Year: 1861

Ill
that tie piratical policy of JEFF. Davis is to be
pushed with great activity. 1t was to be ex-
pected. Plumber is so perfectly in accordance
with the everyday life of men who lIve in times
| Of pcacc upon the enforced ard reuctant labor
of slaves, that IN times Of war they naturally re-
sort to the twin relic Of neutrality-suspicious.
TO prey upon the helpless aud to live upon wealth
that no effort Of theirs has had any hand in
producing is necessarily the first step they re-
sort to.


The blow they may strike at Northern
commerce may prove very serious one. We do
not forget that they are not a maritime people, but
still there are slips owned 10 Southern ports, and
more are detained there belonging to Northern
owners. There are ships enough, therefore,
which will either be- voluntarily entered 10 their
seryce or forced into it to make a Formidable
feet against marmed merchantmen. Upon no
otter point Mt which rebellion now threatens us
is there 50 much denger of serious defeat and
loss rs this 1t is not merely that very heavy
disasters may be visited upon the commercial
community in direct loss of ships aud cargoes to
owners in cases where insurance covers no war
risk, and TO underwriters. where such rish is n-
cludcd in the polices--but commercial credit
would be shaken BY the apprehension Of lndel-..c
disaster, and public confidence disturbed by un-
necessary defeat.


Had the Southern harboTs been bockaded at
the instant of Dayiss Proclamation of Piracy,
but few if any of the cojsars would have got to
sea. But every one of those ports at the latest
accounts, was still open, and the pirates pre-
vented from going to sea only by the paper per-
suasons of the President Whether the Gov
crnment has done all it could since the 4th Of
March, to concentrate a squadron upon the
coast. of force sufficient to meet the eIigency
which ne events of the three previous months
rendered probable, or. at least, possible, we need
not stop to inquire certain il IL that for some
cause either the want of ships or the want Of
energy IN using those We have, the Southern
ports are still OPEN and the seas may be infested
with pirates before any blockade is established.
Norfolk, it is true, is completely shut up from
the ocean BY Fort Monroe, if Fort Monroe should
use her guns. But she has not done il hitherto,
though vessels, it i, supposed, loaded with am
munition for the use Of the enemy have passed
under their muzzles, and her commandant it is
said, is permitting batteries TO be erected which
can be for no other purpose than 10 attack his
post. But even if Fort Monroe sha receive or
dcrs to enforce blockade of Norfolk, the more
dangerous ports further South still left open.
Now, under such circumstances would it not
be well for the merchants to use some Of the
energy and enthusiasm which, in this city, can
not find sufficient outlet, for the protection OF
commerce Hitherto, the demand has been for
marching regiments but the immediate necessity
for that arm Of defense has ceased to be impera.
tive. A more pressing need is for marine SER
vice. One, two, or three steamers could be
sent out from this port, and would render very
effective protection to our exposed commerce.
Not having TO encounter men of war, they
would need only such armaments as would
enable them to overcome ships carrying only
guns enough to make them formidable to vessels
nearly or totally unarmed. There are steamers
enough, guns enough, and men enough who
would gladly enlist in such service, in this city;
it only needs that the movement should be started
with the proper energy to make it as successful
as it is important. II may save millions of
property before the Government is prepared to
blockade a single port. The people are tram
meed by no official routine, and cooperation
alone is needed to put to immediate use the
material already in existence and here at hand
for this pressing exigency. 1t is, we under
stand, already proposed among the underwriters
to purchase one steamer Immediately on their
own account: the merchants it is lOped will
take the matter up with equal energy.