The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1845.

Match Mr. Binn's The Unknown against Mr
Duckering's Dwarf.

SECOND DAY.

The Double-hraded Oak Stakes, for three yrs old,
Mile and a half.

Maynooth, Young England, Fitzallen, Crim Con, filly
out of March First, Stoker, New Year's Day, Devil's
Dust, Young Eclipse, Sir Francis, Lady Love, Event.
Sweepstakes for all ages. T.Y C.
Voltri, 4 yrs—lsleworth, 6 yrs—Wild Roe, 3 yrs—filly
out of Lucy Banks' data, 3 yrs—The Mouse, 4 yrs—
Camelino, aged—Llangolian, 6 yrs.
The Park Stakes, for two yrs old. T.Y.C.
Corumba filly, Sir Tatton, Fitzwilliam, Marietta,
Madcap, f by Defence (h b), Buttress, Cherokee, Anna
Bullen, Morse Deer, Tug Net (Balleine), Billy Purvis.
The Pondyards Stakes for three yrs olds and upwards.

Stand Course.

Lord Chief Baron (late Sambo Sutton). aged—Priscilla
Tomboy, 6 yrs—St. Albany, 5 yrs—Florien, 3 yrs--
Volage filly, 3 rs—Wild Roe, 3 yrs—Deodara, 3 yrs.
The St. Alban's Handicap. Stand Course. Heats.

If we have ene law for the rich and another for the
poor amongst ourselves, that is no reason why we
should have one law for the weak and another for
the strong, in respect to foreign countries. Justice
demands that we should treat them all alike ; or, if
we made any distinction, it should be in favour of such
as are our best customers, and who act most honour-
ably in their pecuniary engagements with us.
Brazil now stands in the same position with re-
spect to the right of search as the United States. Our
cruisers have no more right now to board a Brazilian
than an American merchant vessel. Then how is it
to be ascertained 'that either is engaged in the slave
trade ? And, without ascertaining that point, how
can the vessels of either of those Powers be treated
as pirates ? It must be left to their own Govern-
ments to inflict any punishment or penalties incurred.

THE RETALIATORY MEASURES
OF BRAZIL.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
Mr. Macaulay very justly predicted that the un-
justifiable conduct and aggravating language made
use of in the House of Commons respecting Brazil,
would produce nothing but irritation and recrimina-
tion on her part, and such has really been the case.
We have sought to obtain by coercion what we could
have much sooner and better obtained by conciliation.
In addition to the proposed differential duty on our
cotton manufactures, the Government of Brazil have
done away with the right of search and the mixed
Commissions established by the treaties between this
country and Portugal in 1815 and 1817, and by that
of 1826, between England and Brasil.
A separate article to the treaty of 1817, adopted by
Brazil, runs thus:—
"As soon as the total abolition of the slave trade, for
the subjects of the Crown of Portugal, shall have taken
place, the two high contracting parties hereby agree, by
common consent, to adapt to that state of circumstances
the stipulations of the conditional convention concluded
at London the 26th of July last ; but in default of such
alterations, the additional convention of that date shall
remain in force until the expiration of 15 years from the
day on which the general abolition of the slave trade
shall so take place, on tl.e part of the Portuguese Go-
vernment.
" The present separate article shall have the same
force and validity as if it were inserted, word for word,
in the additional convention aforesaid. It shall be rati-
fied, and the ratifications shall be exchanged as soon as
possible.
" In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries
have signed the same, and have hereunto affixed the
seal of their arms.
" Done at London, this 11th of September, 1817.
(Signed) " CASTLEREAGH. (LS.)
" CONDE DE PALMELLA. (L.S.)"
The original of this separate article in the Portu-
guese language says, " Alas quando nao sega possi-
vel em outro ajuste,' which is translated
above, " but in default of such alterations ;" whereas
it should have been, " but in case it shall not be
possible to come to any other arrangement," which
bears a very different meaning.
However, the facts are, that in 1817 a convention
was entered into by the British and Portuguese Sove-
reigns for the abolition of the slave trade as then
carried on ; but such suppression was limited to the
coast of Africa, north of the equator, full liberty
being given to its continuance on the south of the
line. In 1823 the British Government obtained from
that of Portugal some further concessions, which it is
not necessary for our purpose to recite.
In 1826 the Government at Brazil, anxious to put
an end to the slave trade, entered into a convention
with our Government, on the 23d of November,
pledging Brazil to the observance, not only of all the
previous treaties and conventions' the mother country
had entered into, but further to the abolition of the
slave trade along the whole coast of Africa.
And in conformity with this pledge, a law was
passed on the 11 th of November, 1831, prohibiting
the importation of slaves into the empire, and exacting
penalties and punishments for any infraction thereof
—this law continues in force ;—thus the condition
imposed by the separate article was fulfilled; and as no
further arrangement took place for adapting the stipula-
tions of the additional convention of the 28th July, 1817,
to the state of circumstances arising out of this total
abolition, effected by the treaty of 1826, of course the
additional convention of 1817 would cease and de-
termine in fifteen years from the date such total
abolition took place, which was on the 23d November,
1829, three years having been allowed from the date
of the treaty, for vessels engaged in the traffic to the
south of the line to wind up their affairs, and return
to a port in Brazil.
In consequence of the expiration of the fifteen years,
all the stipulations in the conventions of 1815 and
1817 are become null and void, of course the right of
search conceded in the last of those conventions, to-
gether with the functions of the mixed commissions,
cease and determine ; but the law of Brazil, for the
suppression of the trade and punishment cf the
offenders, remains in full force and vigour, the Govern-
ment having already issued orders to all the presi-
dents of the provinces situated on the coast, and to
the commanders of the ships of war employed as
" guarda costes," to enforce its enactments.
The right of search was conceded by Portugal—
without due reflection, perhaps—at a time when she
had received great benefit from the exertions of our
armies and from the assistance afforded her by our
treasury, but she has since given proofs of repentance
at having conceded that point, whilst France and the
United States have resisted all our solicitations and
attempts to prevail on them to accede thereto. Why
should we wish to impose on less powerful states
conditions we cannot obtain from those our equals ?
The slave trade has been falling off in Brazil ever
since the year 1838, as is proved by the returns lately
laid on the tables of the House of Lords and that of
the Commons; it is not, therefore, likely that the
landed proprietors of Brazil have been obliged to mort-
gage their estates (as our West India merchants have
been compelled to do) in order to procure labourers
—consequently cannot be under the controul nor in-
fluence of slave-dealers—still less likely is it that the
Government of Brazil should be truckling to them,
at the same time that they are taking every practica-
ble measure, without submitting to foreign dictation
or interference, for putting down the traffic, of which
they have always expressed the greatest abhorrence.
How should we have felt, if, during the continuance
of our slave trade, any other country or countries
had prohibited our sugars, and threatened our seamen
employed in it with being treated by the:n as pirates,
and hung up to the yard-arm ? How should we feel it
the representatives of our sovereign at foreign courts
had been stigmatized as the abettors and encouragera
of that traffic ?