The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-06-25

(fs<tH ing letters of mar |
INN cue from the Span
81 M X ish government Is |
Interesting for sew
NJ eral reasons II
VI happens that the
earliest priyateers holding letters OF
marque FROM a responsible government
were probably the sea beggars. as they
were called, whom William the silent
licensed In the sixteenth century TO aid
the Netherlands In their struggle
against the tyranny OF the Spanish
crown. II happens also that the United
States, Spain and Mexico were the only
considerable civilized powers that de-
cllned to join the other powers forty
years ago In the abolition Of privateer-
ing. The skirts OF the United States
government are entirely clear In this
matter, for this country was one Of the
earliest 70 urge the abolition OF priya-
ieering, and refused to sign the treaty
abolishing Il because the great powers
OF Europe would not assent TO make
part OF international law a much broad
or doctrine proposed by the United
States. We had incorporated this doc
trine In a treaty with Prussia sixty
years before though that clause Of the
treaty was not renewed when a new
treaty came to be made a few years
later.
That pryateering In spite Of It's prev
alence during the war Of 1912. was
falling into disfavor was shown by
the fact that congress In 1918 passed n
law forbidding the enlistment In this
country Of men for foreign privateer-
ing Great Britain was more than fifty
years behind us In passing such law.
This country In 1894 yalnly urged Great
Britain TO Join us In the abolition OF
privateering. Thirty years later Lord
Clarendon advised that II be abolished
by international agreement. but James
buchanan, then United States minister
10 the court Of 81. James. was instruct
ed to report that this country could not
assent to the proposal unless all the
naval powers should declare that war
should never be waged upon private
property on the high seas. The minis
ter also said that this country would
not promise to abstain from using as
ships Of war Us merchant marine. The
treaty Of Paris. In 1856. after the Crl-
mean war. provided for the abolition Of
privateering In a clause that said.
"Prlvatcoring Is and remains abolish
ed" Accompanying 1t we're three ether
clauses touching the rights Of neutrals
and the matter Of blockades. All OF the
important European powers save Spain
signed this treaty. and the small pow
ors on this side OF the Atlantic signed
H. but the United States did not sign
H. This country. through William l..
Marry, offered to sign the treaty if the
clause as TO prlyatccr.ng should be
amended by the declaration that the
private property OF subjects or citizens
OF bolligcrcnt should be- exempt gsom
seizure on the high soag by the public
armed vessels Of other belllgcrents.
Here again was Franklin's bread prln-
ciple. which had been introduced into
the treaty with Prussia sixty years be-
fore. The great powers refused their
assent TO the proposed amendment, and
the United States did not become a
party to the treaty abolshing prlva.
tecring.
when the civil war broke ont In 1861
Mr.. Seward offered to s'gn the treaty
Of 1856 without insisting upon the pro.
posed amendment. but Great Britain
and France replied that the sirnaur,
could not be- accepted n Il was to b,
coupled with IN condition that the pro.
visions Of the treaty ms 10 priyatoerinr
were 20 be made applicable to the as,
Of privatccrs hy the southern confcdor.
aoy. IS that was the wish Of the ad.
mlnig,ratlon, the treaty was not signed
by Mr. Seward. when Mr. Lincoln
called, April 70, 1861. Tor $4,000 yolun
teers 10 aid IN supprcsslng the rebellion
the southern coufedoacy began &,
issue letters Of marQuc and reprlsal {,
pfivatocrs The phrase letters OF ma
que and roprisal." by the way. Is take
from land warfare. such letters IN earl,
time having been issued TO private per
sons authorizing them 20 80 beyond N,
borders umarque or mark OF q coun;r.
.us s.nta r.wrIrnfr tsr.v ...f.f.t...
who had done them wrong. Mr. Lin
colns reply 10 the action 90 the con
foderacy was the proclamation Of
blockade Of southern ports. and the an
nouncemont that captured conielerat,
priyatcers would be treated as pirates
They were not 30 treated, however
though when the prlyatecr Savannah
was captured the confodCracy threaten
ed TO make roprlsala should the priya
teor's officers De treated other than nj
prisoners OF war England finally de-
clared that no prize taken hy a con
iedcmto prlya,eer should De oawlel
into a British port Franco declares
that confederate priyateers might cntC
Freaoh ports with prizes that the,
could not sell. and that such prize
might remain twenty-four hours q
port. Spain made like regulation.
The story Of confederate Trlvatecr
Ing. and more especially Of the damag
TO commerce by the confederate crulu
ers. Is well known. but one incident o
q confederate privatcering that cam
; close home to New Workers has aluos