Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-15

extend it in time of peace, to any object whatever,
| might establish precedent which Nigh, lend la
others with some powers, aud which, even ii con-
Gncd to the instance specified, might be subject TO
grca; abusc.
| Animated by an ardent desire To suppress this
trade, the United States took stronger groand, by
making it, by the act above referred 10, piratcal
measure more adequate tn the end, and free from,
many Of the objections applicable To- the plan which
had been proposed To them. 1t i: this alternative
winch the Executive, under the sanctions and in-
functions above stated offered to the British govern
mcnt, and which that government has accepted
ny making the crime piracy, the right OF search at
tachcs to the crime, and which, when adopted by
all nations, will be to all and thar il Will
lie adopted, may fairly loo presumed, il steadily
pcrscvcrcd III by the parties 10 the present ccnven-
ton. In the mean TING, aud with ii view To Il fair
experiment, the obvious course seem 10 be- TO carry
into effect, with every power, such treaty as may be
made with each in suCccsSiou.
In prcscn,sng this alternative to the British go
vcrnncnt. it was made an Indispensable condition,
tina; the trade should be made piratical by act Of
Parliament, as ii had been Ivy an act of Congress.
| This provided for in the convention, and has
since been complied with. In this respect, there
fore, the two nations rest the ground. suit
able provisions have also been adopted, to protect
each party from the abuse of tho power granted to
the public ships of the other. Instead of subjcctng
the persons detected III the slave trade TO trials by
courts of the captors, would be the if sucI,
| u
ted that, until that event, they shall be tried by the
courts of their own country only. Hence, Their,
could be no motive for an abuse OF the right OF
search, since such abusc could not fail to tcrmnac
to the injury of the captor.
Should this convention be adopted, there is every
reason to believe, that it will be the
Of system destined to accomplish the entire abo-
lion of the slave trade. Great Britain, by making
it her own confcsscdy adopted at the suggestion of
the United States and ing pledged to propose and
urge It's adoption by other nations, in with
the United States, will find il for her interest To a
bant}on the less effective system of her previous
treaties with Spain, Portugal, Ind the Netherlands,
and to urge those and the other powers, their
ccssion this. The crime will then be universally
prescribed as piracy, ana the traffic be suppressed
for
Other considerations of high Importance urge
the adoption of this convention. We have at this
moment, pending with Great Britain. sundgy other
negotiations, intimately connected with the welfare,
and even with the peace OF cur Union. In one Of
them, nearly third part Of the territory OF the state
oil Maine Is IN condensation. In another, the navi
ga,in Of the st. Lawrence, the admission of con-
sulS into the British Islands, and system OF COM
mcrcial intercourse between the United States and
al! tie British possessions i'll this hemisphere,
subjects of discussion. In third, our territorial
and other rights upon the Northwest coast, are to
be adjusted; while = negotiation on the same in
tcfcs is opened with Russia In Il fourth, all the
most important cortrOvcTtibe points of maritime
law, iii time OF war. brought under considera-
ton: and. i'll the fith, the whole system of South
American concerns, connected with general rccog-
milton Of South American Independence, may a.
gaiu. from hour 10 hour, become, it has already
been, an object of concerted operations of the high
CT interest TO boil. na;ons and 80 the peace Of the
world.
II be Disguised, tllat The rejection Of this
conventions could not fail have ii very injurious
influence en- the good understanding between the
two governments. all these points. That il would
place the Executive administration under cnibar-
rassmcnt, and subject it, tie Congress, and tie ma
ton, 20 the charge Of ins;ncciiy respecting The
great result of tie final Suppression Of the slave
trade and that lis first snd indispensable COR
sequence viii be- 20 cnnSra;, the Executive to ss-
pe.d ai further negotiations with every Euroncan
a!d'American power- to - ich ovcriures have becn
made. III compliance with tic resolution of the House
CT Representatives,, o! the 18th February, 1928
must be obvious. 20 invite all nations, viii, the
sfstut; OF piracy il hands, to nbor; Its pynci-
pies the law of ra,ons and vet TO deny to all
the common rights Of search FOR the pirate, whom il
would be Impossible TO detect, without entering and
seachiug tic vessel, would expose US, simply to
the charge OF Inconsistency.
II must be Obvious that the re-: teton of search
for the pirates t!ic African coast is INCOMPATIBLE
with the idea Ci such crime. Ii is not doubted
also, IL the convention a; adopted, that no example
OF the commission q! Han crime, by the citizens or
subjects Of either power, will ever occur again. IL
is believed, therefore, :hat this right rs applicable
TO piracy, would not only extirpatc the trade but
prove altogether innocent i'll its operation.
In further Illustration of the views of Congress,
en this subcct, transmit to the Senate, extracts
irom two resolutions of the House of Representa-
tivGs, Of the 9th February 1921, the other of
]2tii April, 1922. transmit, also letter from the
Charge h'AGaifes of the British government, which
shows tic deep intcrcs; which that government takes
i'll the ratiGca ton Of the treaty.
JAMES MONROE
Hashhgton, olst .noy, 1928.
The extracts from tine reports are omitted TO.
wait of room.