The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-01-20

The impression has gone abroad through
the public mind, that the question here at
issue between the two Governments is, the
General Right of Search, such as was
once put in practice against us by Great
Britain. Such appears TO be our embas-
sador's preyailing idea aud his main effort
of argument IS accordingly directed to-
wards combating that claim, although OBJ
viously everywhere disavowed, on the part
Of the English negociators.
II will be seen, in the earliest part Of the
correspondence, that, as TO the cases Of
the Iago, Hero, and Douglass, Lord Pal
merston iustifes tho boarding and search
of those vessels, under formal agree
ment entered into between the American
and British naval commanders on the Airi-
can station. By this, it was arranged that
those officers, for the purpose of carrying
ont the views of their respective Govern
ments, should detain all vessels under the
United States flag, found 10 be equipped
for, aud engaged in TIE slave trade; and
the ships so detained should be turned over
TO the cruisers Of the nation, Of which they
should appear to be the property. In
making such an agreement, the American
officer appears TO have exceeded any pow.
er conferred upon him: but the convention
itself clearly existed; and furnished, until
disavowcd by our Government, abundant
ground for the acts complained of. This
convention alone was allcdged as the
grounds of the acts in question; and our
Government, as soon as its disavowal of
this agreement was known, was assured
that no further proceedings of this sort
should occur. Meanwhile, as TO the right
of searching vessels known to be Ameri.
can, the British Secretary utterly dis
claims any such pretension. This is so
positive that idesiring not 10 waste room
we shall not cite the passages which prove
it any body can find them.
I Now, however, ensues, from the abro-
CATION of the unauthorized agreement in
question, the true and the existing Official.
ty. Under this mutual " right Of search,
vessels assuming our flag to cover their pi.
/ ratio practices, should be detected by the
cruisers Of both nations. Our force, along
the slave coast, would appear, from the
Report of the Secretary Of the Navy, 10
consist Of two vessels--the Dolphin and
the Grampus 10 haze consisted, we should
say---for both appear to have returned
home, and not to have been replaced. If,
then, vessels assuming our tiag-aud all
slave ships will, and under these cirCum.
stances do--are to pass unquestioned, eX-
cept by American ships Of war, there is an
end to the suppression Of the slave trade.
Driven, then, by this invincible necessi.
ty, the English say, "Thesc seas are las
you avow) filled with sIaycrs, few of which
it is believed, either by YOU or US, TO be
i American; but great part Of which bear
/ your flag, because the nations, whose pro-
petty they really are, have, as to each
other, authorized this right Of search
against their ships suspected of being en-
gagged in this traffic. Do YOU claim tina
! your flag shall protect, not only your owl
: ships, but all others, crcn Of our ora nation
that shall assume it, for the purpose o
eyading examination Il is totally ont O.
the question. We can never consent =
push our respect for your flag TO this abb
surd length. We must, where our cruis.
ers see vessels that give reasonable suspi-
cion Of their being slavers visit them-as.
certain, by inspection of their papers and
crew, to shat country they really belong,
and what they are about; and in a word
know something more of them than the
bunting at their masthead. If we find
them to be bona fde American vessels, We
T shall acknowledge, at once, the protection
which your flag confers, even though they
may be ascertained TO be really engaged
in the slave trade, or have a cargo Of
slaves on board. But we will not respect
your flag, thus assumed by every pirate
that can hoist it. -iadepeadeat.
Washington Correspondence Of the Bait. Patriot
A most daring robbery was committed
ia town to-day, which, perhaps, you may
have heard of. About one o'clock, room
over the Patent Office was entered BY
false keys, and several valuable articles be.
longing TO the General Government stolen,
The robbery was committed in the small
room where the presents to the officers Of
the Government were kept Three arti
clcs were stolen, valued at Sl2, 900, viz
the famous gold snuff box, presented by
the Emperor Alexander TO Lieut.. Harris