Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-03-25
With the idea of a perfect right. !


the despatch Of Lord Aberdeen to Mr..
Everett, ofthe Goth December, ls4l,
as also in that just received by the Brit
sh Minister in this country, made to
Mr.. Fox, his Lordship declares that If,
in spite Of all the precautlon which can
be used 1o!prevent such occurrences, an
American ship, by reason of any visit
or detention by British cruiser,
"should suffer loss and injury, it would
be followed by prompt and ample re-
muneralion." And in order 10 make
more manifest her intentions in this
respect, Lord Aberdeen, in the des-
patch of the goth December, make
known TO Mr.. Everett the nature Of the
instructions given to the British cruis-
ers. These are such as, if faithfully
observed, would enable the British
Government to approximate the stand
ard of fair indemnity. That govern
ment has, in several cases, fulfilled her
promises in this particular, by making
adequate PREPARATION for damsge done to
our comerce. 1t seems obvious to re-
mark, that right which is only to be
exercised under such restrictions and
precautions, and risk, in case of any
assgnabIe damage, to be followed by
the consequences Of trespass, scarce
lily be considered any thing more than
privilege asked for, and either con-
ceded or withheld on the principles Of
international comfy.
The principles laid down in Lord
Aberdeen's dispatches, and the assu-
rance of indemnity therein held out,
although the utmost reliance was pla-
ced in the good faith of the British
Government, were not regarded by the
Executive as sufficient security a.
gainst the abuse which Lord Aberdeen
admitted might arise in even the most
cautiousand moderate exercises OF their
new maratime police. And, therefore,
in my message at the opening OF the
last session, | set forth the views en-
tertained by the Executive on the sub
iect, and substantially affirmed both
: our inclination and ability to enforce
our own laws, protect our flag from a.
buse, and acauit ourselves Of all our
duties and obligations in the high seas.
In the view of these assertions, the
Treaty of Washington was negotiated,
and upon consultation with the British
negotiator as to the quantum of force
necessary to be employed in order to
attain these objects, the result to which
the most deliberate estimate Tod ~S'
embodied IN the eighth article OF the
Treaty.
Such were my views at the time OF
negotiating that Treaty, and such, in
my opinion, its plain and fair interpre-
tation. l regarded the eighth article
90 removing oil possible pretext on the
ground o. mere necessity, to visit and
dctain our ships upon the African coast,
because of any alledged abuse of our
flag by slave traders Of other nations.
We had taken upon ourselves the bur-
den of preventing any such abuse, by
stipulating to furnish an armed force
regarded bys both the contracting
parties as sufficient 10 accomplish that
object. Denying as, we did and do,
all color of right TO exercise any such
general police over the flags of indie
pendent nations, we did not demand OF
Great Britain any formal remuneration
of her pretensions. Still less had we
the least idea of yielding anything our
selves in that respect. We chose to
make practical settlement oftheques-
ton. This we owed to what we had
already done upon this subject. The
honor of the country called for it; the
hoaor of the flag demanded that it
should not be used by others to cover
an iniquitous traffic. This Govern
ment, am very sure, has both the in
clination and the ability TO do this; and
If need be, it will not content itselfwith
a fleet of eighty guns-but sooner than
any foreign government shall exercise
the province Of executing its laws, and
fulfilling its obligations, the highest OF
which is to protect its flag alike from
abuse and INSULT would I'dsubt not
put in requisition, for that purpose, its
whole naval power. The purpose of
this government is faithfully to full
/ fiji the Treaty on its part; and it will
not permit itself to doubt that Great
Britain will comply with It on hers. In
this way peace will be best preserved
and the most amicable relations mann