Year: 1863

The Rebel Prtvstesrs and the Navy De-
parfment.


While there u every reason TO believe that
the formidable privstesr Taoony has been do
stroyed and her crew captured, thus ridding our
northern coasts of dangerous enemy. the
rebels are still exercising most destructive
mastership of the seas in that quarter There
are at the present moment three other priva-
teers-one of them steamer-lying Of the
Bay of Fundy, ready for mischief among our
fishing squadron. What that steamer is no one
kDows-whether she Is new vessel from
England, or the privateer Georgia, which has
worked her way up from Southern waters. Ger
tain it is that the vessels navigating these wa
ters are in imminent danger Of capture, and in
fact are being taken and burned every day.
There is vessel-the Shawmut---due here to-
day having on board the crews Of four vessels
destroyed by the enemy, and we may hear at
any moment Of the destruction of numerous
others EN N5


While this scourge is sweeping our coast
what is the Navy Department doing Mis true
the government has sent good many vessels
to sea in search Of the privateers; but
many of them are sailing vessels. Now
there are lying idle at the wharves of this oity
at least six splendid steamers, and others OF
lesser note, which the government could
have by applying for them. There are the At.
lantic, Baltic, Illinois, Empire City, Ariel and
Ocean Queen, all fast sailes, all capable Of
carrying heavy armament and full crew;
but it appears that, owing to some petty piques
aud jealousies on the part of the department
or it's agents-for some reason or other most
discreditable to the government these fine
ships will not be employed In themselves
these vessels would form navy sufficient to
demolish the privateers and afford protection
to our merchant marine. In the case of the
Baltic and Atlantic, the government refuses to
charter them unless the merchants of New York
guarantee the war risk-that is, agree to pay
the owners their value if they should be lost.
This is an extraordinary compact to demand,
and, we believe, is without precedent. Why
should not the government accept the whole
responsibility in crisis like this. if it is dis
posed to assume any? Why should number
Of Individual merchants be required to indem-
Nifty the government for a loss sustained in the
most important public service which it is now
called upon to performs 1t is true that the
New York merchants have manifested an apathy
and indulgence in this matter of the priva-
teers which is as unfortunate as it Is in
explicable. The example set by Boston,
and the still more brilliant exploit of the
people of Portland, which entities them to i'm
mortal honor and puts the lethargy Of the Navy
Department to shame, should teach our mer-
chants lesson rs to the duty and necessity Of
self-protection. Pennsylvania, too, might learn
from the PortIanders the fruiton Of the old
Greek proverb, !" that God helps those who
help themselves II the spirit which animated
the citizens Of Portland was prevalent in Penn
sylvania there would not be an invader on her
soil to-day bombarding her capital and striking
terror into her people. ss15r


The protection Of the coasts should not be
left solely to private enterprise and private
valor The government should charter the
feet of magnificent steamers now lying idle in
this harbor aud send them to sea at once, be-
| fora rrnor loo az