The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-17

si,y, may invade the territory of the other would
inevitably lead to results equally to he depored by
! both. When boder collisions come 10 receive The
sanction, or 10 he made on the authority OF either
Government, general war must be the inevitable re-
suit. While it is the ardent desire Of the U. States
| to cultivate the relations of peace with all ations
and 10 fulfil all the duties of good neighbolhood
| towards those who possess territories adjoining
their own, that very desire would lead them To
dcny The right of any foreign power TO invade their
boundary with any armed force. The corrcspon-
! dence between the two Governments on this sub
ect, will, future day Of our session, be commit
led to your consideration; and in the mean time |
cannot but indulge the hope that the British Gov
eminent will see the popfiely OF renonncing, as Il
rule Of future action. the precedent which has
been set N the alIair OF schlosser,
herewith submit the correspondence which has
recently take place between the American Min
'ster at the Court OF st. james, Mr. Stevenson, and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs OF that Government,
on The night claimed by That Government to vest
! and dean vessels sailing under the American flag
and engaged IN prosecuting lawiGl commerce III
the Ai'lenn seas Our commercial 'nteros' IN That
region have experienced considerable hcreRse,and
nave become AN obJect oil Much importance, ana II
Is the duty OF l''s Government to protect them
against all improper and veXn'lons interruption, -
However desWous the United States may be for
suppression OF me slave trade, lhey consent 10 IN
Temptations into the mntImc code, at the mere
VIII and pleasure OF other governments, we de
ny the right OF any such interpolation to any one,
or all the nations OF the t.arth,"lhout our consent
we claim to lave vore IL al amendments or
alterations OF lhat coue--alu "heh we are gwen
TO underSiand' us IN tins Instance ny foreign gov
erh'l'rh'' 'hal is lfeA'es WIN o'met nations cHl-
not be executed without Inc establishment ana cn-
loraemrnt OF new principles oil hafI'lMe police, to
De opP"'d without our consent, we must employ Il
language neither OF equNocal import, or srSrcpIl-
be OK MISREPRESENTATION American citizen; prose-
cutting la"lnI commerce IN the African seas, pn-
ger inc has cl lheii country, are not responsible
Ior the abuse or unlawful use OF tina, Tag by others;
nor can lhey rlghlluI'y on account OF my snch al
legged abuses, be interrupted, noGsted or detained
Wh'o on the ocean, and II thus moeSled or de-
tanned while pursuing honest voyages, III the usual
way, aud rioatmg no law themselves, they are
unquoSiiOnubIy entitled 10 indemnify.
This government has manifested It's repugnance
to the slave trade, in manner which cannot be
misunderstood, BY It's fundamental law, it pre-
scribcd limits in point Of time to its continuance;
aud against its own citizens, who might 50 far for
get the rights Of humanity as to engage in that
wicked traffic, il has long since, by lis municipal
laws, denounced the most condign punishment
Many of the States composing this Union, had
made appeals to the civilized world for its sup
pr2ss!on long before the mora! sense Of other ma
lions had become shocked by the nquilcs Of the
traffic Whether this government should now en-
ter into treaties containing mutual stpWla'ions upon
this subject is question for its mature deIibea-
ton Certain it is, that if the RICH to dctain Amer-
can slips on the hgh seas can be justified on the
pou Of necessity for such detention, arising ont
Of the existence ofreaIes between other nations,
The sainc plea may be extended and enlarged by
the new siipulalions of new treaties, to which the
United states may not be party, This govern
menl will not cease to urge upon that Of Great
Britain, full and ample remuneration for all losses
whether arising fiom detention or otherwise, to
which American citizens have heretofore been, or
may hereafter be subjected, by the exercise Of
rights wh.h This government cannot recognise us
legitimate and proper Nor will indulge doubt
but that the sense Of Justice of Great Britain will
coustnin her to make retribuion for any wrong, or
loss, which any American citizen engaged ia the
prosecution Of lawful commerce, may have eypc-