Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-03

essary to adopt or deny it.. Lord Palmers,on's
error consists, he thinks, in assuming the necesst-
~ and erpedency ofthe po,ocr as proof Of us er-
tstence. The principle ifallowed would make ev-
cry commander of British cruiser the exclusive
judge Of the national character of vessels sailing
under the U. 5. flag. The United States. more
over, cannot be held responsible for the conduct
of other nations who seek to cover their infamous
traffic by the fraudulent Use of the American flag.
Lord Aberdeen addresses Mr.. Stevenson in re-
ply with most unfeigned respect for the rights
honor and Independence of the United States
lie shows tllat tho decision ofhe British author-
ties to which Mr.. Stevenson referred, has been re-.
versed, and therefore carry no weight. The con-
fesson our Minister that the slave trade is extern
sively carried on under the fraudulent use of the
American flag, is regarded insliiYing the whole
claim of the British government 1t constitutes
that reasonable ground ofsuspcion, which the law
OF nations requires in such rase. The admitted
fact of this abuse creates the tight of inquiry
Lord Aberdeen renounces all proonions on the
part OF he British Government TO visit aud search
American vessels in time orpcnce, nor is it as a.
mer:cnn that such vessels nre visited. And as the
number Of actually American vessels engaged in
the traffic is believed to he small, the danger Of
interference with them will be ofrare occurrence
1t has been invariably the practice Of the British
Navy, aud Lord 4. believes Of all navies in the
world to ascertain by visit the real nationality of
vessels Oh the high seas, if there he good reason
to apprehend her illegal character.
The concluding letter was written by Mr.. Stpv-
enson. He recn, .ituacs The whole matter in con-
treversy, mud thus defines the points at isSuc--
Great Britain united by TOatieS with Other ma
lions in conccding the mutual right of search for
the purpose of suppressng the slave trade. Inde
pendent Of such treaties his right Of search could
not be exercised The United States declined to
become party to iheSe treaties, decming it expe-
dent To yield The right of having their vessels
searched in tine Of rcacr. Meantime some Of the
other nations who were parties to llrsc treaties,
continued to prosecute the trade, aud in order to
do so with more effect, rrsurted to the flag Of the
United States. To prevent this, Great Britain
deemed il necessary that her cruisers in the AZ.
rlcan seas should have the right Of detnining all
vessels navigating those seas, Tor the purpose Of
ascerlaining their national character. Agninsi
This practice The U. s. Government protested, and
demanded reparaton in the numerous cases ont
of which the present discussion has arisen, which
however has been refused Ivy the British Govern
ment, who ST i'll assert The right of her cruisers 10
continue the prarticc. In n former note Mr.. Stc
venson attempted TO show that the right thus ns
serted was substantially ngM IF search, which
is discaimed by the british Government and in
the place if it were not, still the right Of in
reference in the manner asserted with the flags D
other naions, not parties 10 these treaties was no.
less unlawful and uniustiiilhle.
The right asserted by Her Majesty's Government
is clear and explicit it Is that Tie flag of The U
nited States shall exempt no vessel from search 10y
Her Majesty cruisers in the African seas, unless
she shall BIO found provided with papers emitting
her TO the protection OF the flag she wears aud
proving her to he United States property md nav
iga,ing the ocean according to law. This, Mr..
Stevenson regards as an actual denial Of The right
OF The U. ,. vessels TO navigate the ocean in time
ofpeace without being subjected to examination
and detention. Every commander of British
cruiser is considered the Judge TO decide whether
the vessel he navigating The ocean according to
law This is substantially the right of placing
British cruisers in any part of the ocean and pre-
scrihing the upon which others arctic partc-
ipatc in the freedom Of the 1t is, in effect, a
claim OF jurisdiction over The whole of the Airi
can coast and seus. Where would the exercise of
This power end, if once submitted to ? 1t might
easily he extended so as 10 include the right TO
search for senmcn and descr,ers, and tina, of i'm.
pressmens. Does Her Majeslys Government he.
lieve, nsks Mr.. Stevenson, that such power
would be tolerated by any independent nation on
the face of Tie earth ?
Mr.. Stevenson illus concludes
The undersigned must, therefore, after the mos,
careful consideration of the arguments advanced
in Lord Aberdeens note, repeat the opi:Iion which
he has heretofore expressed, that il power such
as HAT which is now asserted by her Mnlesty's
Government shall be enforced, not only without
consent but in the face of direct refusal to
cede il, can he regarded in no ether light by the
Government OF the United States than violation
of national rights and sovereignty, and The incon
testable principles Of international law. That its
exercise may lead TOO consequences Of II painful
character, there is 10 much reason to apprehend
In cases of conflicting rights between nations, the
precise line which neither can pass, but 10 which
each may advance is not easily found or marked
and yet it exists whatever may be The difficulty OF
discerning Il. In ordinary cases OF arrangement
there is ule danger; each nation may aud often
does yield something TO the other. Such, howev
er, it is to be feared, is not the present case. The
peculiar nature of the power asserted and the
consequences which may be unprecedented from its
tous character. lnvoving, as it does, questions OF
high and dangerous sovereignty, ii may justly be
regarded as deeply endangering the good under
standing of the two countries. Ought Her Maj
esly's Government them under such circnnstan-
ceS, to insist upon lis enforcement? That il will
nor. the undersigned cannot permit himself 10
doubt. He will therefore continue to cherish the
hope that, upon careful review of the whole
subject, Her Maestys Government will see the
importance of adopting other measures for tn
suppression of the 'lave trade Than thosc.now pro-
posed, and which will he far better calculated, not
only TO accomplish tire object desired, but 10 pre-.
serve the friendly relations of The two countries
upon principles consistent with the interest and
honor of both.
REPORT UPON THE FISCAL AGENT.
The following report Tuesday trlnsmiitcd in comp
with their request to both Houses of Congress;