Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-30

sons One, because they had an invinCibie re- {
puguance to subject their merchant vessels TO
the maritime search of foreign officers, in time
Ufpcacc: and the other, because they could
not subject their citizens to the jurisdiction Of
foreign. tribunals, upon trials, for offences a.
rairist their laws.
g Al the conferences Of Verona, the British
Government appears to'havc proposed, that the
African slave trade should be declared piracy
by tic law of nations. This is the same pro- |
position recommended by the resolution of the
House of Representatives of the United States.
The ultimate object of the United States and of
Great Britain, therefore, is the same.
" The negotions suggested by the resolution |
OF the House, must depend, materially, for their
character and progress, with reference to other |
powers, upon the event OF that which is thus |
pending with Great Britain. The instructions
TO the ministers vi the United States in other
countries have, therefore, been only OF gene
raj charactcr.n
Portugal is the only maritime power of Eu-
rope which has not yet declared the slave trade,
without exception, unlawful. Her inter.
nal situation has, perhaps, recently tended to
dimlnst the itilueuce of thuse interests, which
have heretofore prevailed 10 delay and postpone
her acquicscence III the principle of total pros
scripton upon that trade. Ii is hoped that she
will not much longer resist the predomipating
spirit of the age, calling loudly upon the ri.
tcrs OF mankind eifectuaily to put down the cry
ing sin of that abomiuablc traffic
In communicating to tue Portuguese GO
Vernineut copies oil the resolution of the House
OF Representatives, and of the laws of the chi
ted States prohibiting the slave trade, YOU will
state, that the government of the United States
VIII be ready to enter, at any tune when il NAV
suit the views Of that of Portugal, upon the ne
gotiation contemplated By the resolution
M R'as to .nr. .1anas, gicing him the sub
''ant- ofa conversation, ,ciM .N, Canning
lENTRACTs.l
Lo>no>, Oct. Q, 1898.
This latter subject,n 1.-THE slave tradc( :. no
said 1t was his wish To take in hand with me him
SELL and thus keep il detached from the gene
ral Negotiation"
- ~ hist we were speaking OF the mele Of
taking mp the question OF the sI;:yc trade did
not scrupie to Intimate even al this ea,lv stage
mat, unless this government was prepared To-
say, that 1t would cause u statute 10 he passed
declaring the trade by its own subjects to he
piracy, and rendering il punishable as such. in
manner as had been done blythe United States
that ! was not authorized To make any-nroposals
upon the subject; that this in fact, was the only
basis upon which 1t fell within the intentions of
my Goyornmsnt 10 attempt any arrangement of
me subject whatever. was happy to hear Mr..
Canning say, in reply, that he did not. sneak
ing frotn,Ais first Impressions, see any ipsnr
n'ountablc obstacle, upon this Store TO orr nr,
ceeJins with tbs subject"
z2ftf1ct from No. II, Of Mr.. Sheldon, Chnr-t
a. .iT0'es Of tie United States at Paris, to
tic Secretary IF State.
PARIS, Oct. 1G, 1923.
sin the same conference. also informed
Mr.. Chateaubriand OF the House Of Represen-
fi,iyes respecting the slave trade, which made
the subject of your despatch No. ? of the lb
OF August. He repeated, IN substance, what
he had before stated to Mr.. Gallatn, in CONVEX
sation, viz that the French Government were
sincerely DESTROYS of putting an end TO that
trade, and were taking all the measures in their
power TO ettcctit by pursuing offenders and ex-
ecuunS rightly the laws nov in existence; but
that the pubic opinion, generally, in France.
and more especially in the Chambers, was a.
gainst Ii, OWING, not only to the prevalence of
the Colonial interest in the question, but parti-
Sularly, TO the circumstances under which their
stipulation with England upon this subject hid
been made: 81 tender were they upon tits mint |
that the proposition of adding rigors to their
laws, would DE taken as new concession TO |
that power, and, instead of being adopted in the
Chambers, would be more likely to provoke an
attempt to repeal the prohibitorv measures al
ready established, in order to rid themselves in
that way, Of of the charges imposed uoon
them by the foreign occupations that time was
necessary TO wear away these impressions: and
until that should have arrived, To minister in
France could be strong enough upon this point
to o more than To watch over the execution nj
the laws already IN force, which they were NOW
disposed 10 do. Sally and faithfully, and which
ifnot entirely efficient, least made. the prose
cution OF the trade, uDdcr tic Ircnc!! flag, ha
zay,lous ard difficult.
1T present, therefore, ii is not probable that
France VII consent to tfc proposal of the Presi
dent, to enter upon the negotiation cout,Inola- !
ted by the resolution % the House OF Reprtscn |!
tatives. have, however, made the proposal, |!
IN obedience To your directions; and have tie |
honor to enclose copy OF the letter 10 Viscou!t |
&c Chateau brand, III which tlye commune
Gated TO him that resolution"
Ertrnc'e from No. II IF .s!y. S5cAIou. (Uorce
IL .ifaireS, to tic Secycfaqy IF Stute, d4t,d
"PARis, Nov. D, 1928.
al Invc received answers from Viscount de
Chateanbriapd, OH the subject of the new and
more effective measures proposed agains. the
ssavg trade"
Son tue sub cCt Of tie slave traIe. The an !
swcr manitests disposition to adopt such new
provisions as may be found necessary, for its
more eifcctnai suppression; and this disposition
really exists; but, after what Mr. de Chateau
brand had stated in conversations and which
haye already communicated, these new and
more rigorous Legislative provisions can only bc
introduced gradually, and sorae tune will be re-
CURED for efecting that purpose"
Nh. Shelton 10 he TiSeovnf de CJgfcy,L,;o,j
PANS, Oct Is, 1923.
Srn: The Minister OF the United States 10
this Court had, some time before he LEFT Paris
transmitted to yo7r Ezceficncy copies of the
laws s"ccessiveiy adopted by the United States