Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-21
PARIS, Jan. %, 1912.
GEN. WALTON


GEN. WALTON
My dear Sir-I send you herewith an inter-
esling pamphlet which has recently appeared from
The pen oil General Cass. You have heard of tho
conclusion OF treaty entered into between Eng.
land, France Austria PRUSSIA, and Russia, aiming
at the abolition of The slave trade, by the mutual
concession of The right of search. England is at
The bottom of this movement-her object the do
mnon of the seas, by engraGug on the law of
nations the right OF visiting all vessels, on more
than half the ocean, under preence of looking for
slaves. 1t must not be forgotten that England is
in fact the only power to whom the execution of
this treaty is 10 be confded. RUSSIA, Austria and
Prussia have no shipping OF consequence employ
ed within the waters comprised by this treaty, aud
France has but few; so TO England is TO be en-
listed the execution of this treaty over space
of waters nnvigated by about two thirds Of all our
American shipping The knowledge OF this event
came upon us most unexpectedly, the more so,
that we have ever believed that Russia and France
would never become parties to a measure carrying
with it so much danger 10 the liberty of the seas,
the peace OF the world, aud such total renunc-
alton of their past principles, and perfect and
uncaled for an abandonment oftheir present inter
ess,
Our able Minister here took up his pen as soon
as the treaty was known TO exist and in an ubly
written pamphlet has exposed its true character
and necessary consequences. His influence with
this Government has been most sensbly felt in the
several debates in the Chamber Of Deputies on the
subject, and MS a consequence of his representa-
tons prior TO the appearance of the pamphlet, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs has openly avowed
from the tribune that any attempt to execute the
provisions on us would he justifiabe cause OF war.
Thus the treaty is nufed by France, by the in
depreciation she has been made to give TO lt, even
before its ratification, and the objects of Great Bril-
tain defeated at the very moment when she
thought them secure. What has passed here with
in few days changes the whole aspect of this
important matter. England thought she had iso-
lated us; but the wounded susceptibes of tho
French nation, stimulated by the well timed and
effective influence oil our Minister have changed
the entire aspect of things, and England now
stands alone, convicted of the design 10 PROSTATE
the liberties of the in iurherance of her
schemes of universal domination. To Gen. Cass
is our country IN great measure indebted for this
important result; for the inevitable consequence
OF what has taken place here must be TO turn the
entire continent against any such application of
the treaty as England intended to give it, Indeed
it appears 10 than probable that the treaty
will not he ratified in its present shape If our
statesmen at home and The public press treat this
treaty with the energetic opposition that il has re-
ceived here, we may pronounce this the first still
born production of English diplomacy to which
our artiul and prolific mother country has given
birth for centuries past This is diplomatic bant-
ling which must die in its mothers arms before it
is even enveoped in the swaddng clothes OF rat
ifcation.
Russia follows suit in the disarmament now go
ing on in all the Continental armies. The rage is
now for railroads, which porlend the coming of
The political millennium of eternal peace. This is
the dream Of enthusiasm. The Presidents mes
sage and the reports of the heads Of Departments
have beer well received here. Ii is generally be.
lieved by intelligent Americans That the Treasury
scheme will more promptly restore credit and con
fdence than any other, and we are all anxious that
it should become n law without delay. The whole
fabric OF power and prosperity must repose on
well digested and generally acceptable system of
currency aud credit and it is to be hoped that The
intelligence and patriotism OF Congress will not
lie found inadequate TO the settlement Of the ques-
ton. 1t cannot he disguised that we are in the
presence of dangers which may severely test
patriotism and our power We must not forget
that the first element Of national force is credit
Without that we cannot raise money at home
abroad, TO carry on war. The first thing
therefore, 10 be done, is TO adjust The currency
question. Until this is done, our credit, as well MS
the price OF all our principal products, will conlin-
ue 10 decline. Truly yours.
The pamphlet alluded to il entitled " An exam
inuton of the question, now in discussion, be-
tween the American and British Governments,
concerning the right of search" and adopts for
lis text the assertion of the London Times
ministerial paper) OF Jan. last, in reference to
this subject" when tpe doubled zoe took The trick"
The right of search in time Of peace, as held by
Great Britain, is subjected to a searching examin-
alton, indeed-treated as an Interpolation into tho
law of nations-a measure which will practically
operate 10 drive lawful American commerce from
half the seas, by subjecIing American ships and
crews to the violence of British officers. 1t is, in
short, considered as identical with the British
clum which produced the last wnr-as means
to secure to Great Britain The entire supremacy of
the seas aud the conviction of The writer seems
to be that their claim, with The supremacy of tho
seas mot the suppression of the slaye-trade] in
view as the end, will be pressed by Great Britain
at the point of the bayonet. Gen. Cass expresses
stronger fears for war than hopes for peace, If the
quinluple treaty is not defeated
'Thst whon the British doubted the birthplace of sal
lor, they Impressed aim.
Newspaper Reporis-ihat Isaac Hill OF N. II.