February 2, 1863, The New York Herald
The operations of the Sumter, when she first began her depredations upon American commerce, put up insurance premiums so high upon all freights taken in American vessels as to cause many American merchants to turn their vessels over to English owners, who sail them under the English flag. Since then we have had the Alabama, and now the Florida and the Retribution, and probably the Harriet Lane, to prey upon American commerce, which is being driven into English vessels. Should the rebel privateers be allowed any further impunity in their raids against American commerce they must bring it to a close, as we shall be unable to find shipments for American vessels. It must be apparent to all that, should two or three rebel vessels of war get into the Pacific, they would cause a total cessation of American commerce on that ocean. We make these statements to call President Lincoln attention to facts which clearly concern him. If his officials are not competent it is his duty to procure the services of others who may prove equal to the emergencies of the hour. He cannot from sheer carelessness allow our commerce to be annihilated by two or three rebel privateers.