Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-27

oamagc resulting from the abuse of,b;s o,,al;fe
:. ~, oil search. And this is said to be a su,
n render OF the right of search. :
& -; .'h' IN what other way could the resoiu
5 uon Oh the House Of Representatives have hoe
!. complied WITH The ultimate den,n.Sat;o,, :,
the Save trade as piracy by the laws of nation
n was the OBJECT to be ACCOMPLISHED: and whe
.A' s"o"io nave been accomplished fts necessa
: ~ consequence, according to national law
"o'u nave occn right OF search and captur
y. an vessels OF every Tag suspected of partici
'auou IN inc slave trade. Slave traders woul
,,;.a'.. ~, " Tue same rules aud punishment tina
pirates now arc; and those suspected of part
clPation In such traffic, liable to the same do
'en''oh and treatment that pirates are. In n,
o'ner way could the laws against these cr;rui
mas nave been put in forcc.-Witi,out the riph
vi search pirates aud negro traders could ncye
oc aClected. They are tua1ai gene,is hostes
u,u .nc ia"s OF nations authorize any steps fo
their cxtirpatiou. If then, there be anv f,ul
IN inns provision, it is to be attributed to the
popular branch Of Congress, which, by vot,
Vi Iol To y, requested the Executive to con
crude treaty which could be effected in M
other way.
put THIS Convention has not Welded an,
tnnS winch 1t should have preserved; in parti
| GUAR, the government has not in any rnapnc,
asSen'ed TO the claim of Great Britain to thu
right oil search upon her principles; on .,,a COZ,
.rary, IL has expressly disclaimsd it, and all o.
tner right of search, unless based upon n treaty
ana regulated by IL and then only upon n prc.
vious condition that the search be confined r.
inc suppression of piracy. But the Secro,ar,
oi state has not merely the naked merit of car
!.hS tsie resolution OF the House of Reprcscn,
tatfcs into effect, but he is entitled TO the prea
.er praise OF having SO regulated the exercise of
'i'S right OF search, as TO prevent abuse of pow
or on the part of the searching officer.
lie rccoiicctcd right Of search, asserted nv
o'odt Dtilain. when III possession of the seas n /.
| a powerful biiIigcrcnt. He remembered ,b,.
That power claincl TO take the goods of La..
ehei'ies cut OF neutral bottom, although those
Soods were not coatrahauI-thus cytcndnr
the right which she had, rs n billimcrcnt
10 prevent ncutrals from supplying n hostile
power with warliiIe munitions, TO Il claim II, cut
Oil all commercial intercourse between ncuir;,ls
and the enemies Of England. He also rcnc,n
ocrcd that she claimed otal1e her own subjects.
from the protection of tie American flags and
mat THIS claim was rot practically confined 10
brush SUBJECTS. He recalled to his mind the
time when he stood forth as the charnpion of
American rights, against the Timothy picker
inSs AZ proudly said that he would not STOP to
calculate how many OF these wretched victims
we're natives OF Massachusetts,, and how many
natives OF Virginia. They were under the pro-
lection of the American flag, and Inc would
never assent to the right of forcing eyen Brtis!.
subjects oat of our merchant vessels.n
NTH these feelings he resolved never TO
sanction by his advice, treaty concerning the
right OF search, in which the doctrines of the
hmeriean government were not yindicatcd, and
Inc right OF our brave sailors fully sustained.
by llis strenuous opposition TO any conces-
SONS OF the right of search, upon the principles
OF Great Britain, he drew upon himself the
| charge OF being favourable to the slave trade
ana strange as 1T may appear, that charge pro
! I, LODI frfNrTp
ton to the convention originated. Another fac
transpired at that time, which is also important
as showing the principles upon which this party
| against MIR. Albums commenced their opposition.
'ir. ;. Canning, during the pendency of this
negotiation, said, that he had reason TO believe
that the Secretary of State was the only mem
Der OF the cabinet opposed to the concession oil
the right of soaroir as requested by Great Bri-
tam; and we understand that in answer to an
inquiry from whom he obtained that fact, he
gave Mr. Crawford as his authority.
The trcachery implied in such a disclosure.
On the part of a member of the cabinet, to for
eign minister, is of so base a nature that we
should not give crcdcncc to this statement, is
that part of which can alone induce incredible
ty, had not been corroborated by another fact,
connected with the opposition in the Senate,
which entirely destroys our confidencejin the
fairness Of Mr.. Crawford and his adherents.
The fact that Mr.. Canning did make the first
mentioned statement, we know; and this, con-
nccted with another fact hereafter to be men
toned, will SO far TO prove, that Mr.. Crawford
was his authority.
But we must now leave this part of our suI,-
Ject. The Secretary of State, under the influ-
cnce of these recollections, though animated by
the most ardent zeal to abolish traffic which
every hour it existed was rcproach to the age
and to human nature, determined to secure, be-
yond the possibility of evasion, the rights of our
seamcn and of our flag. He therefore insisted
upon stipulation that no part Of the cargo, nor
any person on board of the captured vessel,
should be taken oit until after the delivery Of
the vessel to the proper officers Of the govern
ncnt to which she belonged. AS her trial mast
necessarily take place before the tribunals of
her own nation, and damages may be given
by them for any improper detention or conduct,
it is unlikely that any abuse viii be made uf the
pow or conceded by this treaty.
| No abuse ever can exist without prompt and
abundant satisfaction. Besides these regulate
ons, the whole treaty is based upon the, crime
being denounced piracy, by the government
of Great Britan that being condition pre-
scribed by the treaty, our searnen are protected
| from imprcssment; and the great doctrines OF
the American government, VIZ. that the flag
shall protect the crew and cargo, for which the
predecessors Of NJ. Monroe earnestly con-
! tended, are for the first time admitted by Great
| Britain. So far as those contested principles arc
affected by this Convention, the American go
vcrnincnt has completely triuinphed. Great
Britain can never take out Of a vessel, captured
By virtue of this Convention, either British
subject, or a particle of hostile property.--She
has stipulated not to do it; but, OH the contrary,
| TO place them in the power oil an American L ouIt
of Admiralty, where no ono can fear THAT ncu-
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