New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-06-04
Farther Foreign Intelligence.
The Rlxf,t of srnrch
osi IF General Cass Ggassf The dcandoI cocurenee u
he Fr0h GotcrHuleit ~ re Treaty If December -
LEGATION Or THE iFNIrED STATES
p.pfs D.Irr,r,. n 100

LEGATION Or THE UNITED STATEs,i
PARis February - 1912.
SIR The recent signature Of treaty, having
Tot lis object the suppression Of the African slave
trade, by five of the powers Of Europe, ard 10
which France is party, i. fact of such general
notoric,y that 1t may be assumed as the basis of
my diplomatic representations which the subject
may fairly require.
Ihe United States being no party to this treaty.
have no right to inquire into the circumstance.
which have led TO it, nor into the measure. it pro.
poses 10 adopt, except so far they have reason
to believe that their rights may be involved in tie
course of its execution. Their own desire to pat
stop to this traffic is every where known, as well
the early and continued efforts they have adopt
ed to prevent their citizens from prosecuting it,
They have been invited by the Government Of
Great Britain to become a party to a treaty which
should regulate the action Of the combined Gov.
ernments upon this subject; but for reasons salts
factory TO themselves, and believe satisfactory to
the world, they have declined This united action
and have chosen to pursue their own measures,
and to act upon their own citizens only without
subiectIng these to any kind of foreign jurisdic-
ton.
In a communication from Lord Palmcrston, Her
Britannia Najesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Stevenson, the Ameri-
can Minister at LONDON, datcd August 81, l84l
Lord Palmer-ton claims a right for the British
cruisers, and avows the intcntion of his Govern.
mcut to exercise it. to search American vessels ar
in time of peace with a view 10 ascertain their
national character. He adds that this cxan.i-
nation of paper, of merchantmen suspected of be-
ing engaged in the slayc-lradc. even though they
hoist United States flag, il proceeding which il
is absolutely necessary that British cruisers, en-
Ploycd in the suppression OF the .ave-trade,
should continue to practice &C.
In communication from the successor Of Lord
Palmcrston, Lord Aberdeen. to Mr. Stevenson. da
ted 18th OF October. 1873 the views and dctcrsi
nation announced in the preceding letter are con-
hrmed, and Lord Aberdeen thus states the ground
upon which rest. this precnsion to search Arseri-
can vessels in time of peace: But the undersigned
must observe, that the present happy concurrence
Of ,he state, Of Chri,tcndom in this great eblcci
thc suppress SION Of the slave radc) not mere, lus-
'ifc,, but renders indispensable, the right now
claimed and exercised by the British Government
that j, to ,ay, the right of entering and examining
American vessels TO ascertain their truc nation
ality.
1t is no pau OF rny duty to offer any comments
upon this rrctension, nor upon the reasons adj
yanccd IN support OF il; and, ii II were, should
find the duty tar better performed for me than
could perform II for myself IN the annual message
OF the President of the United States To- Con.rc.,
of the 7th of December, l8ll. In that document
viii be found the views of the American Govern
msnt upon tins subject. and 1t l. there emphatical-
J., dec AIRED, that however dcsiiou. the United
States may be for the suppression Of the slave trade
they cannot consent 10 Interpolation, into the mar
thine code at the mere viii and pleasure Of other
Governments. " deny the right OF any such IN
tcrpolauon TO any one, all the nations, OF tn
| earth, without our consent. We claim To have q
voice IN all amendments or alteration ot tina, code
and when we are given to understand, rs in TIN,
instance by foreign Government, that its treaties
with other nations cannot be executed without the
establishment and enforcement Of new principles
OF maritime police, 10 lie applied without our cor
sent We must employ uguagc neither Of equiv.
ocal import, nor susceptible ~ misconstruction.'
You viii perceive Sir. by these extracts that he
BRUSH Government has advanced a prefer sion
which 1t asserts to BE- ndi> pcusablc 70 the eNecu
ton OF i' ,caiic, for the suppression Of the slave
trade, and to which the President Of the t. State,
has declared that the American Government viii
not submit. In, claim ct search; II will be- ol-
served, arising, a, j. asserted out Of existing eb.
cations, has relation the iscliaci ireatc, for the
abolition of tins trade which were in force at ne
date OF the communication, of Lord Palmer.l n
''-N isN'N Nttfuttii. IT ! HOW NfnNl ifllf tlif
combined treaty upon this subject j. more cNten.
sIN. IN H. operations. and more minute ia some
" 'he details of IL execution than the separate
80" WIN France, which preceded ii, and
iu"N indefinite IN the duration Vt IT. obligations
| ~ course measures which were no, only lu,tiha
Ole oui lndlspe .sablc for the execution Il L, la,
,rr' WI" hnd equal justice and n-ccssiy in the Oh
| legations ct the former
WIN the previous declaration made BY o,e -,
'hs Pafi'' 10 ihi' quntupe treaty, coucernipo =.
operations, tie American Government, c.n,.,, h.,
then eyes To their true position The moral
| which such usion OF i've great powers. ,xn =,
winch are ennnentiy maritime but three of vbi,i
nave never perhaps. had a vessel engaged in thar
'rafhc' l. calculated 10 produce upon the United
states and upon other nations which. like then,
NAY be indisPosed to these combined movements.
| though IL ma, be regretted. We, furnishes M m.
raa'e Of complaint. But the subject assume, A..