The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-11
From the .Ne,u York Courier and Enquirer.
"THE RIGHT OF SEARCH"

We conclude to day, the correspondence be-
tween Mr.Slevenson and the B llish government,
on the subject of the right claimed by Greet
Britain, 10 Stop vessels on The high seas sailing
under the American flag, aud examine their pa
perS or in other words" the right Of search
In The course of the correspondence, Mr. Ste-
venson with the view of exlI biting the injustice
of the recent acts of her cruisers cited the decis-
ion Of that eminent civilian, Sir " lillian Scott,
subsequently, Lurd Stowell in the case oil
French vessel obtained by British cruiser Oh
the coast Ct Africa. That was case precisely
TO tie point and in deciding against The de'e1-
lion tie learned Jurist said:
- No nation can exercise RICH, OF vsita-
tioa and search upon the common and unapPro-
printed parts of the ocean, excerpt upon bcli!g-
erent claims" And again: - No nation has
the right to force their way fer the liberation OF
Africa, by trampling upo2 the Independence CT
other States on the pretence of an eminent good
by means thai are unlawful or 10 press forward
TO great principle by breaking through other
great principles which stand IN their way.
This gees the whole length, and proves Great
Britain wrong, even according IN the decisions
in her own Admiralty Court. But what are pre-
csGents-whcl the decisions Of learned Judges
when a great and powerful nation las sraveiy
deter mined To Uerpctra,e a National wrong, and
establish such Laws for The government o! the
Oceau as NAV hest suit her convenience
We Dill indulge tie hope that The British Gov
err ment had long since determined 10 abandon su
claim 10 the right # OBTAINING, searching or t1-
aiming The papers Of vessels sailing on The hisn
seas undcr the protection of the American flag.
/ But such, il appears IS not the fact; and we Go
not hesitate 10 give it as our opinion. tat war
4 between the two nations is inevitable and close
at hand if Great Britain attempts to put IN prac-
lice the principles avowed by Lord Palmerston.
and the Earl of Aberdeen. 1t viii be perceived
by this correspondence, that Notwithstanding The
able argument OF Mr.. Stevenson, ior It Is able IN
manv respects. The British Ministry have gwen
notire of their determination 10 continue The prGe-
fice complained Of aud leave Us 10 adopt such
measures of redress rs we may deem expedie"t
I Lord PdlmerstOn says:
! "Her GIaie>ty's Government hare decided that
Il flag Of the United States shall exempt no rcs-
sci whether American or n1'l from search By
Her Maiesty's cruisers IN Inc African seas, unless
such vessel shall lie found provided with papers
emitting her to the protection Of The flag she
wears, and proving her 10 DC Uaied States pro-
pertv. and navigating The ccesn according 10
/ law"
( The Fail of Aberdeen under date VI the 18th
! Ocrober, reiterates the determination Of Great
I Britain l., exercise this pretended right, and adds:
/ at is obvious, therefore, thai the stmost eau
I lion is necessary in the exercise OF the light
I claimed by Great Britain. While We have re-
| course IN the necessary, and lnteed the only
means tor detecting impo turr, the practice viii be
careiclly guarded and limited 10 Gases of strong
suspicion. The undersigned begs Ia assure Mr..
Stevenson that the most precise ard positive in
st,uctionS hare bren issuS1 10 Her Msiesy's fl
GERS on this subject"
And after thus decidedly and empbaticaly
commenting uphn the right. and avowng the de-
liberate Determination CT Great Britain 10 disre-
gard our flrg and compel every vessel found on
tie African coast under American cClors, TO sub
mt To IN examiuati n Of their papers by British
| U!lceTs, the whole su ect is very cavallerly Dig
posed Of by his Lordship in the close Of his last
note, ich terminates in these words:
" A mutual right Of search. regulated in such
manner as 10 prevent the recurrence Of any ir'i-
tatinr circumstances, has always appeared TO IL.
undersigned to be the most reasonable. the most
simple, and most etfec,uaI method Of attaining
the great object which both governments have Ia
view.
e. But this proposal has been already rejected
by the United States, and tic undersigned is not
instruc' ed again TO offer it for consideration.
" Il /; for the american GorcInnlcn. alone IN
determine rhal may be due 10 just regard for
their n1fonel dignity and NAT onGI ,sterests but
the undersigned must be permitted TO express his
conviction, that rights which have been mutually
ceded to each other by tn governments Of Great
b
with tie bonoT and independence CT any State
upon the face Of the carih.'
We mus; be permitted to say that i. seldom
occurs in the history Of Diplomacy, even when
n1iiins are 90 the eve of war, that tone OF such
palpable dcfanee is resoried TO- We are told th.t
( Gse,t Britain once proposed that the "mutuI!
right OF search" should be regulated by Treat,
but II rejected 10y the United States that size
viii not condescend o renew any such PROPOSE
hi, - II ,1,1etr
has given Instructions to her cruisers accordingly.
aud that II Is for the american Government alone
10 determine ,rhGi may be due TO jpsi regard far
! IFS NnL,oraI Dignity" And his LorGship clos
with sheer at that National f'sidiousness which
/ will not IL to the example OF England AMI
/ Ffcace and learn from them what Is due TO our
/ National Honor
W. repeat that in our opinion, the entire Inn
ruare and the conempiuous tone Of The last par
aorapbs 10 the last despatch Of the English Sec
/ retary. are more insulting tn our National chaI-
| acier than were wont 10 be used between Nations
on the eve Of war. The force and justice Of Mr..
SIevenson's argument upon tho merits ofthe ques-
ZION admitted; but he is told that Great Bit
ain deems 1t erpediert 10 exercise this Insulting
md degrading fright Of seareh"-that she has
given her Instructions to her cIuzers accordingly
and that the United States must taTnely
quiesce, or adopt such course as we may deem
due to cur National Dignity"
This is IN truth. using as insulting language az
could be adopted; and no alternative Is left the
Government of The Jni'ed States but the imme-
date despatch ola squadron To the coast Of Afri-
ca with orders punish the 81 ghtest disrespert TO
our flag by English cruisers, or quietly submit to
be disgraced in the estimation of every civiiz
/ Nation.
If there il any one pretension of the part Of
(, Great Britain, which more than all others tbs
| Peopie Of The United States are determIued 10
resist, at any and every hazard, it is this Right