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

you VIII not propose, or communicate TO them.
the enclosed project of convention. It's Objects
you Will distiiictiy understand, are two E,ld: TO
carry INTO effect the resolution of the Honse of
Representatives; and to meet, explicitly ana
| iuiiy, the call so earnestly urged by the British
government, that IN declining the proposals
Pressed by them upon us, of conce,linr a mutual
ana quaiihed right of search, we should offer n
substitute for their consideration. Tho sul,st;-
tute, by declaring the crime piracy. carries
with 1t the right of search for the pirates, exist
ing IN the very nature of the crime. But, to the
concession oi the right ofsearch, distinct from
Tue denomination of the crime our objections
remain IN all their original force.
1t has been intimated by Mr.. s. Canning,
that the suggestion ITSELF to the British Govern
,nent, OF the proprety oftheir passing TIcgisla-
tive act, might excite in them some repugnancy
70 IT. We should regret the excitement of this
feeling, which the very nature of the negotiation
seems TO forcclose. Besides the Legislative e.
nactncnts which have Virtually been pressed
npon us, by FAIL the invitations to concnlc In,
right OF search, and to subject our citizens Ia
tr1ai Tor violations of our own laws by foreirn
tribunals Great Britain. in almost all her slave
trade treaties, has required and obtained. ex-
press supulatons, for tile enactment of prohibi-
tory laws, by France, Spain, Portugal, and the
Netnsrianns. 1t was not expected that She
would receive with reluctance, herself a mere
invitation 10 That which she had freely and ex-
prcssiy required from others. Still. if the SON
iitnenl should exist, we would forbcar n,css;no
1t 10 the point oFirrtation, by iinportunity Yo1
wli IN the first instance, simply state, that if the
british Government is prepared TO proclaim the
Save trade piracy, by statute, you are authoriz
ed TO propose and TO conclude, a Convention
by which the mutual cooperation of the naval
force OF Great Britain and oftle United States
may be secured, for carrying into effect the
ia"' WINCH, on that contingency, will be COM
mon to BOTH Should the obstacle TO the prc-
liminary prove insupera5le, you will refer the
Sn)ections, on the part of the British cabinet TO
THIS government, for consideration.
' But the loose information hitherto commu-
nicated IN the public journals, il would seem
that the proposition for recognizing the slave
trade as piracy, by the Law of Nations, was dis
cussed at the Congress at Verona. We are
expecting the communication ofthc papers re-
iatns TO tins subject, promised by Lord Liver
| pool 10 be iaid before Parliament. Heretofore.
'i,nonsn the United States. have been much
solicited and urged TO coneurii, the measures of
Great britain and her allies, for the Suppression
OF the trade, they have been always commnni
cated TO Us as purposes consnnlrnated To which
the accession of the United States was desired.
From the general policy of avoiding 10 informed
1 die IN European affairs, we nave acauiesced in
I this cotrse of proceeding; but, To carry fully
INTO effect The latere;ontion oftic House of Re-
| representatives., and to pursue the discussions
hereafter, with Great Britain herself wbe,he,
upon her proposals or upon ours, il is obviously
proper that communication should DC made to
us OF the progress of European negotiation, for
accomplishing the common purpose, while it i,
III oeiberatiOn III we arc To corporate in the
result, it Is just that we should be consulted at
least, with regard TO the means which we are
invited 10 adopt.r
SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE
Il Co'accntion for the suppression IF Piracy,
coosmatcd6 by the african Sic1ue Tyuole.
ARTICLE 1.-The two high contracting pow
ers, having each separately, by its own laws,
subjected their subjects and citizens, who NAV
be convicted of carrying on the illicit traffic in
slaves on the coast of Africa, to the penalties of
piracy, do hereby agree to use their influence
respectively, with the other maritime and civl-
lied nations of the world, to the end tina. the
said African slave trade may be recognized,
and declared to be, piracy, under the law O: ma
tions.
ARTICLE Q. II IS agreed by the high con-
tracing parties, that the commanders aud com.
missioned officers of either nation, duly aulhor-
zed under the regulations and instructions of
their respective governments, to cruise on the
coast OF Africa, OF America, or of the West In
dies, for the suppression of the slave trade
shall be authorized, under the conditions. limi-
tations, and restrictions; hereinafter mentioned
to capture and deliver over to the duly author
lied and commissioned officers of the other, e,,.y
ship or pesset carrying on such illicit t,uL4c In
staccs, aaacr. the tag Of the sid other mutton,
or for tie account qfHteiy subjcctsor ca;zens, to
be sent in for t5it by tie t,.iJu-
nnts Of Gse conatry 10 tc|tcA such sl,tos ship or
Uesset shat belong. Ind the said commanders
and commissioned officers shall be further au-
thorized TO carry, or send in, any such slave
| trading ship, SO by them captured, intothc ports
of the country TO which such slave-trading shin
shall belong, for trial by the tribunals, and con
formally to the laws, of said country. But the
slave ship, so captured, shall not be sent into
the ports, or tried by The tribunals of the cap
tor.
ARTICLE 3. If any naval commander, or
commissioned officer OF the United States of A
| mcrica, shall, on the high seas, or any where
without the territorial jurisdiction of The said
States, board, cause to be boarded, ans
| merchant vessel Of Great Britain, and visit the
same slve-tradcr, or on suspicion of ner be-
ing engaged in carrying on the Illicit traffic in.
slaves, Ill every case, whether the said visited
| vessel shall be captured and delivered over, or
sent into the ports flIor own country for trial
! and ADJUDICATION, or not, the boarding officer
! shall deliver 10 tue master or commander of tie
visited vessel certificate iuwritiug, signed by
the sad boarding officer with his name, AMI tic
addition Obj rank in tie service of the Unit
cd States, and The name Of the public vessel of
| the United States, and Of her commander, by
whose order the said visit shall have been or
dered; AMI tic said certificate shall declare that
the Only object of the said visit is to ascertain
whether the said British merchant vessel is en-
gagged in the slave trade or not; and If found to