New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-12-15
CEN

would make every commander Of British cruiser
the exclusive Judge Of the national character o
vessel. sailing under the [. S flag. The Unite
States moreover, cannot be held responsible. foi
the conduct Of other nations who seek 10 cover
their Infamous traffic BY the fraudulent Of the
American flag.
VIII Lord Aberdeen addresses Mr. Stevenson
in reply win mo.t unfeigned respect for the
rights. honor and independence OF the L. States.
He shows tina, the decision Of the British au;hori-
res to which Mr.. Stevenson referred, have beer
reversed, and therefore carry no weight The con-
fcssion Of our Minister that the slave trade /. ex.
tensivey carried on under the fraudulent use OF
the American flag, Is regarded as justifying the
whole claim of the British Government Il consti
tutes that reasonable ground OF suspicion which
The law OF nations requires in such case
The admitted fact of thi. abuse create. the right
OF inquiry Lord Aberdeen rcnounces all prsieE-
sion the part of the British Government to visit
and search American vessels in time Of pence nor
is it as American that such vessels are VISITED
And the number Of actually American vessels
engaged in the trnhic Is believed to be small, the
danger OF interference with them will be of rare
occurrence. 1t has been the nvariable practice Of
the British Navy, aus Lord 4. believe, of all ma
vies in the world to ascertain by visit the les. ma
tonaiity Of vessels the high seus, if there be
coed reason to apPrehend their iliega character.
In certain larudes and for particular object, the
vessels referred visited not ne Americsn but
as Brti.hvessols engaged IN an unlawful traffic;
belonging to nations who have conceded thu
right of search or as piratical outlaws. Mr. Ste
venson would hardly claim immunity for British
vessels engaged in the slave trade, Tor pilatcnl
adventurers, merely because they display the flag
Of the American Union. Great Britain, he SAYS,
claims no right she is not willing to grant, and
mutual right of search is believed to be the most
simple and efectual means of attaining the object
which both Governments have in yiew-lhe sup
pres.iop of the slave trade But tins proposal
has always been rejected by the United States and
il is for them alone now to determine what moy
be due to just regard for their national dignity
and national interests.
IN The concluding letter is written by Mr..
Stevenson. He rccapi,ulaies tbs whole matter in
controversy, and thus define, the points At issue.
Great Britain united by treaties with ether nations
in concedng the mutual right of search for the
purpose Of supprcssing the slave trade. Lgds-
pendent Of snch treaties Mis right Of seGrcA
could not Be exercised The United States de-
clned TO become party To these treaties, deem
ing i, mex pedent 10 yield the night of having their
vessels searched in time OF peace. Meantime some
of the ether nations who parties these
treaties, continued to prosecute the trade, and in
order 10 do so with more effect, resored to the flag
of the United States To prevent this, Great
Britain deemed it necessary that her cruisers in
the African seas should have the right Of detain-
ing all vessels navigating these seas, Tor the pur
pose of ascegtaiaing their national character
Against this practice the L. s. Government pro-
tested, and demanded iepsratiou in the numerous
cases out Of which the present discussion has
arsca, which however has been refused hy the
British Government, who still esse.i the right Of
her cruiser. TO coutinle the practice. In u former
note M.. Stevenson attempted to show that the
right thus asserted was substnn TALLY a rigd Of
search which is disclaimed by the British Govern
m-nt md in tie next place that il it were nat,
still the right Of interference in the manner assert
ed with the flags OF other nations, nos parties to
these treaties, was net less Unlawful and uniuSii-
fable
The ri,st asserted by Her Ma.jesty's Govern
mcat clear and explicit tits ihat the flag of the
United States shall exemp, no vessel from search
by Her Majesty. cruisers in the Airean seas IN
e,. she shall be found provided with paper. cnti-
ding her to the protection of the flag she wear.
aud proving her to be United States property and
a,ieatiug the ocean according 10 law. Tbi. Mr.
Stevenson regards As an actual denial of thu right
of the D. $ vessel. to navigate the ocean in time of
pence without being subjected to examination and
dcjes,iou Every commander OF u British cruiser
/. considered the Judge TO decide whether the YES
81 be nav eating the ocean according 10 law. -
/ THIS ia substantial, the right Of plscug British
cruisers in any part Of tho ocean and Prsscrib-
iuc the terms upsn which other nations are par
ticpa,e in the freedom Of the seas. 1t is, in eff
feet, claim OF jurisdiction over the whole OF the
African coast and sens. Where would the cxer-
ci>e of this power end. If once submitted TOT 1t
nigh, easi. be exiend.d "a. to include the right
TO search for seamen and deserter. and that oiim-
prc.smen;. Does Her Moje,v's Government be-
lieye ask. Mr.. Stevenson. tina, such power would
be tolerated by any independent nation the face
Of the earth
Thu. lar then Her Maiesty's Government have