Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-04-26
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH.

We have read with unfegned gratifcs
tiOn the "Examination Of the question now
in discussion between the American and
British Governments, concerning the
Right OF Search" by Gen, Cass. II Is q
misterely and most conclusive view Of
this great and grave question. In style
and manner, as well as in csgency Of ar
gumSnt, il is 9 statesman like production;
and il will surprise no one that its effect
upon the public mind in France, and up.
on the government OF France, has been
all that has been ascribed to it.
The immediate object Of this pamphlet
was 10 awaken the government and peo-
pie Of France 10 the consequences Of be-
coming party 10 the convention, OsteR.
Sibly for the suppression Of slave trade,
but really BY the concession Of an alleged
mutual right Of search, TO enforce. on the
part Ofthe British GOVernasnt, the right
OF visitation and impressment. It is AOt
too much 10 believe thStt TO its sOsent facts
and reasoning, and to the Efforts Of its
author, the American Minister at the
Court of France, We are indebted for the
refusal Of that Power, thus far, to unite
in the combination Of Governments (four
Of the European powers) "tO make an in.
tsrpolatiOn into the law Of nations, which
shall become part Of that great public
code" And we are not without the hOps
that it will be followed by 9 formAl SK-
preston Of dissent from the convention
But even if France, as veil a. the ether
European powers, should finally sigaify
its concurrence in the stipulations Of the
convention, and thus secure TO themselves
and between the vessels Of each . mutual
right Of search, it would be Of course on.
ly a conventional or municipal regulation
for the government Of the contracting par.
ties, reaching no farther, and By no
means becoming part Of the law Of ne.
tons.
The right Of search, and It's corOllHry,
the right Of impressmSnt, will, Ve are
persuaded, never be yielded by the Amer
lean Government or people. However
imbecilO in other respects, the former
will scarcely venture upon 4 step so much
in conflict with the prevading sentiment
Of the latter. For half . century the Amer
lean Government has been foremost
nmsng the nations Of the world in The sE.
forts TO suppress the slave trade; and
there is no reasonable sacrifice that il
would not make for the accomplishment
Of that important object; but any attOmpI
by the British Government, directly or By
indirSction, 10 carry out its schemes o.
naval supremacy and the subVsrsion o.
the freedom Of the ssas--ts exercise thG
right TO enter our vessels, 20 matter up
on What pT0text, and 10 seize and bear
away our seamen-Vill be met Aow, 10
the same spirit Of resistance as that BY
which, thirty yesrs age, We appealed to the
last affirmative ofrnations.
Il - fortunate fer this country aud fol
the maFiiime rights Of all nations, thai
whsa this question came TO be consider
cd, BY the two greatest maritime powers
of the world, thai We we're represented ct
theirraspectiVe courts BY those who knew
how to assert and vindicate the national
character and rights,and to resist this most
dangerous pra;ension Of England, Mr.
and Gen. Cass hsys placed
Ibis great question, upon an imPregnablO
basis land have tindicAtsd our position
gith such mastery and convincing sbili. !