ana claim tho potscon due to
citizenship under its lsws sor. Of Jus gsaHm grown
Up on the subject which individual nations longer at
liberty disregard aud much less have they the right 10 ds
gard 4. IN fraud Of beg-ren shts Mexico enp pied do
In the present instance 1t would b aon.trou. doctrine
indeed IT, any tinie during exist
eaes either OF tho belsstent might invite the citizen. Of
other nations ad bum take part in hi. quarrel and with
single stroke OF hs pen make them citizens pro hoe rice
The author then goes on to lay down the
requisites Of citizenship, in which both the
United States and Mexico agree, as-lst, resi-
dence; ID, previous declaration Of intentions;
81, remuneration of foreign allegiance, and
4th. the oath of allegiance to the new sovereign
before judicial officer. 1t does not appear that
in tho case of tho Alabama's crew one of thess
prerequisites WA complied with. Indeed, we
know that majority OF the crew still claimed
to be Englshmen and Frenchmen. not only by
birth but nationality. He adds .,.-.
Tho whole Transaction DO Gd from beginning
end sod there must be souen, n,ent either The
per, Of the Government individuals 0rsst Britain wsvss
resdsaos In the OF serving IN national
os rather shs regards her shipso portions Of bsr terri
tory md constructive residence follow. aeos.s.ry
suit ofh principle Msco has adopted even extended
this princpls but IL IL equally clear that beyond
limitation every foreigner who might have undertaken
psy upon would have been deemed TO be,
aad would have beea asstsd Pirsis TL an~srthy
al,snpt Of MaGos 10 arks blow Of The ooesn By