The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-19
ROYAL WEST INDIA MAIL LINE OF
STEAMERS

The following article, from the Richmond
Enquirer, deserves the attention of every one.
at appears from public papers, that at meet.
lngs of citizens of Savannah, Charleston, Nor.
folk and New York invitations have been given
to the steam packets plying between Great
Britain and the West Indies, to touch at these
ports going and returning, and that Mr.. For
ward, Secretary Of the Treasury, in reply to a
letter from MIR, Buchanan, the British Consul
General at New York, says, there is nothing
in the exciting laws to prevent these steamers
taking letters and passengers between the
points on our coast at which they touch.
If the existing laws are defective on this
subject it is to be hoped they will speedily be
corrected by additional legislation Is it possible
that our countrymen, especially of the South,
can have so little foresight as not to perceive
that in fostering this line of steam packets, they
are doing every thing in their power to nourish
and support powerful weapon of offence on
The part of England in the event of a war with
the United States and at the same time that
they are weakening the lines of coast Railroad,
on which in the same contingency, we must
mainly rely for the transportation of troops
and munitions of war, for defence and protec-
ton 1t really must be amusing TO Lord Alb
erdeen, TO find us so dull of perception, as to
be willing that British war steamers, built er-
pressly for the contingency cf a ,car nth Amer
lea, and command by officers of the Royal
Navy, who will of course prof; by the oppor-
tunity 10 make themselves intimately acquain-
ted with the soundings Of our coast and har
bors, are allowed to enter our ports, and to
t-,oenorf ro0,lo RI our mails nd nasSanUerc
The object of the above remarks is merely to
attract attention TO a matter which seems so
far most unaccountably to have escaped obser.
vaticn and remark. 1t is impossible. i'll pro-
pery weighed. that any portion of our coun-
trymen can be willing TO incur the hazard of
increasing the power of England TO injure and
devastate every part of our coast, in the posi-
bic, and not improbable contingency of an ear
" struggle with her.
You are no doubt aware Of the fact, that the
steamers in question are supported by large
contribution annually made by the British gov
eminent, ON condition that they shall be built
of ADEQUATE strength for war vessels; that they
shall be commanded by British naval officers
and placed under the control of the British
Government in the event of war."
OrGreat Britain Austria, Prussia and Rus
sia. have each ratified the proposed treaty for
the suppression of the slave trade. France, it
was expected. would also come into the meas
ure. but upon refusing to do SO at the time. as
the other four powers did, she was allowed the
privilege of doing SO hereafter: These powers
are TO stand by each other In their efforts to
check and exterminate the dealing in human
beings. So far, it is noble enterprise, yet we
perceiye that Gov. Cas-, our Minister to France
has come out against this treaty,on the ground,
it is apprehended, that the alliance has in view