The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-11-13
I From the Baltimore .4merican.l

Western contain some official letters be-
tween our late Minister at London, Mr.
STEVENSON, and LORD PALMERsToN, re-
lative to the seizure of American vessels
by British cruisers on the coast of Africa
The first note in the published cores
pondencexs from Mr. STEVENSON, and
bears date November IL, 1910. 1t thus
appears that the correspondence took
place about year ago, although i, is now
for the first time made public.
The American Minister communicates
to Lord PALMERsToN the facts pertaining
to the seizure of the American brig Doug
las, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, by the
brig Termagant, commanded by Lieut..
Segram, in the month of October, 1899.
The Douglas was bound to the river
Bras with cargo Of merchandise and
several passengers. The brig was boar
ded by Lieut.. Segram off the African coas t
her papers overhauled, the American
flag taken down, the matches broken open
and British master and crew put on
board For five or six days the Douglas
was thus held in charge of the cruiser
when, on the Goth Of October, to the west
ward of Popoe, on the African coast, the
captain was ordered on board the Terma-
CANT his papers were delivered to him by
Lieut. Segram, and he was allowed to pur-
sue his voyage.
For this outrage Mr. Stevenson demands
the reparatons due to the rights of the
United States and the honor of their flag.
He reminds Lord Palmerston that the A.
merican Government has always declined
to become party to any convention With
other nations, by which the officers of
ships of war either country should have
the right to board, search, or capture, or
carry into foreign ports for adjudication,
the vessels of each other engaged in the
slave trade. The United States Govern
ment has evinced its disapprobation of the
slave trade, and manifested its sincere desire
for the suppression of that traffic by for
bidding the introduction of slaves into its
territories, and by prohibiting its own
citizens from participating in the trade.
The United States have kept aloof from
the treaties in force between Great Brit
ain and other powers fer the abolition of
the slave trade, because those treaties are
ola nature which cannot, and ought not
to be applied to the United States, under
any restrictions or notifications whatev-
err, sand the more especially as they have
neither colonies, nor the means of carry
ing out those measures Of maritime policy
and surveillance which form the basis OF
those treaties and are so indispensibly
necessary to their execution" Mr.. Ste
venson concludes thus
"The undersigned has therefore been
instructed, in presenting this case to Lord
Pamerston's notice, again in the most
earnest manner to assure his Lordship
that these continued violations of the flag
of the United States, and unprovoked
wrongs inflicted by British cruisers upon
the rights and property Of its citizens, un-
der whatever colour or preteXt, cannot
longer be permitted by the Government OF
the United States; and that he has accor.
dinghy been instructed to express to his
Lordship the confident expectation of the
President of the United States, that Her
Majesty's Government will not only al
once recognize the propriety and justice
OF making prompt retribution for the M
warrantable conduct Of Lieutenant Segram
in the present case, but that it will take
suitable and efficient means to prevent the
future occurrence of all such abuses, in
volving, as they often do, not only great
private wrong and consequently injury
to property and life, but calculated to in
terrupt that harmony, which it is for the
advantage, and it is no doubt the desire, oil
both Governments to preserve"
The reply Of Lord Palmerston i.
concilatory. He assures Mr.. Stevenson
that Her Majesty's Government will at all
times be DESTROYS of repre- ssiug and pre-
venting any violation of the flag of the
United States by officers of the British
Navy. His Lordship adds:
"With this view, Indeed, Her Majesty's
Government, previously to the receipt OF
Mr. Stevenson's note of the 18th instanr
had, on receiving from Lieutenant Segram
an accoun. Of the transaction referred to,
called upon that officer to explain more
fully and particularly the grounds upon
which he had considered himself justified
in detainlng ship under American colors
and with papers showing her to;be Amer.
lean property.
| "l1er Majesty's Cove rnment have now
directed prompt and searching inquiry
to be made into the facts of the case. as
stated in Mr. Stevenson's note and the I'M
designed will not fail to communicate
farther with Mr.. Stevenson upon the sub
feet so soon as Her Majesty's Govern.
ment shall have learned the result of the
inquiries instituted"
| The rest of the correspondence in
wolves no new matter of particular inter.
ests. What was done by the British Go.
| a1ot 7