Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-16

Treat Britain had no right TO force her way 10 IN
| Liberation Of Africa, by uampling upon the right
1 ana independence Of other nations, for any good
however eminent.
| Upon what principles, then, Of public law or @
| common right or justice, such a power that nov
asserted Is 10 be defended or justified, Her Males
tvs Government have not deemed il expedsnt &
state. As vet, It has been left TO stand foe it
whole efficacy upon the grounds of expectancy
The Undersigned must therefore repeat the opinion
expressed IN his rte to Lord Aberdeen, that Their
no essential = tnce whatever between the rig h
| Of search and tia. asserted for Her Majesty
Government. Bu | cid Aberdeen contends that, IL
resisting the eIcT-i's Of this right in the form
which II has been - Q, ,he undersigned Is neceSsa
Liy compelled 10 cSl". not only immunity for thu
nag OF the United States and all the piraticA ad
Nenturers who endeavorng to shelter themselvei
under II, but to maintain that Great Britain hetscl
would be bound TO permit her own subjects, witt
British vessels and British capital, to carry on thei
trathc under their own eyes, provided IL was don't
under the fraudulent use OF an American dag; nnt
his lotdship further declares that unless the under
signed - prepared to maintain 10 their full extern
these propositions, the whole fabric OF his aTsumcn
must fat to the ground.
Now, the undersigned hegs to observe that .orc
Aberdeen has greatly inexperienced the princi
pies and arguments contained in the note which h,
had the honor OF addressing TO his lordship, nnC
winch II becomes proper to seize the earliest mo.
ment ofcorree;ins. This the undersigned will IN,
more realty 10, because he ~ persuaded from The
spirit IN which Lord Aberdeen's noe is written
that he viii take pleasure in correcting any m.sa
prehenS!on la:o which he may Intentionally havs
been drawn. Indeed, the undersigned must have
expresses himself very imperieciy, Il, in DENYING
tho risht of interfering with vessels under the Anne
rcin Dag, he did convey the opinion that he IN
tended to limit his objection 10 vessels bona fde
American, and not TO those belonging TO nations
who might iraujulent!y have assumed the has OF
the Uuitcd States. With the vessels of other ma.
tons, whether sailing under their own or another
dag, the Government ofIhe United States can have
no authority or desire To interfere. The undersisn
ed, therefore, did not mean 10 be understood rs de-
ny'ng TO Great Britain, or any other nation. the
right OF SEEING their vessels Furnishing their su o.
lects for any violation OF their laws treaties pro-
yiJcd, however, It should be done without volitin
the principles Of public law or the rights of Other
nations. Nor are such the consequences which can
fairly be deduced from the argument which he h,o
The honor of addressing 10 Lord Aberdeen md
which his lordship seems so greatly to have nissan
pretended. Great Britain has The 1ndoub,ed risb,
and 81 have all other nations, to detaIn and exam
Inc the vessels orIHcir sui iects whether savcrs
or not, and whether w tn or without a fac Durnort.
ing 10 5e that Of the United States; but, IN dome
this, Il must be borne in mind that they have no CO.
Tor OF right, nor will they be permitted tn extend
sucn interference 10 the vessels citizens of the
Unred States suing under the protection of the
flag OF their country.
II Great Britain or any other nation canno, re.
strain the slave traffic of their own people upon
the ocean without violating the rights Of other m.
tons and the freedom of the seas, then indeed the
IMMUNITY Of which Lord Aberdeen speaks " in take
place. This may be deporei, but II cannot he
avoided But Lord A6erdsen asserts that II has
been the invarlabe practice Of the British navy and
he believes of ell the uAvies in the woG to ascer-
tain by visit the real character OF merchant vessels
met with on the high seas, e there be good reason
TO apPrehcnd their illegal character. Now, the un.
designed must be excused for doubling whether
any such practice that which Lord Aberdeen
certainly not TO the extent now claimed
has ever prevailed in time Of peace. In war IN.
right OF visitation is practSed, under the limitations
authorized by the laws of Es'ions but not in peace
What other nation than Great Britain has ever as
serted or attempted to exercise ~ None, it is be.
lieved. There is another misrepresentation, also,
into which Lord Aberdeen seems 10 have { en tina;
II may be important To correct. IL relates TO an
admission which his lordshin supposes the under
signed 10 have made, as 10 the extent Of the abuse
NJ the American flag fCS purposes Of slave traffic
Now, the undersigned would submit, that he did
not intend TO express, GId he, ANY opinion ms to
the extent 10 which the flag OF the United States
was abused by other nations. So fat from II, he
ex pTessly stated, Is Lo.d Aberdeen will preceive
by reference 10 his note, that neither he nor his Go.
vernment had the means Of forming any opinion
upon the subject. He admitted the abuse OF the
flag, and deposed it, but to what extent he gave no
opinion.
Mo- can the undersigned yield to the force OF the
reasoning employed by Lord Aberdeen, arising out
of the limited number of bona fds American vessels
engaged in the slave trade prove that the danger
Ut interference with American els will be OF rare
He readily admits with Lord Aberdeen
ha there few American vessels, If any, engaged
in thu slave trade; bur, admitting the fact he does
not perceive very clearly what bearing 1t can have
upon the present discussion or how the smalness OF
the number Of American slavers can at all guard
lgainSt the evils which Lord 6erdcen supposes.-
For # II lie true, his lordsh contends that the
abuse by other nations of the IA of the u States
OF Increasing extent, ana that 1t can in no way
Dc prevented but by the examination Of all vessels
Iaiing under the 20 Of the United States; and as
I mast also be admitted that there are numerous
american vessels Engaged in lawful commerce in
he African seas, which with other vessels, are TO be
ubiec ed TO detention and examination, what pos
nble a ct can the number of American slaYers
rave IN preventing the interference TO that more
numerous class at merchantmen who TO be
0und engaged in commerce throughout the whole
# the African sess2 If there was not a single YES
el OF the United States engaged in the slave trade,
lac evils and interruptions which Lord Aberdeen is
% DESTROYS Of avoiding, must still take place, when
yer the right shall be attempted 10 be enforced
gainst those vessels that not slavers. But the
.rea' caution which 10 be observed 10 the crer-
Use of tho right and the careful manner in which il
viii be guarded, Is greatly relied on 10y Lord Aber-
een in is defence. Indeed, his lordshp declares
hat 20 much honor and respect due TO the flag
4 the United States, that u l. only to he exercised
certain ATTITUDES, and exclusively confined cases
ghcre the strongest suspicion and wel-fOunded
oubts exist.
Now, the undersigned would rcsoectfully nsk OF
yhnt consGq It can be TO the United States II
heir rights Or the honor Of ilelr flag violated,
whether u be done upon one part OF the ocean or
mother? IN relation TO the we'll founded suspicion
o which Lord Aberdeen referE, i might have been
desirable o.. the manner OF exercising an unlawful
,owGs can excuse ii) that lis lordshtp should hove
'a'td what The particular character end degree Of
he suspicion was 10 be which was alone N Justify
h. inter creree Of Her Males Us cruisers That such
right that claimed, II u existed, could not safe
Y be confined u those Of Her Mojes;y's cruisers
Who have heretofore been ~ the habit Of exercising
. the undersigned feels himself warranted in sup.
,psng This he ptesumes, will he satisfactorily
hogvn by the cases which he has heretofore pre-
onted 10 Tier Msicsly's Government, and for which
10 reparation has yet been made. These cises will
how the cmblrrassmsuis and injuries 10 which the
fade and commerce Of the United States, through.
IA, the whole Of the African seas, have already
zen subjected by the veZatIOus seizures and deisn
ions Of Her Nnjssty's cruisers and in most OF them
Without justification or excuse.
That the right asserted by Her Majes,y's Go
eminent may be regarded ns important may not be
uubted. Indeed, the undersigned would not act
rink'y towards Lord Aberdeen II he were 10 pre-
rnd that Inc Consequence Ci refusing the exercise
Il the right Ay the American Government might
bot throw very great difficulties IN the way Of exc
10 Jog the existing treaties Tor the abolition Of the
lave ,r-dc Du' us he has taken occasion heretofore
- observe the admission neither strengthen the
aim OF RICH, nor diminish the force 81 the otscc.
ions 20 IL On the pau Of the United States.
There remains only one o,her part Of Lord Aber
teens note which the undersigned deems II neccssi.
~ No this time 70 notice. IL IL that in which his
1rdsaip expresses the oplniJn that my right n
,safch which shall hsve been CJrceded ~ two such
,ioycrrmsntq az Francs and Great Britain can
scarce be considered az incompatible With the Ia.
m, 1nj Independence 81 Buy nation upon eauh.-
Nov IL yrd AIerdseu's rennrk was int pded 10