, 1842-01-08

so nave all other natlonS, to detaIn and exam
inc the vessels of their own subjects whether
~slavers or not. and whether with or without
a flag purporting to be that of the United
States; but, in doing this. it must be bore in
mind that they have no color of right, nor
will they be permitted, 10 extend such inter-
ference TO the vessels or citizens of the Uni
ted States sailing under the protection of the
flag of their country
IL Great Britain or any other nation can
not restrain the slave traffic: of their own
people upon the ocean without violating the
rights OF other nations and the freedom Of
the seas, then indeed the impuni'v of which
Lord Aberdeen speaks will take place. This
may be depIored, but it cannot be avoided.
Lord Aberdeen asserts that it has been the
invariabIe practice of the British navy, and
he believes Of all the navies of the world.
to ascertain BY visit the real character Of
merchant vessels met with on the high seas.
if there he good reason to apprehend their
illegal character. Now, the undersigned
must be excused for doubling whether any
such practice as that which Lord Aberdeen
>upposes, certainly not 10 the extent now
claimed. has ever prevailed in time of peace.
Ia war the right of visitation is practised, IN
der the Limitations authorized by the avs of
nations. but not in peace. What otter ma
ton than Great Britain has ever asserted or
attempted to exercise it? None. it is believ-
ed. There is another misapprehensor, also.
into which Lord Aberdeen seems to have
fallen, that it may be important 10 correct.
II relates to an admission which his lordship
supposes he undersigned to have made. as
II tie extent OF the abuse of 4 American
flag for purposes of slave traffic. Now the
undersigned would submit. that he did not
intend to express. nor did he. any opinion as
TO The extent to which the flag of the Uni
ted States was abused by other nations. So
far from it. he expressly stated, as Lord Alb
erdeen will perceive by reference to his note.
that neither he nor his Government had the
means of forming any opinion upon the sub.
.iec,. He admitted the abuse of the flag, and
d~epiored it; but to what extent. he gave no
opinion.
Nor can the undersigned Weld to the force
OF the reasoning employed BY Lord Aber-
deem. arising out of the limited number of
5oH0 fde American. vessels engaged in the
slave trade, to prove that the danger of inter-
ference with American vessels will be of rare
occurrence. He readily admits. with Lord
Aberdeen, that there are few American vessels, |
If any. engaged in the slave trade; but. in
admitting the fact, he does not perceive very
clearly what bearing it can have upon the
present discussion. or how the smallness of
the number Of American slavers can at all
guard against the evils which Lord Aberdeen
snppoSeS. For. If it be true, rs his lordship
contends. that the abuse by other nations of
the flar of the United States is one of in
creasing extent, and that it can in no way
be prevented but by the examination of all
vessels sailing under the flag of the United
Stale; and ii must also be admitted that there
are numerous American vessels engaged in
lawful commerce in the African seas. which
with other vessels, are to he subjected to de-
tentIon and examination. what possible effect
can the number of American slavers have in
preventing the Interference of that more
numerous class Of merchantmen who are 10
be found engaged in commerce thro rghout
the whole of the African seas? ii there
was not Il single vessel of the United States
engaged in the slave trade, the evils and in
telruptions which Lord Aberdeen is so desir-
Gus of avoiding mus, still take place. when
ever the right shall be attempted to be en-
forced against those vessels that are not sla-
NeTS. Dul Tie ETedl CdulIon WHICH is 10 Ue
observed in the exercise of the right, and
the manner in which 1t will be guarded, is
greatly relied on by Lord Aberdeen in its de-
fence. Indeed. his lordship declares that so
much honor and respect are due to the flag
of the United States, that it is only to be
exercised in certain ATTITUDES. and exclusive
" confined 10 cases where the ~strongest sus-
picion and well-confounded doubts exist.
Now the undersigned respectfully ask Of
what consequence it can he 10 the United
States if their rights or the honor of their
flag are violated. whether it be done upon
one part OF the ocean. or another? In rela-
ton to the well-tounded suspicion TO which
Lord Aberdeen refers, it might have been
desirable (f the manner Of existing an I'M
lawful power can excuse i) that his lordship
should have stated what the particular char
acter and degree of the suspicion was to be
which was alone TO justify the interference
of Her Majesty's cruisers. That such a
right as that claimed, if it existed, could not
be safely confined to those of Her Majesty's
cruisers who have heretofore been in the
habit of exercising it, the undersign n feels
himself warranting in ~supposing. This, he
presumes, will be satisfactorily shown by the