Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-12-21


your session, be submitted to your con-
sideration; and in the mean time, can
not but indulge the hope that the Brit
ish Government will see the propriety Of
renouncing as a rule of future action, the
precedent which has been set in the az
fair at Sehlosser.
/ herewith submit the correspondence
which has recently taken place between
the American Minister at the Court of
st. James, Mr.. Stevenson, and the Min
ster of Foreign Affairs of that Govern
ment, on the right claimed by that Gov
ernment to visit and detain vessels sail
ing under the American flag and engaged
in prosecuting lawful commerce in the
African Seas. Our commercial interests
in that region have experienced consid.
cradle increase, and have become an
object of much importance, and it is the
duty ofthis Government 10 protect them
against all improper and vexatious inter-
ruptons. However desireus the United
States may be for the suppression of the
slave trade, they cannot consent TO in"
Temptations into the maritime code at
the mere will and pleasure of other Gov.
ernments. We deny the right of any
such Interpolation to any one, or all the
nations of the Earth, without our consent.
We claim to have a voice in all amend
ments or alterations of that code; and
when we are given TO understand, as in
this instance, by foreign Government,
that its treaties with other nations cannot
be executed without the establishment
and enforcement of new principles oI
maritime police, 10 be applied without
our consent, we must employ language
neither ofequivocal import! nor suscepti'
BILE of misconstruction.
American citizens prosecuting a lawful
commerce in the African seas, under the
flag of their country, are not responsible
for the abuse or unlawful use of that flag
by others; nor can they rightfully on ac-
count of any such alleged abuses, be in
terrupted, molested and detained, while
pursuing honest voyages, in the usual
way, and violating no law themselves;
they are unquestionably entitled to indem-
nity. This Government has manifested
repugnance to the slave trade, in a man
ner which cannot be misunderstood. BY
its fundamental law, it prescribed limits
in point oftime TO its continuance; and
against it's own citizens, who might SO
far forget the rights of humanity as to en-
gage in that wicked traffic, it has long
since, by its municipal laws, denounced
the most condign punishment. Many o.
the States composing this Union, haC
made appeals 10 the civilized world to
its suppression, long before the mora
sense of other nations had become shock
ed by the iniquities of the traffic. Wheth
er this Government should now enter in
TO treaties containing mutual stipulation'
upon this subject, is a question for 1T
mature deliberation. Certain it is, tha
if the right to detain American ships Of
the high seas can be justified on the pie
of necessity for such detention, arlslD
out of the existence of treaties betwee
other nations, the same plea may be ez
tended and enlarged by the new stiPula
tions of new treaties, TO which the Unite
States may not be party. This Govern
ment will not cease TO urge upon that
Great Britain, full and ample remunert
ton for all losses, whether arising froI
detention or otherwise, to which Amer
can citizens have heretofore been, or ma
hereafter be subjected, by the exercise
rights which this Government cannot rt
cognize as legitimate and proper nc
will | indulge a doubt but that the sens
ofiustice OF Great Britain will cons'ral
her to make retribution for any wronI
or loss. which any American citizen Ell
! Oaged in the prosecution of lawful con
merce, may have experienced at IN
hands oC her cruizers, or other public AZ
thorities. This government at the sam
time, will relax no effort to prevent u
citizens, if there be any SO dlsPoseo' ltTi tn
prosecuting traffic SO revolving % n
FeeIings of humanity. 1t seems to 90 n
, more than to protect the far and honeS
n ,roJsr Grom molestatioE and injury; 6u
i while the enterp.isng mari ner' engage
in the pursuit of an honorable !raae'
entitled to its protection, it VIII VISIT WI, WI.
! condign punishment, others Of d" opp
, site character.
= Invite your attention TO existing law
. tor The suppression Of the African sIaV
= trade. and recommend all such aiter'
" ticns. as may give to them greater torc
nd eff;cNcy. Fhal the American nag
- grossly abused by the abandoned and pr
= s;0ste of other nations, is but too prob
: HE. Congress has, not long since, h'
= this subject under consideration, and
J, y Observation-Disclosures IN renewed, and anxio'
!, also communicate herewith the col
= os correspondence between Mr.. St
4 venson and Lord Ralmerston, upon y
: : subject so interesting TO several ot-tl
= So1,hern States, ofthe rice duties, whl'
II resulted honorably 70 the justice OF Hre