Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-02-06

formerly protected by tie civilized governments
of E.urope, the penaIt, was confined to her own
citizens, trading under the flag Of the union in
Americas, bottoms. She did not assume to her.
self the right Of search IN respect to vessels oi 9th.
er powery trading from the African coast, nor did
she yield this right to others in respect to Ame-
rican vessels. The laws against the slave trade are
nothing more than nun cipal laws having only the
force Of local legislation. until extended by treaty
stipulations. ,
The British government might Just as well de-
noupce the tobacco trade as piracy, and capture
American vessels upon suspicion Of trading in the
article, as to exercise tl,at power in relation 70
| n Nv other trade which was once universally legal.
| When . traffic is denounced by a government as
piracy, that government has only a right to com
pei the obedience of her own citizens. One or two
nations have no right TO set themselves up as arbi-
tiers for the balance of the world; to declare what
trades shall be prohibited and what shall be law
full, All innovations upon the penal international
| code must be limited 10 those governments whose
treaties expressly allow reciprocal search and sell
zurc OF vessels eontravening the new law, until
universal adoption engrafts it permanently upon the
code OF nations!
To illustrate the proposition let us take an ex-
annie which is clearly in point The opium trade
| il Just as baneful in its effeet upon civilization
as the slave trade at its worst ever was. lndeed it
IL more so. FOR the operation OF that trade is TO
brutalize the human mind and sink a people far
advanced in civilization and arts in The abyss of
stoiidi,y and degradatlonj whereas the slave trade
~broughta b~enighted race within the sphere OF en-
ligltennent and christianity. Suppose the United
States should declare the opiutn-trade piracy and
attempt 10 enforce the penalty OF such trade upon
the subjects of Queen Vietoriaf Would net this be
2 ssslmiig a bower for congress- 10 defiance of In
ternational law, and would mt England regard
the seizure OF one of her vessels On a suspicion of
Illicit traffic asjust cause of complaint, and if in
sisted in, Of war; II England herself were also to
declare that trade piracy, the two powers would
notFhay We the right, then, to interfere with the
vessels Of each other until expressly authorized by
treaty.
BY surprising for a moment, this argument not
tenable; 1t is clear that there 10 n settled design
upon the part Of British officers, il not Of the gov
ernmcu, itself to modest and insult Us. Not long
sinec on the Cd November last, m American pack
ct, HSonth America was fired Into by a British
cutter whilst entering the chanel. The cutter did
not even board the South America after this out
rage showing it to be an net Of wanton and maiig g.
nsnt triHing and indignity. Our slips are eaptur-
ed upon suspicion, our property eohiiseated when
driven into their portsby stress OF weatIler; our
citizens are assaulted when in the power Of her SOL
diery; or the local law is attempted to be
arrested by her ministers: our territory Is
violated by her rude mercenaries, and the tanner
we submit the grosser the indignities they heap
npon us. An end should be put to these violations Of
| American rights, and of american dignity, or let
us at once go back to onr colonial dependency and
yield implicit obedience totl'e omnipotehee of par
~liiameut.