The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-25
ANNExATIoN-A DEFENSIVE MEASURE.

bIAT II>oi' II hEhoOhI-
There are several important considerations
likely TO recommend the proposed annexation o.
Texas TO the support Of that class of citizen:
who do not regard patriotism as the first Of du
ties, but as one TO be postponed TO their con
struction of,he precepts Of morality and religion
One of these is that il would be purely de
fensive measure. The intention Of The British
Government TO interfere in cur domestic con.
Germs, was avowed on the floor OF the House Of
Lords in language too explicit TO be misunder-
stood and the source OF the avowal-one ofheI
Majesly's principal Ministers Of Stale-gives il
oil The force Of formal declaIatio Of the Gov
eminent. The mode of interference is matter
Of li,lle importance to US, and is merely chosen
rs the one likely TO prove most efiectual, and
least dangerous to Great Britain herself. Ii is
sufficient for US that the views Of the British
Government are avowedly directed, and her ne
gotiation, with neighboring nation carried on
with design, to the accomplishment Of the ex-
tinction of slavery within our borders.
This recent demonstration of the British Co
vernment is in perfect conformity and cohe-
renee with previous acts, evncing its deermi-
nation TO prosecute its schemes of abolition
without the slightest regard to the feelings OF
interests of the People of this country, and, if
necessary, in defiance of the law of nations.
The case of the "CIeole'' is still fresh
in the minds of the American People. The con-
duct of the British Government in that matter,
if not indi-putably in violation Of the law
Of nations was certainly well calculated TO in
terrupt that harmony which it is the sole object
of the law of nations to preserve, and it was,
therefore, a violation Of the spirit Of that law
II was, to say the least, gross departure from
national comfy, such as if met in like spirit
and reIaliated would necessarily have led to
war.
Bot smother act of more fsgrant character,
and having The same settled design in view, was
the passage of the Act of Parliament OF the
oath August, 1889, authorizing British cruisers
on the coast of Africa, 10 search vessels of any
nation suspected OF being engaged in the slave
trade. This act was passed with a full know
ledge, and indeed without any attempt what
ever al the time IN do-v 'h-' ;' --.-s ;~ d;.ost
violation Of the law Of nations, as expounded
and most clearly set forth by the Admiralty
Courts of Great Britain itself. And it was
also known and stated at the time, in Parlia-
ment that the act would be likely to bring the
British Government, into conf CT with our own.
p Nevertheless, the Ministry persevered in their
purpose, and the result was the seizure of our
vessels on the coast of Africa, and The subse.
quent attempt Of the British Government to
justify itself by claiming the right of search
during peace-a right not though, of during the
animated debate on the bill, nor until il became
necessary to advance il as prettxt.
We extract the following remarks from
speech Of the Duke Of Wellington in opposition
to the bill, in order to show what was thought Of
the character Of this high handed measure of
the British Government, by one not likely 10 I'M
derra,e the rights Of his own nation, nor to
overrate those of our Republican Government
"There were some nations, one great nation in
particular the United States, with which this coun-
try tad made treaties for putting down the slave
trade Il was true that there were engagements
made By diplomatic notes. in which the United States
had expressed her readiness 10 co operate with this
country in putting the savetrade down, by declaring
1t piracy. Documents, however, which had lately
been laid before their Lordships, showed that the
slave trade stl carried by vessels bearing the
point more 10 be avoided than another, it was that
relating 10 the searching vessels belonging TO the
United States. He alluded particularly TO the cor
respondence which had passed between the Commits
sioners at the Havana and he perceived, that not
only inclination shown on the part OF the
United States to permit this detention and visitation
for papers, for the purpose Of discovering whether
the vessel had right TO claim the protection Of an
other State but, the contrary, II might Judge
from the correspondence Of their Consul al the Ha-
fhe epttp hat. tcb A
although proof offered Of the fact was resented
insult Now, if the Government were to act
under the authority Of the act Of Parliament that
would not relieve them from the conseq of in
tererng in this manner with the rights Of other ma
tons. For his own part he coulJ not Judge Of the
eonsequences that might follow--nor could he form
m opinion OF what our means were for the purposes
Of carrying this measure into execution supposing
the United States should think proper as he thought
we had every reason TO believe from these documents
they would TO resist the operation of the act Tb,
another reason, in his opinion for desiring that
the measure should originate with her Maiestv,s
Government, who had all this knowledge. and not
with Parliament. But there was another view If ,h
quesiIoD, which he thought was rather low view of
II in comparison with those which he had already
drawn under their Lordsbip's attention All tbes.
officers, whoever they might be, acting under The
provisions Of this bill, were 10 be UNIDENTIFIED from
all consequences, but the State would not he i,,ep
ni6cd. Under all the treaties, ndemnities were La
Bile TO be paid, and there was positive engagement
To pay very large demurrage, and il so. we m,gb,
be certain that vessel Of the United States would
be detained even for a visitation which might las,
only few hours, for which this country might no,
be liable Under all these circumstances, he thought
that this measure one TO which their Iordsbins
could not with propriety agree, IL they entertained
that respect for the rights Of other nations which
had been the uniform practice Of this country 10 OH
IN ITS beat days, and he therefore moved The,
the bill be road second time that day six months.
On the motion for third reading of the bill
the Duke Of Wellington made another animated
speech against il, and he was one Of the sigpey.