The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-04 00:00:00

ANUARY 4, 1842

THE SLAVE ;TRADE.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATN6 TO THE DETEN-
TION OF AMERICAN VESSELS ON THE AFRI-
CAN COAST BY_ BRITISH ARMED CRUISERS.
(Conti:moil from :Ike Sun of ;•;:ttnrday.) -
LORD ARERLIEEN TO MR. STEVENSON.

Foreign-office, ()et. 13, 1841.
The undersigned, her M ijeety'e prirecierl Secretary
of State for Foreign Afreiss, line had the honour to re-
cei% e the note of Mr. Sc!-. e ison,Etivoy Extraordinary and
Mioister Plerlipotenthry of the United States of America,
dated on the 10th of September, in continuation of a
correspondence with the predecessor of the undersigned
in this office, and relating to the visitation of vessels
bearing the American fl tg, and suspected of being
engaged in the African slave trade.
If the unde:signed feels it necessary te offer some
remarks upon the note of Mr. Stevenson, he is desirous
of doing so in the mariner LeA calculated to ensure a
candid and impartial consideration ; for he would deeply
regret • that any harshness or asperity of expression
should aggravate the difficulties of a subject which is,
at all times, but too liable to produce excitement and
irrita'ion. The undersigned is-aware of the suscepti-
bility of national feeling in all drat affects national ho-
nour, and he requests Mr. Stevenson to believe that it
is with the most unfeigned respect for the rights, honour,
and independence of' the United States, that he now
proceeds to address th.cm. •
The undersigned will forbear from entering into
any particulars of the visitation of the vessels which
has.formed the principal matter of Mr. Stevenson's
complaint to her M ejesty'e„ Liveraienent, and which has
been fully discussed- in his correspondence with the
predecessor of the undersigned.
That proceeding may have been justifiable or other-
wise, and the undersigned will be prepared, if necessary,
to enter with Mr. Stevenson into the details of the
question ; but his present object is that of a more
general nature. Ile is desirous of placing very briefly
before Mr. Stevenson the consequences of those
principles which he has laid down, and to ap-
peal to his candour—the undersigned had almost
said to the dictates of plain sense—in order to reject
such a conclusion as that which must necessarily flow
from the arguments contained in Mr. Stevenson's note.
Mr. Stevenson claims for the American flag an abso-
lute exemption from all interference, and utterly denies
the right of the British Government, under any circum-
stances whatever, to visit, in time of peace, merchant
vessels bearing the flag of the Union.
Mr. Stevenson quotes the opinion delivered by Lerd
Stowell upon this subject, who declares that, in order
to extirpate this odious traffic, it would not be lawful to
capture vessels, even if they had slaves on board ; and
a's') that, for the same purpose, however laudable, no
right of search could be adrdtted to exist.
Now, the undersigned is the last person who would
presume to question the authority of the distinguished
jurist to whom Mr. Stevenson has referred. But Mr.
Stevenson will recollect that the judgment of Lord
Stowell was delivered in the case of a French vessel
which had actually been captured, and was condemned
by a British tribunal. The sentence was reversed by
Lord Stowell, in the year 1817. At that period Great
Britain had no reason to presume that the slave trade
was regarded as criminal by the whole civilised world,
or that all nations bail united their efforts for its sup-
pression. And, even if such had been the case, it
would have been very far from affording coy justifica-
tion of the sentence reversed. But the-undersigned
must observe that the present happy concurrence of the
States of Christendom in this great object, not merely
justifies, but renders indispensable, the right nom claimed
and exercised by the British Government. Toe under-
signed readily admits that to visit and search American
vessels in time of peace, when that right of search is
not granted by treaty, would be an infraction of public
and independence.
lawßat annad
sea ve nh
t iso fansasteirotneadl. digni ey
We sincerely desire to respect vessels of -the United
States, but we may reasonably expect to know what it
reedy is that we respect. Doubtless the fig is prima
fircie evidence of the nationality of the vessel ; and if
this evidence were, in its nature, conclusive and irrefragi-
ble, it ought to preclude all further inquiry. But it is
sufficiently notorious that the flags of all nations are
liable to be assumed by those who have no right or title
to bear them.

Mr. Stevenson himself fully admits the extent to
which the American Wig has been employed for the pur-
pose of covering this infamous traffic.
Thi undersigned joins witta.-Mr.'Stevenson in deeply
lamenting the evil, and he agtes with him in thinking
that the Uaitcd States ought not to be considered re-
sponsible for this abuse cf their flag. But if all inquiry
be resisted, even when carried no farther than to ascer-
tain the nationality of the vessel, and i.npunity be claimed
for the mast lawless and desperate of mankind in the
commission of this fraud, the undersigned greatly fears
that it may be regarded as something like an assutnp-
tiim of th►t responsibility which has been deprecated by
Mr. Stevenson.

While Mr. Stevenson deplores the prevalence of elis
abuse, and the nefarious character of the trade, can he
be satistiA that no remedy should be applied or at-
tempted ?

The undersigned hopes and believes that the number
of bona fide American vessels engaged in the trade is
very small, and thus the danger of interference with such
vessels by British cruisers must he of rare occurrence.
Mr. Stevenson will admit that his objection to this
interference would, under any circumstances, tend in its
consequences to the protection of an abominable traffic,
stigmatised by the whole Christian world ; but the con-
fession of Mr. Stevenson that the trade is extensively
carried on under the fraudulent use of the American
nag, does in truth justify the whole claim put forward
by the British Government.
It constitutes that reasonable ground of suspicion
which the law of nations requires in such a case. The
admitted fact of this abuse creates the right of inquiry.
The undersigned renounces all pretension on the part
of the British Government to visit and search Ameri-
can vessels in time of peace. Nor is it as American
that such vessls are ever visited. But it has been the
invariable practice of the British Navy, and, as the un•
dersigned bel eves, of all navies in the world, to ascer-
tain by visit the real nationality of merchant vessels met
with on the high s.3as, if there be good reason to appre-
hend their illegal character.

In certain latitudes, and for a particular object, the
vessels referred to arc visited, not as American, but
ether as British vessels engaged in an unlawful traffic,
and carrying the flag of tt:e United States for.a criminal
purpose, or as belonging to States which have by treaty
conceded to Great -Britain the right of search, and which
right it is attemptel to defeat by fraudulently bearing
the protecting- flag of the Utlion; cr finally, they are
visited as piratical outlaWt, poisessing no claim to any
flag or nationality vilmt•cver.

Now, it can scarcely be maintained by Mr. Stevenson
that Great Britain should bZI bound to permit her own
subjects, with British vessels and British capital, to
carry on before the eyes of British officers this detest-
able triffic in human beings, which the law has declared
to-be piracy, merely because they had the audacity to
commit an additional offence by fraudulently usurping
the American flag._

Neither could Mr. Stevenson, with more reason,
affirm that the subjects of States utile!' Lave granted to
Great Brit•tin the right of search should be enabled to
violate the obligation of their treaties, by displaying the
flirof the Union, contrary to the will and in defiance
of the American Government itself.

Still less would Mr. Sitltenson pretend to claim im.
munity for piratical adveuturers who should endeavour

to shelter their lawless proceedings tinder the ensign of
the United.Stites.

--- ---
But, unless Mr. Stevenson be prepared to maintain
it
these propositions, the whole fabric of his argument falls
to the ground ; for the undersigned admits that if the
flag that no vessel beating cruiser, except under
British cruiser should possess a knowledge of the Ame-
rican character of any vessel, his vis,tation of such ves-
sel would be entirely unjustifiable.
lie farther admits that so much respect anti honour
oughtare du due to b
e thevisi t
ed b Americany a British
the most grave suspicions and well-founded doubts of
the genuinent ss of its character.
The undersigned, a'though with pain, must add, that
if such visit should lead to • the proof of the American
b orioin of the ve:sol, and that she was avowedly engaged
in the slave trade, exhibiting to view the manacles, let-
ters, and other usual impigments of torture, or had even
a number of these unfortunate beings on board, no Bri-
tishofficer could interfere farther.

Ho might give information to the eruisers of the
voyage ya
rUesntitoerdiSmtpactdese, but it itprweoseueliul
prosecution of
obfe
thein hisUge and the
power to or-
success of the undertaking.
It is obvious, therefore, that the utmost caution is
necessary in the exercise of the right claimed by Great
Britain. While we have recourse to the necessary, and
indeed the only means for detecting imposture, the prac-
tice will be carefully guarded, and limited to cases of
strong suspicion. The undersigned begs to assure Mr.
Ste% enson that the atost precise and positive instructions
have been issued to her Majesty's officers on this subject.
The United States have stigmatised this abominable
trade in terms of abhorrence as }Aron. as the people.of
this country. Tney are also actively engeged in its
suppression. But; if, instead.of joining their efforts to
those of Great Britain, and labouring with her for the
attainment of this great blessing to humanity, the United
States had .wished to Follow a different Course, the rea-
soning employed in Mr.Stevsnson's note is precisely such
as would be resorted to for its defence and justification.
The undersigned, with his conviction of the perfect
good faith and sincerity of the Government of the

U:.ited States, would almost fear to offend Mr? Steve-
nson even by disclaiming any such suspicion ; but he be-
lieves Mr. Stevenson will agree with him in lamentug
that the effects of the policy of the United Stitt shou'd
have any tendency to create a different impression in the
minds of those who arc disposed to think less favourably
and less Fist!), upon this subject.
Great Britain Makes no pretension, claims no right,
which she is not ready and desirous to concede to the
United States.

A mutual right of search, regulated in sues a mon-
ner as to prevent the occurrence of any irritating circum-.
stances, has elways appeared to the undersigned to ba
the most simple, r.r.d most effectual method of attaining
the great object which both Governments have in view.

But this proposal has already been rejected by Cie
United Stites, and the underigned is not instructel
again to offer it for consideration.
It, is for the Aaerican Government alone to doter-
mine what may be duo to a just regard for their national
dignity and national interests ; but the undersigned
must be permitted to express bis conviction, that rights
which have been mutually conceded to each other by
the Governments of Great Britain and France can
scarcely be incompatible with the honour and indepen-
dence of any State upon the face of the earth.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to re-
quest of Mr. Stevenson to accept the assurances of his
distinguished consideration. ABERDEEN.
A. Stevenson, Esq., &c.