Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-10-01
FAYETTE, MISSOURI, SATURDAY, OCTOBER L. 1sAs.

ent, that il was not thought expedient tc
make it one OF the subjects Of formal nego
cation, to be entered upon between this
Government and the British Minister, a.
part of his duties under his special mission
/, BY the treaty Of 1893, the line of divi
} sion along the rivers and lakes, from the
place where the 45th parallel Of north lati
! tude strikes the ST. Lawrence, to the Quite
OF Lake Superior, is invariably to be drawn
through the middle Of such waters, and not
through the middle of their main channels
Such line if extended according to the
literal terms of the treaty, would, it is obvi
Gus, occasionally intersect islands. The
manner in which the Commissioners Of the
two Governments dealt with this subject,
may be seen in their reports. But where
the line, thus following the middle of the
river or water course, did not meet with
islands, yet it was liable sometimes to leave
the only practicable navigabIe channel alto
gether on one side. The treaty made no
provision for the common use of the wa
tiers by the citizens and subjects of both
countries.
1t has happened, therefore, in a few in
stances, that the use Of the river, in partic
ular places, would be greatly diminished to
one party or the other, if, in fact, there was
not choice in the use of channels and pas
sages. Thus at the Long Sault in the ST.
Lawrence. dangerous passage, practicable
only for boats, the only safe run is between
Long Saut islands and Barnhardt's island,
all oil which belong to the United States on
one side, and the American shore on the o.
Their. On the other hand, by far the best
passage for vessels Of any depth Of water
| from Lake Erie INTO the Detroit river, is
between Bots Blanc, British island, and
the Canadian shore. So again there are
several channels and passages, Of different
degrees OF facility and usefulness, between
the several islands in the River St. CLAIR, at
or near its entry into the Lake of that
name. In these three cases, the treaty
provides that all the several channels and
passages, shall be free and open to the use
of the citizens and subjects Of both par
ties.
The treaty obligations subssting be-
tween the two countries for the suppress
sion of the African slave trade, and the
complaints made to this Government, within
the last three or four years, many Of them
but too well founded, Of the visitation. sci
zure, and detention of American vessels Of
that coast, by British cruisers, could not but
form delicate and highly important part
! of the negotiations which have now been
| held.
The early and prominent part which the
Government of the United States has ia
ken for the abolition Of this unlawful and
inhuman traffic, is well known. By the
tenth article Of the treaty Of Client, it is
declared that the traffic in slaves is irrecon-
cilable with the principles of humanity and
justice, and that both His Majesty and the
United States are DESTROYS of continuing
their efforts to promote its entire abolition;
and ii is thereby agreed that both the con-
tracing parties shall use their best endea-
vors to accomplish so desirable an object.
The Government Of the United States has,
| by law, declared the African slave trade
| piracy; and at its suggestion other nations
have made similar enactments. 1t has not
been wanting IN honest and Jealous efforts,
made in conformity with the wishes of the
whole country, to accomplish the entire
abolition of the traffic IN slaves upon the
| African coast, but these efforts, and those oil
other countries, directed to the same end,
have proved, to a considerable degree, I'M
successful. Treaties are known 10 have
been entered into some years ago between
| England and France, by which the former
power, which usually maintains large nav
al force, on the African station, was au-
thorsed TO seize and bring in for adjud'ca-
| ton, vessels found engaged in the slave
trade under the French flag.
1t is known, that in December last,
treaty was signed in London by the repre-
sentatives OF England, France, Russia,
| Prussia, and Austria. having for its profess
sed object, strong and united Efforts OF
the five powers to put an end to the tratilc.
This treaty was not officially ccmmunlca-
ted to the Government of the United
States, but its provisions and stipuIatlons
are supposed to be accurately known to the
public. II is understood to be not yet rati-
fed by France.
No application or request has been made
to this Government TO become party to this
Treaty; but the course it might take IN re-
gard to it, has excited no small degree OF
attention and discussion in Europe, as the
principle upon which it is founded and the
stipulations which it contains, have caused
warm animadversions and great political
excitement.
In my message at the commencement OF
the present session Of Congress, | endea'
vored to state the pri ~ciples which this
Government supports respecting the right
of search and the immunity OF flags. DE
sirous of maintaining those principles fully,
} at the same time that existing Obligations
should be fulfilled, have thought 1t most
consistent with the honor and dignity Of
the country, that should execute IFS own
Inc ond perGorno If ohipations by ITS oWr