Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-12-15

IN the absence of any pressing on oyerrulng
necessity, may invade the territory of the
other, would inevitably lead to results equally
10 be deplored by both. When bofd II col
lisions come 10 receive the sanction, or 10 be
made on the authority of either Government,
| general war must be the inevitable result.
| While as the ardent desire of The United
States to cultivate the relations of peace with
| all nations, and to fulfil all The duties OF good
neighborhood toward those who possess ter
ritories adjoining their own, that very desire
would lead them TO deny the right of any
foreign power 10 invade their boundary with
an armed force. The correspondence be-
tween the two Governments on this subject,
will, at future day Of your session, be sub
mitted to your consideration; and in the mean
time | cannot but indulge the hope that the
British Government will see the propriety of
renouncing, as arule Of future action, the pre-
cedent which has been set in the affair at
Schosser
| herewith submit the correspondence
which has recently taken place between the
American Minister at the Court of ST. James,
Mr.. Stevenson, and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of that Government, on The right
tain vessels sailing under the American flag
engaged in prosecuting lawful commerce in
the African seas Our commercial interests
in that region have experienced considerable
increase and have become an object Of much
importance, andit is the duty of this Gov
ernment TO project them against all in proper
and vexatious Interruption. However deslr-
Gus the Umied States may be for ths sup
preston of the slave trade, they canlFa con-
sent TO interpretations into the maritime code,
al the mere will and pleasure of other gov
ernments. We deny the right of am such
Interpolation TO any one, or all The ma ons OF
the Earth, without cur consent. We claim
to have view in all amendments or iliera-
lions OF that code--and when we are given
TO understand, as in this instance, by for
eign Government, that its treaties with other
nations cannot be executed without tie es-
sta5li5llaIe!.s and enforcement OF new 5rinci-
pies of maritime police, to be applied with
! out our consent, we must employ language
neither of equivoca import, or susceptible of
misconstructiOn. American citizens prose-
cutting 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 rightlully,
on account of any such alledged abuses, be
interrupted, molested or detained while on
the ocean; and if thus molested or detained,
while pursuing honest voyages, in the usual
way, and violating no law themselves, they
are unqnestionably entitled TO indemnify.
This Government has manifested its repug-
nance to the slave trade, in a manner which
cannot be misunderstood By its fundamen-
tai law, it prescribed limits in point of time
TO its continuance; and against its own citi-
zens, who might so far forget the rights OF
humanity as 10 engage in that wicked trafic,
it has long since, by lis municipal laws, de-
n0unced the most condign punishment. Ma
ny of the States composing this Union, had
made appeals to the civilized world for lis
suppression long before the moral sense OF
other nations had become shocked by The
inquiries Of The traffic. Whether this Co.
verhmeu should now enter into treaties con-
raining mutual stipulaions upon this subject;
is a question for its mature dellberaton.--
Certain ii is that if the right to detain Amer
can ships on the high seas can be justified
on the plea of necessity for such deten-
tion, arising oui of the existence of treaties
between oler nations, the same plea may be
extended and enlarged by the new sipula-
tions Of new treaties, 10 which The United
States may not be party. This G6vern-
menl will not cease TO urge upon that OF
Great Britain full and ample remuneration
for all losses, whether arising from detention
or otherwise, to which American citizens
have heretofore been, or may hereafter, be
subjected, by the exercise of rights which
this Government cannot reorganize as legiti-
mate and proper Nor will indulge a doubt
but that the sense of justice Of Great Britain
will consrain her to make retribulion for any
wrong, or loss; which any AMERICAN citizen,
engaged in the prosecution of lawful COM
merce, may have experienced at the hand of
her cruisers, or other public authorities. This
Government, at the same time, will relax no
effort TO prevent its citizens, If there be any
so disposed, from prosecuting traffic SO re-
volling to the feelings of humanity. II seeks
TO do no more than to project The fair and
honest trader, from molesiaIlon and injury; but
while the cnerprisng mariner, engaged in
the pursuit of an honorable trade, is entitled
TO lis protection, il will visit with condign
punishment others Of an opposite character
invite your attention to existing laws for