The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-13
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH-SUPPRESSl
OF THE SLAVE TRADE


THE RIGHT OF SEARCH-SUPPRESS
OF THE SLAVE TRADE
THE UNITED STATES.
The following are extracts from correspondence
with foreign powers not parties to conventions giving
rrh, Of searching vessels suspected of slave trade 70
Gently presented 10 both Houses of Parliament by
command Of her Majesty
Mr. Stevenson 10 Viscount Paimsrston.
80 UPPER GRosvENoR STREET
November llth, 1880.
(Received No. l4)
The undersigned Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Pl nipolenary from the United States, has been
instructed by his Government to transmit 10 Lord Pal
merston her Majesty's principal Secretary OF State
for Foreign Affairs, the accompanying papers, con
tanning the evidence of another unwarrantabe search
detention and llusage of an American vessel and
her ciew on the coast of Africa, by one of her Ma
jesty's cruzers employed for the suppression OF the
slave trade and which. in the opinion Of the Pres
dent forms proper subject for complaint and satisac
Tory retribution.
The following are the prominent facts ofthe case
The American brig Douglass, Of Duxbury, in Mas
sachusetis Of 200 tons burthen, and commanded by
Alvin Baker, master, and William Arnold, mate, sail
with cargo Of merchandise, and having sundry pas
on board sailed for The port of the river Bras
That on the 3lsi Of October this brig, whilst pur-
suing her voyage was boarded by Lieutenant Segram,
Of her Majesty brigantne cruizer the TermIgant,
with some Of her crew who proceeded forthwith to
overhaul the ships papers and passengers passports
ordered the hatches which closed to be broken
open, the American flag which waa then flying to be
hauled dow n and he vessel seized as aver
That the captains papers and log book were then
| 4, p,ialn nd ia hon m beard
the Dougles committed to the charge of master and
crew from the British cruizer, who Immediately or
dered the sails to be set and proceeded to sea
Al o'clock p m. ten men were sent on board with
arms and provisions and the passengers taken to the
Termagant and both vessels then made sail and stood
TO the westward
That on the 23d Of October, about daylis hit, the
Termagant came alongside the Douglas, with the
and of her passengers TOR stores and prov
SONS, and then returned to the cruizer.
| That from the 2lst TO the 10Th Of October, the
! American brig continued in charge Of her crulzer
when they parted and lost sight of each other, the
brig, however, still continuing in possession OF the
| officer and men from the Termagant.
That the 29th, and to the westward of Popoe, on
| the A ircan coast the Termagant again appeared
alongside of the Douglas and hove TO sent the super
cargo and purser board ordered Captain Baker on
board the cruiser and Lieutenant Segam then deli
vered TO him his papers, with permission 10 proceed
| on his voyage.
The passengers also permitted to return to the
Douglas, and the Termagant having taken her prize
crew, and officer on board, the Douglas made all sail
| for the river Bras.
That on the 9th of November, the Douglas an
chored in The Num- river the African coast which
she left on the 18th of December and proceeded in
ballast TO Curacao, why're she arrived OH the 23d ia
nuary, lsiO
| That on the 9th of February she sailed from Cur.
acoa with cargo Of salt for the Havana, which she
| reached on the 2lst of that month.
Tha, in the passage from the pestilentia coast OF
Africa to Curacao, the Douglas lost three of her
| crew two American seamen, viz: Hamilton Day, OF
! Providence and Andrew Clough, of Boston, and
| Frederick w alton, British subject, who were taken
| Ill and died.
| That the Douglas, at the time of her sailing from
| tie Havana was tight, staunch and strong and her
| matches well cauked and covered and was well and
sufficiently manned, and provided with all things
needful for her voyage, and was in that state when
she boarded and literally captured by the British
cruizcr.
Such are the facts detailed in the protest of the
tain and mate, herewith transmitted, and which, II Is
presumed can leave doubt as to the unprovoked
and fragrant character of the proceeding or the repa
ration due to the rights Of the United States and the
honor of their flag.
In presenting the subject to the notice of III, Ma
jestys Government, it cannot be necdtul that the un-
dersigned should do than refer Lord Palmerston
| to the correspondence which has heretofore taken
place between the two Governments, and more espe-
cally TO the three notes which the undersigned had
| 9TH of February 18th of May, and 18th of August
last and TO express the painful regret which The Co
vernnent of the u ned States feels that the remon-
strances which have been hercoreiore made should
have proved unavailinn preventing the repetition OF
such abuses those which have SO repeatedly been
made the subject of complaint against Her Majesty
naval officers.
| Her Majesty's Government cannot be insensibe of
the strong desire which the Government ofthe United
States, and the nation al large feel in the complete
| n of hs ala N
The pursued for the last 30 years is best cal
culatcd to mark the feelings and opinions of the Go
vernmen and the people OF the United States in rela-
ton to traffic now properly regarded by most civil
lizcd nations alike repugnant To justice and hui
mainly and which, in relation to the United States,
is the less all the dictates of sound policy.
II is true that the American Government have de-
cned to become party in treaties with other nations
for the suppression of the slave trade Although re-
peatedly urged by Her Maestys Government TO do
So the United States have been forced TO d,cline all
conventional arrangements, by which the officers OF
ships-ofwar of either country should have the right
TO board search capture OF carry into foreign pors
for adjudication the vessels of each other engaged in
the slave trade Indeed it may be well doubted apart
from other considerations whether the constitutional
powers of the American Government would be com
potent to car into effect those portions OF the exist
ing system indspensaby necessary TO give 1t the
character of just reciprocity.
These objections the part of the United States
have been repeatedly and frankly made known to Her
Majesty Government and are doubtless well under
stood by the British cabinet; and the more especially
so, as it obstacle proceeding from the same
principle which it is presumed prevented Great Br-
tain herself from becoming formally party TO the holy
alliance II will not however, be understood that
The United States have been insenslble to the friendly
spirit OF confidence with which these applications
have been made on the part Of Her Mejesys Govern
men or that the United States have ceased to feel
that strong sollcude for the total humiliation Of the
traffic which has distinguished the whole course Of
their policy On the contrary, having been the first
TO abolish, within the extent OF their authority, the
TRANSPORTATION of the natives of Africa into slavery by
prohibiting the introduction of slaves and ny punish
ing their own citizens for participating IN the traffic