Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-13

% Upper Grosvenor street, Nov. 10, ls40.
(Received Nov. l4)


Majesty;
Mr. Stepsnton 10 riSecuni Palnution.
- Upper Grosvenor street, Nov. 10, 1910.
(Rsccived Nov. IL
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Mi
mister Pienp otentiary from the United States, has
been instructed by his Government TO transmit to
Lord PsImerston Her Maiesty's Principal Secre-
tarv of State for Foreign Afiirs the accompanying
papers, containing the evidence of another unwsr-
rantable search detention, and Ill usage oi an Anne
r,can vessel and her crew, on tho coast oil Africa,
bv one Of her Maiesly's cruisers employed for the
,nppression of the slave trade, and which. IN the
opinion Of the President, forms proper subject for
comp laint and satisfactory rcirib"ton.
The following are the prominent facts oil the
The American brig Douglas, Of DuIbury, in
Nss,.ehuset,s, Of 200 tons burden, and command
ed by Alvin Baker, master, and William Arnold,
mate, sailed from the Havana on the 9Th of Aug.
1889, laden with cargo oimerehand'se, and having
,undrv passengers on board for the port OF the RI
yer Bras. -,
suing her voyage, was boarded by Lieutenant Sc
gram, from her Malestys brissnune cruisers, the
'rermarant with some OF her crew, who proceeded
forthwith to overha al the ships papers and pasSen-
cos:d 10 be TrCSeS open, the Rmeffcun A e which
was then flying TO be hauled down, and the vessel
seized SLAYER.
That the captains papers and log BOOK were
then demanded and taken on board the IeTmagant,
m h
;er and crew from the British cruiser, who inmedi-
ately ordered the sails 10 NC SCH anu P'0ee'NeO "
sea. 49,,
At o'clock p. m. ten men were sent on board
with arms and provisions, and the passengers taken
to the Termag CAN'T and both vessels then th"ue SAL,
and stood TO the westward.
That on the 23d of October, about daylight, the
Termasant came alongside OF the Douglas win
the purscr and OF her passengers, for stores and
provisions and then returned TO the cruiser.
he LIST OCTOBER
American brig continued in charge OF her cruiser,
when they parted, aud lost sight OF each other the
brig, however, still continuing IN possession OF the
officer and men from the Termegant.
That on the 99th, and to the westward OF Pnpoe,
on the African coast. the Teymagant again appear
cd alongside OF the Douglas, and hove TO; sent the
supercargo and purser on board, ordered Capi. ia
ker on board the cruiser, and Lieut. Segram then
delivered TO him his papers, with PERMISSION TO pro-
coed on his voyage.
The Messengers were also permitted 10 return 10
the Douglas and The Termagant having taken her
prize crew aud officer on boNtd, the Douglas made
all sail Tor the river Bras.
That on the 9th Of November, the Douglas an
chOred in the Nun, river 90 the African coast,
which she lsG on the lIh OF December, and pro
ceeded in ballast 10 Curracoa, where she arrived on
the 23i o. J1nunrv, $50
Tint on the 6 n OF February, she sailed from
Curracoa with a cargo Of salt for the Havana, which
she reach on the 2!st Of that month
That in the passage from the pcstentiai coast
Of Africa to Curacao, the Douglas lost three OF
her crew; two American seamen-vlz: Hamilton
Day. of Proydsree, and Andrew C!ough, Of Bos-
ton, rnd frederick Walton, British subject who
were taken i'll and died.
That the Douglas at the time Of her sailing from
the Havana, was ughL stanch and strong, had her
match well cauked and covered, and was wei.
and sufficiently manned, and provided with all
things neediul for her voyage, and was m that STATE
when she was boarded and literally captured by the
British cruise.
Such are the facts detailed in the protest OF the
captnin and mate herewith transmitted, and which,
i, "a presumct can leave DOUBT as TO the unpro-
voked and grant character of the proceeding, or
the reparaIon due TO the rights OF the u. states,
and the honor OF their nag
In presenting the suGjsc, 10 the notice OF Her
MaiesIy's Government II cannot be neediu that
the undersigned should do more than refer Lord
Palmerston to the correspondence which has here
totore taken place between the two Governments,
and more especially TO the three notes which the
undersigned had the honor OF suaressIhs 10 MS
Lordshp, under dates of the 5Ih February, 18Th OF
- ui5 iih' aG August last. and IN express the
painful regret which the government OF the United
States feels that the Temonsances which have been
heretofore made, should have proved unnvailing in
preventing the repetition OF such abuses those
which have SO repeatedly been made the subject OF
complaint against Her Majestys naval officers.
Her Maiesty's Government cannot be insensee
of the strong desire which the Government OF the
u. s. and the nation at large, feel IN the complete
annihilalion Of the African slave trade.
The course pursued for the last 80 years is best
calculated to mark the feelings and opinions OF the
Government and people Of the United States, IN re-
Iation TO q traffic now properly regarded by most
civilized nations alike repugnant TO justice and
humanity, and which, IN relation TO the United
States is not the less so 10 all the dictates OF sound
policy.
IL IS true that the American Government have de-
clined TO become party in treaties with other ma
tons for the suppression of the slave trade. A.
shough repeatedly urged by her MnJesiy's Govern.
nent TO do so, the United ) ates have been forced 10
decline al conventional arrangements by which the
officers Of sbips-of war OF either country should
have the right TO board search, capture, carry
into foreign ports cor ADJUDICATION the vessels OF
each other engaged IN the Save trade. Indeed, II
may be well doubted, aport from other consdera-
tons whether the constitutional powers OF the
American Government: would be competent to carry
into effect those portions OF the existing system so
iIdispensaby necessary to give 1t the character Of
lust reciprocity.
These objections on the part Of the United States
have been repeatedly ard frank.y made known 20
Her Maies;y's Government, and are doubtless well
understood by the British cabinet; and the more es-
pecally so, as It an obstacle proceeding from
the same principle which II Is presumed prevented
Great Britain herself from becoming formally
party TO the whole alliance. II viii NOT however,
be unde stood that the United States have LCen IN
sensible 10 the friendly spirit Of confidence with
which these applications have been made On the
part OF Her mujesly's Government, or that the
limited States have ceased feel that strong solicit
tude Tor the total nnnlhatiOn Of the trafhc, which
has distinE the whole course Of their policy.
On the contrary, having been the first 10 abolish,
within the extent nf their authority, the transpoua-
ton of the natives Of Africa into slavery, by pro-
hibiling the introduction Of slaves, and ny punish.
ing their own citizens Tor participating in the traffic,
and having, moreover, taken the steps which u
deemed proper to prevent the abuse Of their fng by
the subjects Of other powers, The GoEeinmcdt Of
the United States cannot bui feel sincere gfauhcatOn
at the progress made bY the efforts %; Other nations,
for the general cX ucliOn ul this odD1s r1hc, and,
consequently, uuoiminishcd fc'lci.ud8 10 Cfye the
fullest efficacy 10 lh-if own laws aud regulations on
the subject
They cAnnof, however, consent that the proYi
siOns Of the treaties IN force between Great Britain
and other Powers for lts abolition, and 20 which
they are not party, shou1 be made 10 operate up.
on the CONNIE ce and citizens % the United STATES.
IL cannot but he apparent 70 Her Naie5ty's Gov.
sromsnt thgt these treaties arc Of nature which
cannot ard ought not, 70 be applied 90 the United
States under sny restrictions or notifications what
ever. end the more especially as they have neither
colonies nor the means Of crTyIng oul those mes
sures o. marintlno policy .ra surveillance which
form the basis Of these treaties and are 90 ndisDen-
SADLY necessary TO their execution.
In Withholding It's assent therefore, from the eE
isting system, and absiainIng from oil conventions
ARRANGEMENTS yielding the night OF search 10 the arm
a vessels and cruisers Of each other, Her MlIes
tvs Government must he sensible that the Unite,
States have beon Influenced sone by consideration
arising out Of the character Of their institutions an
policy, ond that having taken The measures which
h deemed 10 be eIpedisut and proper 10 relation q
this subject the Government Of the United State
can only esve 10 other nluops IN pursue freely .h
course which their Judgment OF policy may dlcin'e
.saH.. be r|