The threat of the seceding States to fit out privateers, impels the Boston Traveller to offer the following suggestion for the protection of merchant ships:
By way of precaution, we would advise ship owners to put a couple of long nines on board of every ship of 1,000 tuns and upward, and a good supply of small arms to guard against all contingencies. It is possible, in the event of hostilities, that the buccaneering practices or fifty years ago may be revived in the West Indies, not by the Southerners, but by those reckless wretches who are in the habit of manning slavers.
These fellows are ever on the alert for plunder; and only require the semblance of excuse to prey upon unprotected merchantmen. Many of their expeditions, in times past, were performed in boats: they would steal on board a boat at night, surprise and murder the crew, plunder and set fire to the vessel. Against such desperadoes we caution our ship owners to be on their guard. Each of our West India traders ought also to have at least one long gun, a few rifles and cutlasses to beat off boats. A little display of force has saved many a vessel from being plundered, and may again.
Cincinnati Daily Press, Cincinnati, OH