The Arkansas banner., 1843-09-23
For He Ba7lner.

ing the sovereignty of nations, which can scarcek
 become threadbare by the frequency of recn1ino f.
 It, and therefore propose to take passing view o
 It. dcemng 1t to be worth the little time and labor
 will cost. l know it is not much agitafed now ba
 cause Great Britain, to all appearance has abandon
 ca It, put It IS only Tn appearance She is silent anf
 that is the only abandonment
 Il Was so formally asserted having as great 6 sane uoh as the last and present British Mininisy coulC gye It IS so necessary to her system of rapine ant plunder that it would he but to delude ourselves tc suppose that it Is renounced.
 It IS sufficient for her purpose, that the pretensior has been made, and that she has solemnly proposed 10 engfait Il on the law of nations All her nterpo- iatlohs oi that law have commenced in the same way AL hiSt what she claims seems absurd, but she sez- es every opportunity to push 1t forward until at last by dlnt of perseverance, she has effected radical change ln that universal code, to enure to her own benefit In fact, the Ministry have said, officially that they nerer haue, and aeUer aoH surrender tbe 17ght ot p'$d and who, in looking at the history of that country, can pont out an instance where any pretenslon, which would extend her sovereignty or power, was abandoned, without struggle, of diff ferent kind from one in diplomacy?
 She will not, from motives of prudence assert ii now. Ihe troubles in Ireland, which threaten to speedily end the official career of the present Minis try, her equiyocal relations with France besides the fact that she has point to gain with regard to Ore gon Territory, forbid the idea and place the impol- cy oi such step beyond all kind of question. But that she means to exercise 1t at some future period that 1t forms part of her settled policy is think, an inference we may legit;;atalj 1 ;; .4,a t , and circumstances which have attended it's solemn . assertion.
 It ought to be extensively discussed, because, to permit 1t 10 pass sHb sento, s placing 1t on a bet ter footing than resistance would give it. i What UNIUs said 10 the English people. of the constitution, may be applied to the laws of nations that is ,never to suffer an invasion of your political constitution, however minute the instance may ap- pear to pass by without a determined, perseyering resistance, One precedent creates another. They i soon accumulate, and constitute law. What yester- day was fact to-day is doctrine Examples are SUD- posed to justify the most dangerous measures. and where they do not suit exactly the defect supplied by analogy"
 If this new right is to be exercised by her, am not backward to own, that in my humble judgment perpetual war would be far more desirable than per petual peace; and Il am not grossly mistaken, such would be the popular sentiment of this nation
 The pretension IS not even confined, by that Go vernment, to the suppression of the slave trade but is extended generally, to the vessels of all nations and declared to be principle which she never has, and never will surrender. On either ground how ever, 1t would be equally obnoxious and inadmissi- be. All nations are deeply interested, and 1t is therefore, their duty to resist 1t to the uttermost whenever it shall Be attempted, whatever may be the consequences since total annihilation is prefer able to dshonor.
 Il ls dtttlLi JtSA to tt uidNH DGtAeGn search and visit, the main ocean, but the fallacy Of 1t IS so obvious, that it scarcely deserves refuta- ton. In truth 1t carries it's own condemnation on
 its iace but happens that England has no better foundation for her claim, than this very miserable piece of sophistrY, which a sehool-boY would be ashamed to adopt. On no better basis than this dis tinction withcat difference, has that Government asserted right, which Is to last through all time extend whether II peace war, 10 all nations ;s right that would draw along with it the exclusive sovereignty of the common highway of nations.
 We are bankrupt in pecmary means, but not in patriotism; we divided in politics, but could not be, tfast in the sentiment that the national honor must be yindcated; We can gain, by arms, what we hazard by miserable negotiations.
 1 venture to affirm, that in her whole history, ex- anime as industfioHsly as you may nothing can be found more unounded in Teason. or more graarle in ambition, than this shameless pretension The right to bind Us, while colonies 'R al cases lshasoeref" without our consent-OrderS of Council, which, to- gether with the impressment of our seamen, com pelled 10 declare and prosecute the last War-the mereiiess contes. which she has Waged against Chi na, osensby to force that ancient and singular na- ton to buy and eat her opium-none of these things
 say destitute as they of one redeeming quality, objectionable and unjust than this right of visiting, in time of profound Peace all ships on the main ocean.
 maintain, that visitation and search are depend- ent on each other; wherefore to claim the right of visit independent thing, to claim the right of search
 The Ministry, who, be it remembered, speak the soveregn's will, assure us that search in time of peace IS not contended for no, that is renouneed but merely the right of detaining and visiting all ships the high seas, to ascertain their nationality
 Great Britain IS not likely to lose any thing by not asking enough; and we ought to be assured that inst as long will c0ncede, just so long she will ask
 What is the object of visitation? The Ministry avow that it is to ascertain to the visitors sasfac fIpl1 off t1o md v-iaofh fraudulent use Is made of our flag To say nothing in this place, of her voluntarily assuming the novel position before mankind, of yndicating our flag to say nothing of the remarkable metamorphosis in punshing it's fraudulent use, when she has often attempted though without success, to drive 1t from the ocean with dishonor-to say nothing of the strength and ability on her part and the weakness and incapacty ours, which this strange friendship implies we may well be pardoned for acting the part of Laocoon, in doubtng the good faith of this unexpected piece of generosity
 Think you any gifts of the Greeks can be free from deceit? Is it thus you are acquainted with Ulysses Either the Greeks lie concealed in the Wood or IS an engine framed against our walls to overlook our houses and to come down upon our city, or some mscheyous design turks under it. Troians, put no faith in this ofering.'''
 Qlicquid d est timeo Danaos e doaa .fereates.-- We have as little to trust Great Britain, in matter where our fame sovereignty IS concerned, as any nation under the sum- venture to declare, that could not do so without forleting all claim to nationality, and without finding ourselves, sooner or later the prey of the lion
 We can never expect to gain any thing from her. by negotiation. The nation that is not animated by a high sense of justice, will never think of those honorable concessions which belong to friendship but on the contrary, will invariably act on that sell fish policy which disdains just principles to attain noble ends. Whatever advantages we gain from her. in an international point of view, must be by the sWord-a negotiation which that proud and am bilious nation is forced to respect and to which, as far as we concerned, she has always been forced to yield. 1t must be matter of deep graduation, that we have the will and ability to punish any az gression which she is bold enough to penetrate against us under whatever name or pretence 1t may be done.
 But to proceed the visitor must De satisfied of tte nationality ofH eessel. ask, in what manner, and by what evidence? Not by the flag, because that is dsregarded in the first instance. Is it by the ordi- nary ship papers' Is it by the appearance of the crew. Is it by the examination of the cargo? Is 1t by taking the testimony of each man on board-scru- tinzing every thing -prying into every thing? Or is it all these together, that an opinion is to be