Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-12-23

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deem 10 have fson that II may be important 10
correct. II relates 10 admission which his lordship
snpposes the undersigned To have made, 10 the extent
Of the abuse Of the American flag for purposes Of slave
tEfe Vow. the Undersigned would submit, that be did
not intend torIpre-s did he, any opinon the
extent to which the flag Of the United States abused
by rher nations ~ far from II, he expressly stated
,ord Aberdeen will prcciye by reference 10 his note
thai neither he nor his Government has the means Of
forming any opinion upon tho subject. lie admitted the
abuse Of the flag, and depUrcd II but Ia what extent he
gave no opinion.
Nor the undersigned Weld the force Of the raa
sning employed by Lord Aberdeen arising out Of the
limited number of bona fde American vessels engaged
the slave trade 10 prove that the danger of interference
with American vessels will be Of occurrence He
readily admits, with Lord Aberdeen that there few
American vessels II any, engaged in the slave rade but,
IN admitting the fact, he does not perceive very clearly
wha bearing 1t have upon the present discussion,
how the snancss of The number of American savers
all guard against the evils shch Lord Aberdeen sup
poses For, fiji he true, his lordshlp contends that
the abuse by other nations Of the flag Of the u States is
one OF increasing extent, and that II can IN no way be
prev cned hui By the examination Of all vessels sailing
under the flag Of the ned States; and ms II must also be
admitted that there numerous American vessels enga
gsd III lawful commerce IN the African seas, which with
other yess's 10 be subjected TO detention and eSami
nation what possible effect tie number Of American
sa,on have IN preventing the interference to that more
numerous class of merchantmen who are 10 be- found en-
gagged IN commerce throughout the whole 81 the African
seasI II there was no, single vessel Of the nlted
States engaged tho slave trade the evils and ntcrrup
tons Which, Lord Aberdeen is DESTROYS of avoiding,
must sill take place, whenever the right shall be at
tempted 10 he enforced against Those vessels thai not
savers But the great caution which is To be observed
in the of the right. and the careful in
which II VIII be guarded is greatly relied on by Lord
Aberdeen III lis defence Indeed, his lodship declares
that much honor and respect due 10 the flag Of
the United States, that it is only To be exercised IN
l,t,tn ND hero
,hr strongest suspicion and well-ioundcd doubts
exist.
Now. the undersigned would respectfully as, Of What
pu.nce be To the United States, If then rights
the honor OF their flag violated whether II be done
upon part Of the ocean or anohcri In relation to
,he wt .5un1 suspcion which Lord Aberdeen refers
il might have been desirable Ole mannerof exercising
unawtul power excuse it) that his lorslp should
have stated what the particular character and degree Of
the suspicion 10 be which alone Ia justify the
interference # her Maiesty's cruisers. That such
right that claimed. if it existed could safely be
confined 10 those of Her Majesiy's cruisers who have
heretofore been in the habit Of exercising it, the under
signed feels himself warranted IN supporting. This, he
prosumcs, will he satisfactorily shown by the which
he has heretofore presented to Her Malcstys Govern
mcnt and for which repnraiion has yet been made
These will show the embarrassments and injuries
To which the trade and commerce of the United States
throughout the whole Of the African seas, have already
been subjected by the vexaous seizures aud deentons
of Her Majesty cruisers and in most Of them without
justification excuse
That the night asserted by Her Majes,y's Govern
mcnt may be regarded as important may not be doubted
Indeed the undersigned would frankly towards
Lord Aberdeen II he to pretend that the conse-
quenccs of refusing the exercise of the right by the
crcan Government might not throw very great difficult
ties IN the way Of exercising the existing treaties for
the abolition OF the slave trade but, he has taken oc-
casion heretofore To observe the admission neither
srengthen the claim OF right diminish the force of
he biec uu q On tH, ri pt tbp NIT
There remains only one other part OF Lord Aberdecn's
note which the undersigned deems il necessary this
time To notice 1t is that in which his lordshp expresses
the opinion that any right of search which shall have
been conceded by such Governments as France and
Great Britain scarcely be considered MS incompatible
with the honor and Independence of any nation upon
earth Now, if Lord Abcrteen's remark was intended
to apply To the proposal which was made by her Macs
Tvs Government to that the United States for mutual
right Of search and guarded by treaty stpulatons the
undersigned has observation make; but if this opin
ION Of his lordshp intended To apply to the iphl
asserted by &. Britain. and proposed by her Govern
men 10 be exercised in the absence of all conventional
arrangement then the undersigned must be allowed tn
express his decided dissent That the exercise of mutual
rights. properly secured, might be Incompatible with
national honor and sovereignty he readily admits mas
much the contracting parties would stand upon the
footing OF equality and security This he presumes to be
the between France and Great Britain; but such
would not be the case between Great Britain AND the
States
The undersigned must therefore. after the NEST care
l consideration OF the arguments advanced in Lord 4
hrdcens note repeat the opinion which he has hereto
fore expressed that if power such that which is now
asserted by Her Majesty Government sh,, he enforced
not only without consent but in the face of direct re-
insa To concede it, can be regard I'D in no other light
by the Government of the Uni,c States than violation
OF national rights and sovereignty and the ncontestabe
principles OF International law That its exercise may
lead To consequences of painful character there
much reason tG apprehcnd. In of conflicting rights
oe'wec' nations the precise line which neither can pass
bnt 10 which each advance is easily found OF
darkcd and yet 1t exists whatever may be the difficulty
OF discerning H. In ordinary of disagreement there
is little danger; each nation and often does yield
something to the other Such however, it is to be- fear
cd, is the present The peculiar nature of III,
power asserted and the consequence which may be ap
and momentous character Involving. as il does oues
ton of high and dangerous sovereignty ii NAV Justly be
regarded as deeply ondangerng the good understanding
OF the two countries. Ought Her Majesty sGovemmen
them under such circumstance. insist upon its enforce
mentf That II will not. the undersigned cannot permit
himself 20 doubt lie will therefore continue chcrsl
the ope that, upon careful review of the whole sub
cct Her Majesty S Government will see the importance
OF adopting other measures for the suppression of tn.
slave trade than those now proposed, and which will b,
tar be tier calculated, not only 10 accomplish the ubjec
desired, but TO preserve the friendly relations of two
countries upon principles consistent with the interest anc
honor of both.
The undersigned avas himself of the occasion 10 re-
new 10 Lord Aberdeen assurances of his distinguished
consideration and respect
f A. STEVENSON.
To the Earl of ABERDEEN