The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-12-10


relations happily existing between the
two Governments. The question Of
peace or war between the United States
and Great Britain, is question of the
deepest interest not only 10 themselves,
but TO the civilized world, since it is scarce
ly possible that war could exist be-
tween them without cndangerng the
peace Of Chrisienfon. The immediate
effect of the Treaty upon ourselves will
he felt in the security afforded to mercan-
tile enterprise. which, no longer apprehen-
sive Of interruption, adventures its spccu-
Iatlons in The most distant sea; and frcigh-
ted with the diversified productions Of
every lnnd returns 10 bless OAR own
There is nothing in the Treaty which, in
the slightest degree, compromits the hon
or or dignity Of either nation. Next To
the settlement Of the boundary line,
which must always be matter of diff
cal:y between States as between inGividu.
ais, The question which seemed to threa-
ten the greatest embarrassment, was that
connected with African slave trade
BY the l0lh article of the Treaty OF
Client it was expressly declared that
.'whcreas the traffic in slaves is irrcconci.
liable with the principles of humanity and
justice; and whereas both his Majesty and
the United States are DESTROYS Of continue
ing their efforts to promote It's entire ibo-
l'lIon, it is hereby agreed that both the
contracting parties shall use their best en-
dcavors To accomplish so desirable all OBJ
ject."-ln the enforcement of the laws
and treaty stpulaiions of Great Britain, a
practice had threatened to or ow up on the
part of its cruisers of subjccting to vista
ton ships sailing under the American
flag, which while it scriousl Y involved our
maritime rights, would subject to taxation
branch of our trade which was daily in
creasing, and which required the fostering
care of the Government. And although
Lord Aberdeen, in his correspondence
with the American ENJOYS at London, en-
prcssly disclaimcd all right to de'ain an
American ship on the high seas, even if
folnd with cargo of slaves on board.
and restricted the British pretcnsion to a
mere claim to visit and enquire, vet it
could not well be dsccrncd by the Exc
cutive Of the United States how such visit
and enquiry could be made without dc,cn
uon on the voyage, and consequent inter>
ruptlon TO the trade. 1t was regarded as
the Ri ht of search, presented only in a
new form, and expressed in dilercn,
words; and ! therefore felt it to be my
Guy distinctly TO declare, in my annual
ii, To al,
ccssion could be made, and that the Uni
ted States had both the will and the abIi-
ly to enforce their own laws, and to pro-
tcct their flag from being used for purpo-
scs wholly forbidden by those laws, and
obnoxious to the moral censure of The
world. Taking the Message as his letter
OF instructions, om then Minister at Paris
felt himself required to assume the same
ground in remonstrance which he felt
1t TO be his duty to present to M. Guizot,
and through linn to the King Of the
French, against what has been called the
QuinluLle treaty; and his conduct, in this
respect, met with the approval of this Co
venment. In close conformity with these
views, The eighth article of the Treaty
was framed, which provides that "cach
nation shall keep alloat in the African seas
force not less than eighty guns, to act
separately and apart, under instructions
from their respective Governments, and for
the enforcement of their respective laws
and Obligations" From this it will be
seen that the ground assumed in the Mes
sage has been truly maintained, at the
same time that the stipulations of the
Treaty tf Client are to be carried out in
good faith by the two countries, and that
all Pretencc is removed for interference
"llh our commerce for any purpose wha,
ever by j foreign Government. While,
therefore, the United States have been
standing up for the freedom of the seas,
they have not bought proper to make
that preleXt for avoiding fulilment of
their Treaty sipulalions, or a ground for
giving conntenance to trade repruba ted
by our laws. A similar arrangement by
the other great powers could not fail to
sweep from the ocean the slave trade,
without the Interpolation of any new prin-
clple into the maritime code. We may
be permitted TO hope that the example
thus set will be followed by some, if not
all of them. We thereby also afford sui>
table protection to the fair trader in those
seas, thus fulfilling at the same time the
dictates of a sound policy, and comply
ing with the claims of justice and human
ity
1t would have furnished additional
cause for congratulation, if the Treaty
could have embraced all subjects calcula-
ted in future To lead to a misundersand-
ing between the two Governments. The
territory Of the United States, commonly
called the Oregon territory, lying on the
Pacific ocean, north Of the 42d degree of
latitude, to portion of which Great Bri-
tain lays claim, begins to attract the atten-
ton OF our Itllow-ciiZen-, and the tide of
populaliou which has reclaimed what was