r, is
to confound two things entirely distinct, and which really have no
sort of connection. If I take from another that which I have no right
to by the laws of the society or government under which I live, then I
am a robber; for that alone is property which the law makes property,
as one of your own great statesmen has very properly said; and if I
take life, when not essential to maintain my own rights under the laws
of that government which I recognize in my social obligations, I am a
murderer. I therefore insist upon it, that, in discussing this
subject, we regard as appropriate to the question only the _essential_
elements of piracy, and not its abuses; for piracy may exist without
inflicting these aggravated wrongs.

"Christian pirates have great regard for the welfare, temporal and
spiritual, of their fellow-beings, and oftentimes exercise the spirit
of the most self-denying missionaries. Such men and women do honor to
human nature. They are the true friends of their race.

"Now, here is piracy--a system of society and government which gives
opportunity to inculcate among graceless men who fall into our hands
the principles of the Gospel of Christ; and many an ungodly man has
had the opportunity in our cabin of hearing the doctrines of the
cross, who, whilst immersed in the business, and cares, and pleasures
of life, never darkened the door of a meeting-house on land. And many
of them have been converted to the Christian faith, and have become
excellent and worthy Christian pirates.

"Those of our captains who have Christian sailors under them have the
best-managed vessels; and really their crews do more of effective
work, both in battle and in ship duties, than any ungodly crew that
can be found.

"No, Sister Mary, depend upon it, you have imbibed a prejudice against
piracy, and you suppose it to involve all sorts of crime. But the true
question of issue between us is pruned to this:--Is it necessarily a
crime in the sight of God to control the property, or curtail the
personal liberty, or take the life of a human being in any case?

"Every government has necessarily a right to pass laws indispensable
to its existence; and it has a right, also, to establish those
regulations which shall best promote the good of the whole population.
Now, what political organization is most desirable for a particular
people, depends on circumstances; but, whatever be that adopted,
whether democracy, or despotism, or piratic