Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-04-08
sesT o. rIsIr4rlo.N on sEsEcn
DfrAnrsKSr 90 sTArf,
Washington. 2sth March. ~.


from tho President 81 the a.. States TO Congress- commun
Gated the 25th Of February, and accompanied by
p,fi made from this Department the President OF the
Substance II dispatch from Lord Aberdeen. Mr.. Fox,
which by him read the 24rh ultimo.
Lord Aberdcens despatch. you will perceive,
caoned by passage in the Presidents message 10 Con-
gfes the opening Of its late session. The particular
passage stated by his Lordship but mistake will
be committed IL IL presumed. In considering IL To be that
which quoted by Sir Robert Peel, and other gentlemen,
the debate In the house OF Commons the the
Queen's speech. on the ID of February.
The President regrets that should have become
ray hold diplomatic correspondence upon the subject
Of communication from the head Of the Executive Gov
the Legislature; drawing after in this
the further necessity OF referring observations made by
persons In high and responsible stations in the debates of
public bodies Such necessity however 70 be I'M
hvudab incurred In consequence Of Lord Abcrdccn's de-
spaich for although the Presidents be
regarded ~ clear exposition OF his opinions, ON the sub
cci yet Just respect for Her Maesys Governments and
disposition to meet all questions with promPtnes as well
with irankness and cando require that formal answer
should be made TO that despatch.
The words in the the opening OF the session
which complained Of is supposed, the following;
although Lord Aberdeen his correspondence with the
American ENJOYS, at London, expressly dselamed all
right dctan American ship the high seas, EVENT.
found with cargo of slaves board. and restricted the
British prctension claim visit and inquire,
1t could well be discern ed by the Executive OF the L.
ned Satca how such vista nd inquiry could be made with
detention the voyage, and consequent interruption
the trade. Ii regarded the night OF search, pre-
scented only form, and expressed different words,
and therefore felt be my duty distinctly declare IN
my annual message Congress, that such
cession could be made; aud that the United States had
both the will and the ability enforce their laws and
10 protect their flag from being used for purposes wholly
forbidden by those laws and obnoxious to the moral
Of the world"
THIS statement would tend Lord Aberdeen thinks,
convey the supposon only that the question of the
OF the right searchhad been dsayowed by the British Plen
pontentiary, Washington but that Great Britain had
made concessions that point
Lord Aberdeen entirely correct in saying that the claim
OF night OF search discussed durng the late nego
iiaon. aud that neither any concession required by
this Government, made by that OF Her Bntanic Ma
Jesy
The sh and 9th articles of the Treaty of Washington
constitute mutual stipulation for concerted efforts abol
h the African slave trade This stipulation, may be ud.
med has other effects the pretentons of either par
than this: Great Britain had claimed right, that which
this Government could not admit right, and in the
crcise OF just and proper spirit OF amty mode
sorted which might render both the
and denial of such claim.
There probably those who think that what Lord
Aberdeen calls right OF VISIT aud which he attempts dis
unguish from the night OF search. ought have been
pessy acknowledge by the Government of the L. States;
ut the une there those the othersde who think
that the formal surrender OF such night Of should have
been demanded by L. States as precedent condition 10
the negotiation tor Treaty stpuutons subject
African slave trade. But the Treaty neither
claim IN terms denies the claim terms, neither for
maly insists upon It, nor formally renounces IT, Su the
whole proceeding shows. that the object OF the stipulation
was 10 avoid such differences and disputes had already
rsen and the serious practical evils and Inconvenience
which, be denied are ALWAYS liable 10 result from
the practice which Great Britain had asserted be lawful
These evils and Inconvenience had been acknowledged Ivy
both Governments They had been such much
irauon, and to threaten disturb the amicabr
which prevailed between them. Both Governments were
sincerely DESTROYS OF abolishug the slave trade both Govern
ments were equally DESTROYS OF avoiding
both Governments regarded the eh and 9th articles eec
iua Tor their avowed purpose; and likely the tme
10 preserved all friendly relations and take away
future individual complaints. The Treaty OF Washington
intended fulfil the obligation entered into by the
Treaty Of Client. Ii stands by ITSELF clear and intei.
gble. IL speaks Its own language and manies
pose needs no interpretation and requires
A. fact as an important in National inter.
have important bearings existing cues
TONS respecting the public law; and individuals perhaps
Governments may not agree to whathese bearings real
ly Great Britain has discussions il controversies
with other great Europen States upon the subject of visit
search These States will naturally make their own
commentary the Treaty Of Washington and draw their
differences from the fact that such treaty has been en-
tered into It, stipuntions, IN the time, plain
explicit satisfactory both parties and will be fulfilled on
the part Of the United States, and doubted the
part OF Great Britain also, with the utmost good foth
Holding tins To be the character Of the Treaty.
might perhaps excuse myself from entering the cOnsd
Grafton Of the grounds OF that claim OF night TO visit mer
chant ships, for certain purposes in time Of peace which
Lord Aberdeen asserts for the British Governments and
c.aes that II surrender But deem it right new
efheless and no than justly respectful towards the
British Government 10 leave the point without remark
In MS recent message 10 Congress- the President refer
mig 10 the language of Lord Aberdeen, his note u Mr.
Everett OF the both of December ls4 and in ms late de-
sPatch TO Mr. Fox, says, these declarations well lead
w. 10 doubt whether the apparent difference between the
two Governments Is not rather Of definition than
principle"
Lord Aberdeen in his you OF the Goth Of Decem
beT "he undersigned again renounces he has al
ready done in the explicit terms night on the part
OF the British Government 10 search American vessels IN
time OF peace The right of search except when specially
conceded by treaty. purely begeani right and can have
no existence the high during peace. The under
signed apprehends however that the right of search
confined To the vcrfcauon nationality Of the vessel but
also extends the object of the voyage and the nature G the
The sole purpose Of the British cruisers is 10 asce
tain whether the vessels they with really American
not The night asserted has truth resemblance q
the night OF search, either in principle practice IL is
simply night TO satisfy the party who has legitimate
teTes m knowing the TRUTH that the vessel actually what
her cOors This right conccdc a. freely a.
exercise The British not instructed 10 de-
tain American vessels under any circumstances whatever
the contrary they ordered 20 abstain from interior
with them, be they siHycrs or otherwise But where
reasonable suspicion exists that the American ag has been
abused TOR the purpose OF covering the vessel Of another ma
uDn woud appear scarcely credible had II been made
manifest By the repeated protesaOns their representative
that the Government of the United States which has stjg
mlled and abolished the trade ITSELF should object To the
nuopon Of such means as are ndpensdby necessary for
ascortaning the truth"
And in ms despatch to Mr. Fox his Lordship fur
Their says that the President might be assured that ca
Britain would always respect the lust claims Of the L. $
that the British Government made no pretcntons IN inter
fee IN any whatever either by detention visit or
search, with vessels Of the Il. : known or believed 10 be
necessary its right the genninencss Of anv
fog which asuspected vessel might bear the exercise
OF this night, either from involuntary cuor n spite Of eve
~ precauon loss injury should be sustained pronp,
Teparlti0n would be afforded; but that should entertain
Tor single instant the notion Of abandoning the nigh,
self, would be quite impossible"
This then isthe Btsh claim, asserted by Her Mncsiys
Government.
In his remarks in the speech referred in the House
Of Commons, the first Minister Of the Crown said
"hcrc Is nothing more distinct than the night Of visit
from the night Of search. Search Is bsgerant right and
not 90 be exercised in time Of peace except when IL his
been conceded by treaty The night Of search extends no;
only % the vessel but g. the also. The right Of visit
isqntr distinct from this. though the often confound
ed The night OF search with respect American vessels
we entirely end utterly dsclaim nay, more IT we knew that
nn American vessel furnished with all tne materials
requisite for tbe slvorado " knew that the decks were
prepared 10 receive hundreds Of human beings within
space IN which life 10 almost impossible s should be-
bound 20 LEI that American vessel pass onBl the rg
we claim is 60 know whether vessel pretending be Anne
con' aud hosting the American Cog, be bona fire Amo
can"
The Presidents message srcsarded as holding opinions