Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-06-11
PROTEST OF GENERAL CASS AGAINST THE
DEMANDED CONCURRENCE or THE
FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN THE TREATY
or DECEMBER 90. lS4l.

DEMANDED CONCURREN nee or THE /
FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN THE TREATY |
OF DECEMBER 90. ls4l.
LEGATION ruE UNITED SrATrs.
PARIS. Feb -. 1912
Sir The recent signature Of a treaty having for
its object Of the suppression Of the African slave
trade, by five Of the pnwers Of Europe and To which
France IS party Is fact OF such general nolorieiy.
that it may be assumed as the basis Of any diplo.
rnaiic representations which the subject may aiily
require.
The Quilted States. being no party to this treaty
have right To inquire into The circumstances
which have led To il. ntp tie measures il propo-
ses to adapt. except 50 far they have To
believe that their rights my be involved in The
course o. its execution. Their desire 10 put
stop this traffic - every where known "a we'll as
The early and con iuu,d efforts they have adopted
to prevent their citizens from prosecuting it, They
have been ilyited by the Government or
Great Britain TO become a party to treaty
which should regulate the action Of the combined
Governments upon this subject, but for reasons sat
isactory 10 themselves and DC believe satisfactory
10 the world. they have declined this united action
and have chosen 10 pursue their own measures. All
TO act upon their own citizens only, without suhJoc
Iing these u any kind OF foreign jurisdiction
la "A communication lrJ.u Lord PImerson Her
BrIuanc MJesy's Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Ahnrs. TO Mr. Stevenson the American Min
Isicr at London. dated August p, 1871, Lord Pal
'Getsion claims right for the British cruisers and
aNows The inenii"n e his Government To exercise
A. to search AmC r.can vessels n, in time OF peace
with view 10 ascertain their national character.
lie adds, that this examination Of papers Of mer.
ehunimen suspected OF being engaged in the slave
trade even though they hoist a United States naZ.
IS proceeding which It absolutely necessary that
British cruisers, employed in the suppression oflho
slave trade, should continue to practise. Sc.
In communication from the Successor OF Lord
Ptlmcr,t'n, Lord Aberdeen, 10 Mr. Stevenson, dalcd
18Th Of October, 1881. the views and determination
announced ia The preceding letter cunfrme',
and Lord Aberdeen thus states the ground upon
which h rests this pretensina To search American
vessels n time Of peace; Bat The undersigned must
observe, that the present happy concurrence at the
states Of Christeudum in this great object (he sup
preston of the slave lrade) merely jusliiics but
renders ind ispensnh.c, the right now claimed and
exercised 10y the British Government that is Ia say.
The right of entering aud examining American YES
sells 10 ascertain their true nationality.
u Is no part uf my duty 10 offer any comments IN
M iIis preenson, nor uppn the advanced in
support ol It; and. if 1t were should find the dul;
iar better performed for than could perform IL
Tor myself m the annual message Of the President of
the United States % Congress Of the 7,h of Decem-
Der 1871. Ia that document will be found tho views
views Of American Government upon this subject
and II is there emihaiicaly declared. that 'howeyo
DESTROYS the United States may be for the suppress
sion Of The slave trade they consent % inter
puaiions into the maritime code at the mere will
aud pleasure of other Governments. We deny the
right Of any such Interpolation To any one or all the
nations OF the earth without our c Inscnt We claim
10 have voice in all amendments alterations Of
that code and when are given TO understand. as
IA Tins instance, ny q foreign Government, that it,
treaties wih 0hcr raiinns cannui be executed with.
out tie establishment aud enforcement of new prir-
ciples OF maritime police. tn be applied without our
cnn-cni, ve mIst employ language neither Of e.
quiNoca import nor susceptible of misccnstrncIipn
You will perceive Sir, by these extracts that The
British Government has advanced a prelension
which At asserts 10 be indispensable TO the execu.
non OF Ms treaties Tor The suppression of its treaties
inr The suppression ofIhe slave fIds 81 10 which Ihc
President Ol the United Sates has DECLARED that th,.
American Government will not submit This clam
OF search will be observed arising is asserted
out OF rNsiing obligations. Ia. relation The iso!.
aied treaties for the abolition oihs traffic which
were IN force at the date of its ,mmunicatiuns OF
Lord Palmerson and l. ard Aberdeen II IS nnw
known that the combined treaty upon tai, subject
IS more extensive "a its operations and more min
ute ia some of the details Of s execution than the
separate treaties with France; (which preceded il.
aud equally indefinite Va the duration of its obga.
lions. OF course measures which were not only
Jusiihab!e but Indispensable for tho execution Of
The latter, will find equal justice and necessity in
The obligations Of the former.
With this previous Declaration made by one OF
The parties To Tins qnIniuple treaty. concerning MS
operations. the American government cannot shut
their eyes 10 their true position The moral effect
which such union at five great powers, two OF
which are emiuenlly maritime, but three Of which
have never perhaps. had a vessel engaged in that
uaIis is calculated to produce upon the United
States and upon other nations which like them NAV
be lndisposed to these combined movements though
It may be regretted, yet furnishes no just cause oil
complaint, But the subject assumes another rs
poet when they are told by one of The parties that
their vessels TO be furcbly entered and examn-
ed ~ order 10 carry into effect these slipnlalions
Certainly the American government does not believe
thai The high powers Contracting parties 20 this rc
atty, have any lsh TO compel the United States by
iorce 10 adapt their measures 10 its provisions, 10
adopt It's stipulaiions
They have too much confidence in their sense Of
justice 10 fear pny such result, aud they will see
with pleasure the prompt dsavowal made by your
self SIR. IN the name Of lyour country at the tribune
ct the Chamber of Deputies Of any intentions Of
this Sarure. But were it otherwise, and were it
possible. they might he deceived in this confident
expectation that would not alter IN one title their
course Of action. Their duty would be the same
and the same would be their determination 10 fulfil
90. They would prepare themselves with npprehen
SION indeed hut without dismay;with regrntbui yith
hrmness for " those desperate struggles which
but where just ause and The favor Of Providence
have given strength 10 comparative weakness and
enabled 10 break down the pride Of such pow
er
BIT rs have already said the United States do
not fear that any such united attempt made upon
neutrality-suspicious.. Whai. however they may
reasonably fear. and what they do fer, IT, Than in
the execution Of this treaty means will be taken which
they myst resist How far the acts Of one Of the
parties, putting construction upon its own ducs
and upon the obligations Of is oo-cOntractors may
involve these IN any unlocked for consequences Ell.
ihor BY The adoption Ofsimlar or by their rejection
do not presume 20 judge. Certain % j. however
that % The fact and The principle advanced by Lord
Aberdeen ore correct that these treaties fr the abb
ion Of he slave trade cannot be executed without
iorc'bly boarding American ships OF sea iu time Of
peace, and that The obligations created by them con
Ter NOT only Tie right thus 10 violate the American
nag bui make th.s measure q dniy--then % salo
The duty ofFfance 10 pursue the same course
Should she put this construction upIn her obi,..
CATION, 70 Is obvious The United States must d., io
her as they will DO 70 her ~ they will DO IN PM
u. II .