Daily National Intelligencer

FROM THE ENQUIRER.

Capt. Biddle, in his manly exculpation in our newspapers, still appears to lay down one position, that we are disposed to deny. He justifies it, not upon principle, but on precedent. He cites cases where British vessels of war have covered the treasure of Spain, and conveyed it in safety for her use. Capt. Biddle admits that he did the same thing. But we should be sorry to see it become a practice with the American navy. Our armed ships are built for no such purpose. They are not vessels of burthen, but of war. They are not built to receive freight, but to protect the rights and advance the interests of their own country. If the American officer is in the habit of doing these things for pay, there is danger lest that nice sense of honor, which forms the brightest sentiment in their character, should become tainted by the breath of avarice. Besides, does it become a neutral nation to protect by force enemy's property (and if money, why not goods?) from the belligerent rights of the other enemy? In case of shipwreck, an exception is allowable. In case of danger from pirates, the thing is right enough. It is but an act of courtesy, which does not interfere with the just rights of any other party; but is it right in the case before us?