Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-01-21
CANTON MISSISSIPPI SATURDAY EvENING JANUARY

premise, that there are several circumstan-
ces, which caused no small repugnancc on
his part to any stipulations whatever with
Great Britain on the subject of these arti-
Giles; and he would add, that he would
have been graiiied ifthey, and all other sti.
pulations on the subject, could have been en-
tirel y omitted; but he must at the same time,
say he did not see how it was possible to
avoid entering into some arrangement on
the subject. To understand the difficulty,
it will be nUuesoory to advert 10 the course
heretofore taken by our Government in
reference to the subject, and the cir
cumstances under which the negota-
ton that resulted in this treaty common
ced.
Congress at an early day-as soon, in
fact, as it could legislate on the subject I'M
der the Consitution-passed laws enact.
ing severe penalties against the African
slave-trade. That was followed by the
treaty of Client, which declared i, to be ir-
reconcilable with the principles ofhlmani-
ty and justice,and stipulated that 9TH of The
parties-the United States and Great Bri-
tain--should use their best endeavors to
effect its abolition. Shortly after, an act
of Congress was passed declaring it 20 he
piracy; and resolution was adopted by
Congress, requesting the President to en-
ter into arrangements with other powers
for lis suppression. Great Britain, actua-
ted by the same feelings, succeeded in ma.
king treaties with the European maratime
powers for Its suppression; and, not long
before the commencement of this negotia.
ton, had entered into joint stipulaiions
with the five great powers to back her on
the question of search She had thus ac-
CURED a general supervision of the trade
along the African coas'; so that vessel;
carrying the flag Of every other country
except ours, were subject on that coast tc
the inspection of her cruisers, and to be
captured, if suspected of being engaged il
the slave-trade. In Consequence, ours be
came almost the only flg used by those
engaged in the trade, whether our own PEG
pie or foreigners; although our laws inhi
bited the traffic under the severest penal
ties. la this state Of things, Great Bri
tain put forward the claim OF the RICH, O
search as Indispensable to suppress trad
prohibited by the laws of the sciyilize
world, and to the execution of the laws an
treaties of the nations associated with he
10y mutual engagements for its suppression
At this stage, correspondence took place
between our late minister at the Court o
st. James and Lord PaImerston on the
subject, in which the latter openly an,
boldly claimed The right of search, and which
was promptly and decidedly repealed or
our side. We had long since taken our
stand against it, and had resisted its abuse
as beligerent tight, at the mouth of the
cannon. Neither honor nor policy on our
part could tolerate its exercise in time Of
peace, in any form--whether in that OF
search, as claimed by Lord PalmerstOn; OF
the less offensive and unreasonable one OF
visjiati N, as proposed by his successor,
Lord Aberdeen. Aud yet we were placed
in such circumstances as to require that
something should be done. 1t was in such
a state of things that the negotiation CON-
mcnced--and commenced, in part, IN re-
ference to this subject, which was tending
rapidly to bring the two countries into col
Ilisior. On our side, we were deeply COM
mitted against the traffi:, both by legisla-
ton and treaty. The influence and the ef-
forts of the civilized world werc directed
against i,--and that, too, under our lead at
the commencement; and with such sue
cess as 10 compel vessels engaged IN 1t to
take shelter, almost exclusively, under The
fraudulent use of our Gag. To permit such
a state of things 10 continue, could not but
deepIy impeach our honor, and turn the
svmpaty of the world against us. On the
other side, Great Britain had acquired, by
treaties, the right Of supervision, including
that Of search and capturing, over the
trade on the coast of Africa, with a view
70 Us suppression, from all the maritime
!. oowers except ourselves. Thus situated
he must say that he saw no alternative fol
us but the one adopted--to take the super
vision of our own trade on that coast int
our own hands, and II prevent, by our OWL
cruisers, the fraudulent use of our flg.--
The onlv question, in the actual state o
things, as It appeared to him, was, whethe
il should be done by formal or informa
arrangement He would have preferred
; tharI>Ster; but the difference between then
bt, in his opinion, such as would jus
tify, on that account, the rejection of tn
treaty. They would, in substance, DO tn
same, and have differed but little, prOba
bly, in the expense of execution. Elthe
was better than the other alternatives
do nothing; toleave things in the danger
Gus state they stood; or to yield to the RICH
of search or visitation.
t 1t is objected that the arrangement er
: tered into is virtually an acknowledges
r Of the right of search. He did not 50 re
: gard it. On the contrary, he considerd
II il. undcr all tn circumstances, as a surreI