Life insurances in Northern offices.
The article published in this paper yesterday, as an advertisement, from the New York
Commercial Advertiser, is well calculated to amaze all fair and honestly-disposed people.
The
Advertiser is a highly respectable journal, which was very distinguished under the editorship of
Col. Stone, one of the most just, as well as able, of the profession in his day. We consider the paper very good authority in the premises.
Taking it, then, as authority, what are we to think of the ethics which control the morality of the directors of the
Northern offices, for which that paper speaks?
The
Commercial says:
‘
"In the event of civil war, there will be four classes of assured persons in the
Southern States: soldiers of the United States army, stationed at their several posts; secessionists, Union partisans and slaves.
Policies of life insurances contain a provision in this form: 'Provided that the said---- shall, without the consent of this company, engage in any extra hazardous occupation, or shall, without such previous consent, enter into any military service whatsoever, (the militia not in active service excepted,) or in case he shall die by the hands of justice, or in the violation of any State, National or Provincial law, this policy shall be null and void.'"
’
The
Commercial continues, that a soldier has a natural right to act upon the defensive against the attack of a mob, [which epithet it applies to the
soldiers of a seceding State,] and high legal authority declares that if killed so acting on the defensive, his policy of insurance would be binding upon the company issuing it. "The officers of several companies," says the
Commercial, "though generally doubting the legality of such claims, are disposed to meet them on the ground of patriotism and honor.
The secessionists by acting against the
Federal Government at once vitiate their claims, and the
patriotic citizens of the
South are in no better position,
unless acting strictly on the defensive."
This is a new expedient to alarm the
South and intimidate resistance.
These soulless corporations, who have gotten the money of the
South, have entered the field to war against the
South; to encourage the soldiers who come to coerce Southern States, and to proscribe and injure those who are true to their allegiance to their State, to whom first of all their allegiance is due. Even a submissionist will not get his money on his insurance "unless acting strictly on the defensive!"
But this is not the worst of the proclamation of these corporations.
The
Commercial Advertiser says: "
The insurance on slaves would seem to be forfeited in any event;" for in the utter chaos that would overwhelm the
Southern States in the event of a civil contest, no claim for
life insurance upon such policies could probably be collected."
It adds: "It is safe, therefore, to suppose that the first blast of actual war between the
South and the
Federal Government would sweep away nearly $12,000,000 of Southern capital."
Thus we have a class of Northern corporations proposing deliberately to rob the
South.
What chaos at the
South can exonerate these companies from paying the policies on these slaves?
Their agents are accessible; the forms of claiming insurance under policies are plain and prescribed by themselves, and if the insured comply with them, how is it possible they can be honestly resisted?
If they are, it will be by open and unadulterated robbery.
It is bad enough that these companies are to enter the arena to take sides against Southern seceding States, (of which it is possible
Virginia may be one;) but to repudiate its obligations in the manner intimated by the
Advertiser, would be infamously dishonest.
We are clearly of opinion that every company endorsing this article of the
Commercial Advertiser should be allowed to have neither office nor agent in any Southern State.
We hope the matter will be looked into.
The Mutual
Life Insurance Company of New York, through its
President, a few days since, declared that Company would make no discriminations, and would pay its policies in seceding States just as though they had not seceded.
The Legislature ought to see that all others who insure in
Virginia should not only occupy the same position, but should disclaim any intention to enter the field to combine for the disadvantage and injury of Southern people.
The plan of war through these corporations, developed by the
Commercial, is cold-blooded and diabolical.
They are located in cities chiefly built up by Southern commerce, and whose people have waxed fat on Southern trade.
The proposition to weaken and injure those who have thus contributed to their wealth and grandeur, is one of the basest and most infamous that could be conceived.
