The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-24
s ECU
THE TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Delivered in the United States Senate, August u
and 10, 1912.
OF
WILLIAM c. RIvEs, OF VIRGINIA,

Delivered in the United States Senate, August II
and 10, 1872
We come now said Mr. RWEs) TO that portion of
the treaty which relates 10 the suppression of the
African slave trade. There is no nation under the
sun which has shown, through her whole history,
more anxiety for the extinction of this odious and
revolving traffic than the United States and none
have, therefore, deeper interest historical and po-
lltical, IN the contamination of the great work in
which they led the way. Not 10 speak of the yari-
and repeated acts of the Legislatures Of the seye-
raj States, while they were yet colonies of Great
Britain 10 arrest and put end to this cruel traffic
acts rendered imperative by whatm my own State (Vr-
gnla) denounced at the time to be - inhuman use
oi the royal negative, aud which she specially SET
forth among the wrongs and grievances which i'm,
PEELED her To the establishment of AN independent
Goyernment-not 10 speak Of acts of this sort with
which our ante-revolutonary history abounds-t is
sufficient TO say that the Government OF the Union
from the moment Of its establishment under the ex-
sting Constitution, has steadily devoted itself TO the
accomplishment of the great object While
The Christian States Of Europe still tolerated aud
some Of them even encouraged, this revolving com
merce the United States, first among the nations of
the earth, pronounced its formal condemnation by
law and following up this condemnation, occa-
sion required, with new penal sanctions, combined
WIN active measures Of surveillance and repression,
they finally gave to the world the striking example of
GROWING act Of legislative energy, by which they
ing that any citizen OF the United States found en-
gagged IN Il, whether on board an American a TO-
reign vessel, or any foreigner on board an American
vessel, so employed, :" should be adudged a pirate
and suter death as such"
While the United States thus set the example of
their own early and energetic legislation for the re-
preston Of this crime against humanity, if was felt
that general cooperation of the powers Of Chrslen-
dom, and especially of all the maritime powers would
bel necessary 10 insure its final and complete exrpa-
n pf his dizzy mi.
and Great Britain, In concluding the treaty Of peace
at Client, entered into the following stipulation with
each other:
Whereas the traili; in slaves is rreconclable
with the principles of humanity and justice and
whereas, DO his Majesty and the United States
DESTROYS of continuing their tgois to remote its entire
abolition it is hereby agreed that both the contracting
parties shall ,s eu best endearors 10 accomplish desi-
rabe an obsct'
A practical Interpretation of the spirit of this en-
gagement, and striking proof OF the cordial sympa-
thy of the representatives of the people in the gene
raj object of IT, was afterwards afforded in resou-
lion, passed by the House of Representatives on the
10th day of February, 1923, by the nearly unanimous
vote of l3l yeas to 9 nays. II was expressed in the
following words:
Z" Resolved That the President of the United States
be requested to enter upon and prosecute from time
TO time such negotiations with the maritime powers
OF Europe and America as he may deem expedent
for the efecal abolition of the African slave trade,
and It's ultimate denunciation piracy under the law
OF nations, by consent of the civilized word.n
Both OF these solemn acts the resolution of the
House OF Representatives in 1923 well the
pulation of the treaty of Ghent-clearly recognised
the proprety and necessity of system OF COM
blned action among the maritime powers of the world,
10 put an end eHectualIy 10 the save-trade. Great
Britain early embraced and has till perseverng-
y adhered to the opinion that the mutual concession
OF right OF search. be eXerpis nv the med
cruisers OF each party the merchant vessels of
the others, Is the only etiectua means of putting an
end to this Infamous traffic. The United States on
the other hand, unable TO forget the serious wrongs
they had so recently experienced from the abusive
exercise of the right of search jealous, above all
things of the immunity of their flag and Of the gene
raj freedom Of the seas-the and equal inhe-
ritance OF all nations-have been UNIV ng to COM
promise these great interests, by entering into
rangement involving so vital an innovation upon the
established maritime code; especially as they beliey-
ed other means were to be found less eiccual for
the accompl shment of the common object of the
suppression Of the slave-trade Great Britain in the
mean time, succeeded in making treaties with Spain,
Portugal and the Netherlands Tor the mutual right
oil search. And other European States having, from
TIME TO time, come into the same arrangement, the
United States are now the only considerable maritime
power that has continued to refuse it, accession to
system which they could not but regard as compro-
missing, IN high degree, the general freedom of the
seas II has thus, doubtless happened that the Ame-
rlcan nag has been, IN many instances lrsudulently
used TO cover vessels really belonging States who
are parties to the mutual grant of the right If search
IRON The exercise of hat right and, prevent this
evasion, the Government OF Great Britain recently
put forth pretenson of alarming extent, and which
we have resisted, and must resist, wholly un
suStanabe upon any just principle Of public lawj to
wit that her users have the right to board and de-
tain vessels sailing under the Anne lean flag, when
they shall Judge it proper TO do So 10 ascertain by
examination Of their papers, whether they truly
aud bona 6de American not.
This was the state Of things existing at the com
mencement of the present session of Congress when
the President laid before us the correspondence which
had taken place on the subject of this new pretenson
between our Minister at London and Lord Palmers-
ton and Lord Aberdeen, successfully her Majestys
Secretaries OF State for Foreign Affairs. The mes
sage of the President referring t. the same preton-
SION, held the following emphatic and unequiyocsl
language;
However DESTROYS the United States may be for
the suppression Of the slave-trade they cannot CON
sent TO interpretations into the maritime code, at the
mere will and pleasure Of other Governments. We
deny the right of any such Interpolation to any one
all the nations Of the earth, without our consent
We claim to have voice IN all amendments or alter
atons of that code and when are given TO under
stand, as In this instance, by foreign Government,
that its teaies with other n,tons cannot be eNecu-
ted without the establishment and enforcement of
principles Of maritime police to be applied with
out our consent, we must employ language neither
Of equiyocal import nor susceptible OF msconstruc-
ton. American citizens, prosecuting lawful com
merce IN the African seas, under the flag Of their
country, not responsible for the abuse or unaw-
iul use Of that flag by Others they rightuly,
on account Of any such alleged abuses be interrupt
ed, molested, or detained, while on the ocean,
Here, then, is the answer Of the American Govern
ment, IN the highest and most authoritative 70 m
known 10 its official intercourse TO the preiension ad
yanced on the part Of Great Britain in the discussion
with our late Minister at London IL i, an uncquvo-
cal negation Of that prctcnson, in principle and m
practice; and leaves nothing to be done which could
announce in more emphatic terms our determined re-
Sistance 10 IT,
The vital question Of the independence Of our