Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-10
Lesqtioa cf'the I. S'otes.


Sir: The recent Signature of Treaty, having tor It's
object the suppression of the African Slave trade by
five OF the powers Of Europe, aud To which France Is
party is fact oil snch general noioretv, that II may
he assumed the basis Of any diplomatic representa-
tons which the subject may fairly require
The L. 5, being no party to tins Treaty, have no
right inquire into the circumstances winch nave led
10 IT. nor the proposes TO adopt eXcep
so lar as they have 10 believe that their rtGnS
NAV be involved in The .! lis execution Their
own desire put stop t. ths tra!'lc is everywhere
known as we'll as the early and continued efforts they
have adopted prevent their citizens from prosecuting
it. They have been invited by the Government o:
Great Britain to become Il party 10 treaty winch
should regulate the action OF the combined Govern
Inents upon this subject but for satisfactory
10 themselves and believe satisfactory to the world
they have declined this united actor aud have chosen
To pursue their and 10 act upon their own
citizens only. without submitting these 10 any kind OF
foreign jurisdiction.
In communic .ion from Lord raimcrston, her Br
fannie MaeS,ys Principal Secretary o! State for Fo-
reign iiirS, 10 Mr.. Stevenson, the American MINIS
Ter at London dated August - ISL Lord Palmerston
claims a RIGHT for the British cruisers and arows the
intention nt his Government 10 exercise II, 10 search
American vessels at in time of peace, with view
t. ascertain their national character. He adds, that
shs examination Of papers of merchantmen suspected
of being engaged the slave trade, though they
h1is, L. S flag, isa proceeding which 1t is absolutely
necessary that British cruisers, employed in the sup
preston OF the slave trade should continue to prac
tisr, &c
In communication frou, the successor Of Lord Pal
mcrs;on Lord Aberdeen TO Mr. Stevenson, dated 18th
of October i>il the views ana determination an
nounced in the preceding letter are confirmed, anu
Lord Aberdeen thus states tac ground upon which
rests this prcension search American vessels in tune
of peace. "Bn the undersigned must observe. that The
present happy concurrence OF the States OF Christen
dom in this great object U!c suppression of the slave
iradc) not merely usieS, but renders indispensable
the righ now claimed and exercised By the British Go.
vernmert that is 10 te rli oi entering and ex
aiming American vessels 10 ascertain their true ma
t!onalty
|, IS no part Of my daty 10 offer any comments upon
this pre,ension, upon the reason advanced IN sup
port of ii: and It II were Shonld find the dn,y far bet.
Ter performed for Than conld perform ii for myself
IN the annual message Of t,c President OF the u. ;. 10
Congress of the 9Th OF December, le4l- In that do
cnment will be found the views of the American Go
yernment upon THIS subject and II IS there emphat-
cally declared that sho~ Never Grsirous the L. > may
he for the sunD,esson OF the Save trade, they cannot
consent interpretations INTO the maritime code at the
inere wall and pleasure If other Governments. We
DENY the r.Lt Of such Interpolation 10 any one, or
all the nations OF the eaF. without our consent. We
claim TO have voice III al amendments or alterations
oil that code aud when gwen 10 understand, as
ia this ,s,a;cc by foreign Government that lis rea.
ties with other cannot be executed without the
establishment and enforcement o principles OF una
r,iuc police, be applied without our consent, we must
employ a language neither OF cqurocai import no!
susceptible Of misconstrGcton
You w! perceive, SIR, hy these extracts that the
British Government has advanced i pretens'oh winch
asserts he indispensable 70 The execution OF ITS
,renes Tor the suppression "s the slave trade, ann 10
which the President o the T. s. has declared that the
American Government w not submit. THIS claim oi
search II will be observed, arising, asserted out OF
existing ohllrat:ans has relation 10 the isolated ;reaes
ior the abolition oi tn; traffic whch were IN force al
The date Of the COMMUNICATIONS o. LORD ianerston ana
lord Aberdeen. IL : row known that the combined
treaty upon thus subject is extensive IN is opera
tons and more ni:.Ge OF the details at its
execution than te separate treaties with France, winch
preceded 1t, and equally indefinite in the duration 81
lis oil rationS Ot course measures which were mol
only jusii4b but Indispensable, ior the execution OF
the latter, VIII fad equal justice and necessity IN the
obligations Of the former.
With this previous declaration made by ore Of The
parties 10 tins clutupe treaty, concerning Ms opera
tho american Government cannot shut their eyes
their position. The moral effect which, such
union of five great powers, two ot which are emnenty
maritime but three OF wach have never, perhaps had
vessel enaeoed in that traffic, IS calculated 10 produce
upon the L. : and upon other nations, which Ike
them uily be nd.Spnsed to these combined movements
though il uay BE- regretted Vet furnishes no nscause
of ompain bot tie suti"ct assumes another aspect
when they are told hy Of the parties that their yes
sells are Ia bc io-ch'y entered and examined IN order
10 carry into effect these s'pnlGtons. Certainly Tie
Americaa Government does not believe that the h'gh
pawers, contracting parties to this treaty, nave any
wish compel tir United States hy force to adaf
their measures 10 IT'S provisions, or 10 adopt It's s;qu
latioas.
They have too much confidence in ,hci. sense Of las
tice 10 fear any such result, aud they w see with plea
sure the prompt Gisavowal made by yourself, S IN
the name OF your country n the tribune al IT," Cham
her Of Deputies, of 0y MT, ncas ot THIS nature But
were it otherwise, and Il possible th"y mGht lie
deceived in This confident expectation, that would not
alter in one ne Their course Of action. Their duty
would be The sane ard The would lie their deter
mination fulfil il. Thcy would prepare themselves,
with apprehension iadcod, but without dsnay with
regret, but with Finances, io: q those desperate
struggles which have sometimes occurred III the ms
tory OF the word, but where lrst and tue favor
OF Prov dence have gwen strength 10 comparative weak
ness, and enabled ii TO heak down the pride OF power
But have already said the |. : do not fear that
any such united attempt wiil be made upon their m
dependence. What, however, they may reasonably
fear, and what they do i"a. is that IN the execution OF
this treaty measures will be taken which they nus;
resist How far lie Of one c. the parties, patlng
construction upon lis own duirs, and upon The Oh
legation Of It's contractors, may involve these III any
unlooaed.ior consequences either by The adoption al
similar measures or hy their rejection, d. not pre-
sumo TO judcc. Crt'an il - however, that i. the fact
and the principle advaac by Lord Aberdeen
rec-tat these treaties for the abolition OF the slave
trade cannot b. executed without iorcbly boarding
American ships at sea t'Dc Of peace and tia, the
obl,rat,ons created by them confer only tie right
thus 10 violate the American ;lor, but make this
sure Il Guty-ihen il IS also duty OF France TO pursue
the same course. Should she put thus construction
upon her obligations it is obvious the L. 5. must do
her they viii ID TO England If she persist III THIS
attack upon their independence.
Should she not docs not become me TO investigate
the Of her position with respect to one OF her
associates whose opinion concerning their relative dn-
lies would be widely different from their own. But
! may express the here that the Government OF has
Majesty, before rayng THIS treaty. will examine ma
;urely the pretensons asserted by che OF The parties
and see how these be rcconcilrd, not only with I'll"
honor and interest ofthe u 5, but with The received
PRINCIPLES of,he great maritime code Of nations. may
make this appeal with Tire more confidence from the
relations subsisting between France and me T. .,
from community of interest in tie liberty Of the seas,
frcm community of opinion respecting the Prnc'-