Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-01
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The Contention ruth Great Britain 1T is
not often that our readers have an opportunity
TO obtain such an insight into the Executive
Proceedings of the Senate, as, by the removal
Of the Injunction of secrecy from the Proceed
ings ON the Convention with Great Britain, re-
specting the further Suppression of the African
Slave Trade, we are enabled this day to afford
to them. The reader will observe that the ra-
tiication of the Convention was decidedly op-
posed, tho'stropgly pressed by cogent arguments
too, as will appear from pcrsual of his Mes
sage of the 2ist OF May. After great deal of
debate, the Convention was finally ratified, on
the evening of the 2Ist, by only three votes
more than constitutional majority. 1t is true,
the vote stood 80 TO ID in favor of The Treaty !;
but the Constitution requires the votes of two
thirds of all the members present To ratiiy a
Treaty, and, had there been two votes more a.
gainst the ratification, the Convention, even
qualified rs 1t was by amendment, would have
been rejected.
The augincnts in favor of the Tacaty, are full
ly stated in the Presidents Message aud the Di-
plomatic Correspondence. The arguments said
to have been urged, in Senate in oppostion to the
Treaty, were substantially as follows We state
them now, that the reader, who takes an interest
| in the subject, may at once have view OF the
whole ground.
s'Thc right of visit, or search, mutually con-
coded, limited as it is, would, il was contended,
''Thc scarch for siares would, at sea, it as
argued, be extended by the boarding officer be-
yond the object. Under the prctcxt of search for
slaves, american citizens might be impressed, &
our merchant vessels be again annoyed; and our
citizens insulted, by the insolencc of petty officers
of the British Navy.
=" 1t was argued, that there was no real reci-
procity in the Convention; that, while we had
necessarily as many merchant vessels as Great
Fri tain no had txpp of fn
and, consequently, we should be by farmor OK
posed to these offensive and irritating eXaInina-
tons than her commerce would be.
cit was further argued that the measure was
not necessary. We had made the slave trade
piracy, and consequently, our own cruisers could
capture and bring in for trial all americans
pecfed of this infamous traffic. This act of the
american Government had, in part, suppressed
the trade. The British Government had avow-
ed that this convention was not necessary to
suppress this traffic in their ships. The opposers
OF the treaty could not then see the benefit of
this mutual but not equal right of visit and
search. They feared that it would be seized on
as concession of the claim of search SO peril
naciously urged by the British, and resisted by
war.
&C 1t was, moreover, perceived, that the con-
vcntion was prcdicated the acts of piracy
passed by the respective governments. The
Convention was unlimited in its duration. This
might operate to place the modification or re-
peal OF law of our ow.! at the ,citt of foreign
government. against this thraldom the British
government was secured by reserying to itself
right to repeal its act, even during the pre-
sent session of Parliament The amendment
to the Convention therefore made, author
iZing either party to rcnounce it on giving six
months notice.
g The second article authorized the national
! vessels OF the parties to enter and search mer-
chant vessels under foreign flags 1t necessa-
rily resulted that the boarding officers must, in
their discretion, decide, whether this be true
false flag, and of the character of the vessel,
as well as the trade. This would bring us into
great expense and collisions, if not TO war, with
France and other nations.
"The seventh article was further objection
able, as it gave authority to cruizers TO select
their own citizens or subjects, and send them
| TO their respective countries, for trial. 1t was
seriously apprchcnded, that this would be Civ
| ing an important power to the officers of the
British navy-not only TO determine, their
own suspicion, the character of the vessel, but
| ,ct,o ,cas Il British subject. The Senate
membered the doctrine of perpetual allegiance.
! Many apprehcndcd that British subject, natu-
| raliZed III the United States, and having there
his family and home, might be taken 10 England
| for trial. and, whether convicted acquitted,
|
limited right Of search might be abused--that
there would be no rccprocity--that it might
produce collisions with other nations-form an
entanglmg alliance with Great Brtain,-anG
give power to British officers to expose to
great expense, were among the reasons against
the Convention, and i'll favor of the amend
mcnts.n G.Nat. lat.
The first object of Internal Improvement, to
| xvh irh tia octo If fIoI
sion, the attention of the Executive has been di-
rectcd, is, we understand, Survey of the pro-
| posed Route of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
to its termination on the Western waters, and
thence to Lake Erie. We congratulate our
readers that this highly important preliminary
work is about to be undertaken, by Board of
Surveyors, whose capacity and experience at.
Iford the promise Of almost mathematical accu-
racy to the results of their labors. General
Bernard, we believe, the head of the commits
sion. Capt. Poussin will accompany him. Mr..
| Shriver, who has so much practical knowledge
OF the subject, is also engaged, and has gone on
to Union town, to make the necessary arrange
ment for laborers, sc. for carrying the Sur
vey. Col. hpEee, and Mr.. Wright, Of New
! York, have been invited to form a part of the
Board, which, il is understood, will commence
operations next week. We have net heard
whethcrthcy will accept the invitation, but will
as soon IS we can, furnish our readers with the
authentic particulars of this first essay towards
the encouragement, by the General Govern.
ment, of great national works of Internal I'm
| provement. TH.
! WILLTAM p. V&N NESS, of New-York, has been
appointed by the President of the United States
with the advice and consent of the Senate, TO be
Fourth Auditor Of the Treasury, vice CONSTANT
| FREEMAN, deceased.
| THOMAS BOILING ROBERTSON has been an.