Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-16
U-Hr. Adams to MIR. Rush.

U-iIr. Adams TO MIR. Rush.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Vdshington, 29h .nay, 1921
SIR f: The convention between the United
States and Great Britain, for the suppression
oi the African slave trade, is herewith trans
United to you, with the ratification on the
part OF the United States, under certain mo-
uihcations and exceptions, annexed as condi-
tions 10 the advice and consent of the Senate
tn IT. ratification.
The participation Of the Senate of the q.
Srates IN the final conclusion of all treaties to
winch they are parties, is already well known
to the British government and the novelty
OF the principles established by the conven
lion, as well as their importance, and the re-
fulste assent of two thirds of the Senators
present to the final conclusion ofevery part Of
ralifrd treaty, will explain the causes of IDS
ratification under this form. II will be seen
that the great and essential principles which
form the basis of the compact are admitted,
I" Their full extent, In the ratified part of the
convention. The second article, and the ppr-
uon oil the seventh which il is proposed TO ex-
pnnge, are unessential TO the plan, and were
not Included in the project Of COZ entioD trans
united TO you from hence. They appsar. in
ueed, To be, so far as concerned the United
States, altogether imperative, since they could
not confer the power Of capturing slave traders
under the dag of a third party-a power no,
elaImed,eitb by the u. States, or G.. Britain.
unless by treaty, and The U. States having no
such treaty with any other power II is pre-.
sumsd that the bearing Of thsse articles was
exclusively upon the flags of those other ma
tiohs with which Great Britain has aIreadv
treaties for the suppression Of the slave trade.
and that. while they give an effective power
to the officers of Great Britain, thew conferred
none upon those Of the United States.
The exception of the coast of America
from the seas upon which the mutual power of
capturing the vessels under the nag Of either
party, may be exercised, had reference. in the
views Of the Senate, doubtless, to that oast of
The United States. Ga no part Of the coas;
unless within the Gulf of Mexico, is there r.
ny probability that slave trading vessels will
ever be found. The necessity for the exercise
on the authority of capture is, therefore. no
greater, than it would be upon the coast of
Europe. In South America, the ONLY COAST In
which slave traders may be hereafter exnect-
ed to resort, is that Of Brazil, from which i,
is TO be hoped, they will shortly be exp.lIed
by the laws Of the country.
The Limitation by which each party /, lcf,
at liberty To- renonnce the convention, by six
months'no to the other, may, perhaps. be-
iiseiui IN roconciIlng other nations TO the A.
of,C
the convention are TO be permanentlr main.
tanned, this limitation must undoubt,d,v b..
Abandoned; and when the public mind snail
have been familiaTized to the practical one
ration OF the system, il is not doubted that this
reservation VIII, on all sides, be readily given I'm.
In g'sUs these explanations 10 The British
Government, you will state that the President
was July prepared 10 have ratified the con
vention without alteration, as il had been
signed by you. He is aware that the cond;.
tioDa ratification leaves the British Govern
meDt at liberty TO concur therein. or 10 decl;n.
the ratification altogether but he will mt
disguise the wish, that. such as il is il n.v
receive the sanction Of Great Britain. and n.
carried into effect. When the concurrence. nj
both governments has been AT length obtained
by exertons so long and so anxiousIy con,
iinued, TO principles so important, and for pur-
poses OF so high and honorsble a character.
II would pro'ea severe disappointment to the
friends oil freedom and of humanity, if al
prospects OF effective concert between the two
nations, ioi the extirpation of this disgrace to
civilized Dan, should be lost by differences of
sentiment, in all probability transient, upon
unessenial details.
Should the convention, as ratified on the
part of the United States, be likewise ratified
on the part Of Great Britain. yen will exchange
the ratficaiions, and forthwith transmit the
British ratified copy 10 this place. On ex-
changing the notifications, a certificate of thai
act, IS usually executed under the hand and
seal % The persons performing it, and mutually
delivered. A copy Of the form of that used in
exchanging the notifications Of the conventions
OF goth OCTOBER, 1919, is herewith enclosed.
and tappears to be the form generally used
on such occasions by the British government.
You viii transmit the certificate exchanged
win the British ratification. To complete
the documents belonging TO the negotiation. a
copycf the full power of the British Penipn.
ten'arIes, and of the protocol uf the third con-
ference are yet TO be forwarded to US.
By the ninth article Of The convention. ii Is |
provided that copies Oft, (" Of the laws Of both
Countries, actually in force, for the prohibition
ard suppression Of the slave trade, shall be |
TO every commander of the National
vessels Of either party, charged with the exc