The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-09-19
Communications.
FOR THE MADlsoNIAN.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.

prtctuinB, attcmpt Bcucrdi Wow Va sho AaoSs
remarkable changes and alterations that have happen
cd in foreign policy, must first of all remind
the reader that the rse progress and adjustment OF
many principal points and doctrines have been al
ready pointed out in the course of these communities
tons, under their respective divisions these having,
therefore, been particularly discussed already it can
not be expected that should re-examine them with
| any degree of minuteness.
| As the Executive branch Of the Government is
charged with foreign affairs, every one knows
that the chief responsibility is with the President
To him attaches the censure, where censure is i'm
puted to him, of right, is justly due the praise,
where ZEAL industry, ability, and untring devotion
are manifest in their fruits. We shall therefore
briefly continue in review the condition of our ex-
ternal relations.
| An elaborate examination of the principles as
sumed the basis of the extravagant pretensions of
the right of search, claimed by Great Britain, of
the consequences to which they lead, and of the in
surmountable objections to their admission, would
| transcend the limits of this communication. A few
general observations with exhibition of the cha
racter of these pretensions must not, however, be
| omitted
| If the right Of search tolerated as part of
the municipal law of Great Britain, for the purpose
Of suppressing the slave trade, there principle
of discrimination which can prevent its being en-
poyed in peace war, with all the attendant abuses
of fraud and force. The introduction OF these de-
grading novelties, it has been the task of the Ameri
/ can Government in the outset, to oppose
The importance of that principle to the security
of commerce and to the freedom of the seas has
at all times been felt by the United States and al
though they have not asserted it the established
law Of nations, they have been anxious to it
made part of that law.
The Administration has maintained the ground that
the right of visitation and search does not belong to
public ships of any nation The right is strictly a
begereht right, allowed by the general consent of
nations in time Of war; and limited to that occasion.
1t true that it has been held that American ships
offending against our laws, and foreign ships in like
manner offending within our jurisdiction, may be
pursued and seized upon the ocean, and rightfully
brought into ports for adjudication This, how
ever, has never been suffered to draw after it any
right of visitation and search. This right has always
been viewed by the American Government as a hos
tile act, ndignity to the nation and as a tres
pass upon its rights and sovereignty.
| In viewing the communication of the President to
the Senate of the United States, in laying before
them the treaty. the exercise of this right resisted
in the most decided manner, and with marked disap-
probation
But as the special mission was not charged with the
adjustment of this question, it is postponed for fur
Their discussion.
1t must however, be remarked, in reference to the
suppression of the African slave trade, that the ut
most efforts of the British Government, well as
that of the United States have been assiduousy en-
poyed in the suppression of that abominabe traffic
Il has been denounced BY both in terms Of great
verify, and those concerned in it subjected to the
heaviest penalties which the law can inhct. In adj
dton to those measures operating on their own peO-
pie they have used all their influence to bring others
into the same SYSTEM and to nerdict this trade by
| the consent of all.
The Administration, looking forward to the inter-
dction of this trade, which has been declared by
act of Congress that citizen engaged in this traffic
"should be adjudgcd a pirate" hit upon line of
policy which now enables the Government TO Coop
| crate equally with England. They are now honest
| and jealousy engaged in promoting the universal alb
clifton of the slave trade, and in holding out to the
world their sense Of its extreme crimnality. AL
most every maritime nation in Europe has Also DELHI
eratey and soemnly, either by legislative acts by
treaties and other formal engagements, acknow
lodged the injustice and nhumanity Of the trade and
pledged itself to promote its abolition.
Provision is made by the treaty for the mutual
surrender of criminals seeking refuge from Justice
We would have imagined that this article would
have escaped formal objection nothing but the fact
could have led to surmlse that it possible for il
to have been deemed eXceptionabe, and nothing can
better display the rage for objection which actua es
the adversaries of the treaty. than having invented
one against innocent provision and, at the
time so highly useful for commercial purposes, owing
| to the contiguous possessions of Great Britain
| There is marked disngenuousness running
versaries to the prejudice of the treaty several jour
nails endeavor constantly to have understood that
the Administration abandoned, without effort, the
ques ions which have not been defnitively adjusted
Whence this nferred' Is it from the silence of
the treaty. Surely we can only expect to find there
what was agreed upon, not what was dscu: sed and
postponed. The truth is that as well on the point
Of the right of visitation and search that of other
topics of great magnitude, the President urged our
pretensions, far, and long, he could
| do it, without making final obstacles to the pro-
gress of the negotiation Had the President proceeded
| on a different principle, and refused to refer
these unadjusted questions to future negotiation
this refusal would have been painful Ingredient in
the negotiation for extingushng dscontents both
Sides and consolidating and perpetuatng the friend
ship between them; but acting upon broad and en-
lightcned views Of policy, he preferred the adjust.
ment of the boundary controversy, upon amcabe
and honorable terms, and thus securing the blessings
of peace. In thus acting he gave assurances to the
world that nothing short Of aggressive tyranny
csed by Great Britain towards the United States, |
could counteract and control these tendencies of
peace and amity, which derive their impulse from
natural and social causes, and thus combining the a
fections and interests of the two nations
II must be confessed that the interests at issue
of no common magnitude; on the contrary, involv |
ing as they did, the friendly connection between
England and the United States the Importance Of the
negotiation scarcely be Apr, ciated.
In the full confidence that the adopted in
reference to the negotiation Of the treaty have been
dictated by wisdom and the purest principles Of pat
rotism we cannot withhold the expression of our
grateful thanks for the undertaking frmncss of the
Administration in their execution.
The opposition, anxious to bring this Adminstra-
ton into dsrepute, assaed it with all the weapons
of rdicue and denunciaton. II must be admitted
that the weight and authority Of the Administration
with foreign courts should not be diminished by cxh