Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-12-24

|
in controversy, and hus defines the point at is
sue.-Grcat Britain united by treaties with other
nations in conccdng the mutual right of search
! for the purpose of suppressng the slave trade.
| independent IF such treaties this right of search
cohH mt he Crcrciscd. The United States de-
ciind to become party to these treaties, deem.
ing it inoXpedicn' to yield the right of having
their vessels searched in time of peace. Mean
time some of the other nations who where par
ties to these treaties, continued 10 prosecute
the trade, and in order to do so with more effect,
resored to the flag of the United States. 1tr
prevent this Great Britain deemed it necessary
hat her cruisers in the African seas should have
Il C right of OBTAINING all vasses navigating
those seas for the purpose asoertaining their
national character.-Against this practice the
United States Government protested, and de-
manded reparaton in the numerous cases out of
which the present discussion has arisen, which
however has been refused by the British Gov
eminent, who still assert the right oil her cruis-
ers to continue the practice. In a former note
Mr. Stevenson attempted 10 show that the righ,
thus asserted was substantially right Of search,
which is disclaimed by the British Government
and in the next place that if it were not. still
the right Of interference in the manner asserted
with the flags OF other nations not parties t.,
these treaties, was not less unlawful and un-
Unsuitable.
The right asserted by her Majosty's Govern
ment is clear and explicit; it il that the flag of
the United States shall exempt no vessel from
search by Her Majesty's cruiser in the African
seas, unless she shall be found provided with
papcrs emitting her TO the production of the nag
she wears and proving her to he United States
property and naviratinr tho ocean according to
law. This Mr. Stevenson regards AS an actual
denial of the right of the L. S. vessels to ma
vira'c tho ocean in time of nsace wi,hou, heipy
objected to examination a, d detention. Every
commander of a British cruiser is considered The
ildpe to decide whether the vessel be s,ayira .
Ing the ocean according to law This is sub.
tantialy the right of placing British cruisers in
any part of the ocean and Drescribnp The terms
upon which other nations are 70 p5rt,cioata in
the freedom of the seas. his. in effect. a claim
o. jurisdiction over the whole of the African
coast and seas. Where would tho oyorci.e of
this power end, ifoncc submitted to, It mght
easily be extended 50 as to include tie ripit to
, search for seameu and tcsnrio,s and ,h,t of
imprcssmen,s. DOES Her Noestv's Gnyern.
, nani believe. asks Mr.. Stevenson, that such n
power would be tolerated bv any ndepeuden,
, nation on the face of the earth
Tins far ,hen TTor N,;,s.,,. Cororr,oo,,
larc loft ,his nover 70 s,,;J hol,,, u,',, ,ha
,rro,,nJ, nf r'',,,u'. Az. "S,o''y uf'' 'le
t not, as has been appreie Idcd by Lord Aberdeen,
uehy tn hreat britain or any other nation the
; right OF SEEING their own vessel or furnishing
thcir SUBJECTS Tor any violation OF their laws or
treat e., provided 1t be done without violating
the princ pies of public law or the lights OF oil her
nations but he does deny the right 10 Great
r britain, nor Will she he permit ed, to extend
! sucn interference to the vessels or citizens OF
tie United states milling under the protection of
the ilig OF the ,r country Ii Great Britain, rs is
alleged" restrain the slave tr lde OF her own
people without violating he rights of other ma
tons, this impuniiy is to be deplored but it can.
not be avoided Mr.. Stevenson does not believe
that this right of visitation was ever practiced
!. by any nation in time Of neacc. n. was ,l.o
s'o'u ny ''oru Aherueeh as TO inc en-
u; aus s Vi ti'c -aouSc OF tiin h'le-
,,;aIa, T. c w.. r"n we N'he''c"n 'hn'S'er
.le'u 10 'e lof'e OF tne reasoning arising out OF
Wv 'I,'''a i'u'i'oe' Vi ''ie 0Da .Hde American
Vessels ac'ua.'y engaged IN the slave trade to
i ..'"' ''' uI'7e' Vi i" eF'crehce WIN Anne
.'S"' ,o'Io', ",i' 'e VI rare occurrence lie
t,, "-;'''. '' ''O' ou' ooes NOV Pefce'e
III ~ mas "Po'' t"e present u scls-io !.
~ " as ny ei''@''; vessel OF Inc uhted
i,,a..,,, - ,"n save ,'d'e me evils ana
mus sun 'aNe place whenever the
49, ,n ec "''e''''ted 10 De enforced against
'' "'' NV saws
Bat Lord Aberdeen declares that SO much
n'lOT anu respect are due TO the L.. s. flag that
this asserted right is only to he exercised IN cer-
tain ATTITUDES AID for snecif, purpose. Bat
of what consequence, asks Mr.. Stevenson.
can it be to the United States if the honor Of
their flag be violated vbe,her +, hn dono mo,
one part OF the ocean or ano,ler1 IA IN tho
'well-foundcd suspicious which acne viii ius.
tfy its exercise it would have been we'll If tbose
had heen more strictly defined; thu, the rpht
claimed cannot safely be contded to those Of
Her Malestys cruisers who have heretofore OK
ercised 1t, is shown by the cases which have al
ready occurred of its abuse for which no repa-
ration has yet been made. Mr.. Stevenson thus
concludes:
The urd.rs;,,,od ,,,,.. ,,.
most careful cn1s;Jor,,i,, IS ~ a.,e. t'e
vnnco1 in IorJ AharJna, ". ''e a. "'''on's no-
oniuion vbirh ho baS $500 ..o.c' repeat tne
if power such as th,, vbinb i na' aasa ,"'t
bv her N,;n.t,, +. ',,a. "''o" u ~" asserted
not only v,bout corsan, h, s''nii ne c''io'ceu'
direct refusal r. conceda;, w. VI ','e 'ace o,
in M o,hor liol,, hv 10 cn -, eau ne Ieearu1u