Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-02

that so much credit was claimed for those who nego
tiaed it, AT the meeting of the present Congress, io
lowing up and appropriatint to himself the glory OF
having accomplished this great work of national de-
lirerance from impending war, the President OF the
United States sci forth, his ANIMAL message the 90
jeets which the Treaty had accomplished, and the
means which had been employed 10 accomplish them
The message was laid before Congress and tie country,
as well before the British Prime oln:ser-ard upon
the opening OF the British Parliament, that Minister
had congratulated himself upon the occurrence OF the
first opportunity state in his place. and with all the
responsibility belonging TO his station, that he was
compelled TO say that the Government of the United
States speaking through the Executive message, had
totally mistaken the object OF the British Government
in negotiating the Treaty. From this, 1t might very
naturally be supposed that it would produce app-e
henson here that the Administration had been trcked,
and that had failed By this Treaty 10 accomplish the
deliverance OF the country from impending war-and
now they were told Notwithstanding the express and
positive announcement Of the views of the British &C.
vernment IN relation TO IT, expressed by their Prime
Minister, tia, the President had misunderstood the
thing and that he bad put erroneous construction
upon the Treaty. Notwithstanding that they told
by an honorable Senator that The Prime Minister was
totally mIstaken-;hough the words OF Ike President )
message impressed hi;n, (or he must be supposed TO
have weighed them cr,cay,) with the belief that this
country thought it had gained something by the Az
Tican squadron, yet such was not the case-ths
Government had obtained adyantage-had Sc
cured postponement Of No, Sir,-in
order to keep that before the people olive branch
in the face of this adverse declaration Of the British
Government, this Government down and dc.
cared that she m,staken-ihat they agree entirely
with the British construction Of the treaty. What was
that constructions Lord Aberdeen has asserted in
labored communication, first, that there differ
between the right OF search and the right of vs.
tation; and he had likewise asserted, the British
Government would not modify their preensions TO the
right of vstaton and SIR Robert Peel had stated, the
House of Commons that that assertion of Lord Aber.
deem remained unanswered. But our Minister in Eng
land communicated TO this Government that its re-
ceipt was acknowledged bat proposition had been
laid down. because Lord Aberdeen informed him that
special minister had been to this country charged
with the adjustment OF all existing difficulties. In
sequence of that information, all correspondence was
arrested between the American Minister in London
and the British Government What was the ques
ton between the two Governments AT the time, IL
was not TO the right %; visitation, (9ijhouLh that
was the question which Mr.. Everett informed them
Lord Aslburton had especially IN chlfge) If Lord
Ashburion here 10 settle that Question, and went
away without doing SO, he would ask, vial had been
gained by the negotiations What the considerl-
ton which induced this Government to engage keep
squadron of eighty guns on the coast of Africa II
this question had not been settled the negotiations
were nothing more than mere childs play.
If Great Britain did Surrender her right TO search
vessels why did agree 10 spend half million
year for the purpose of searching own The Pre-.
sident of the United States had, in bis message, put
the proper construction upon the treaty. and il was no,
for Senators now when different construction had
been put upon By Great Britain, order 10 keep up
the idea of making an olive branch of peace, say
that The President mistaken in the construction
which he put upon H. There part of the speech
of Sir Bobert Peel, which disclosed the whole views
of the British Government; that part worth all the
rest, although it was part which had not been
read TO the Senate. The delivery OF that speech
had been predcated upon the necessity Of resisting the
slave trade That the foundation of the CLAIM OF
the right of search, or visitation, it was called in
England. That right had been held forth by those who
maintained the anti slave.trade doctrines What did
Sir Robert Peel say in his Speech the nature of
the right of visitation la order TO show that the ar
Gle in the treaty did not suspend The right of vsatia
and show that The freedom of the sea was as much
at the control of England before the treaty was
formed he made the declaration putting tina. right on
broader, higher ground, disconnecting ii from the idea
of the slave trade They did abandon the rishl of
visitation which Sir Robert Peel now said was no, ne
cessarily connected with the question of the slave trade
but that it extends to the whole world of commerce
extends TO vessels IN the Pac tc ocean, well
the harbor Of New York, and every where else. nd
it necessary for Sir Robert Peel 10 take this ground
IN order TO justify his construction of the treaty Sup
pose, then, you send your eighty guns and your one
or two thousand men to Airca-suppose you execute
this article OF the treaty the Senator from Virginia
Mr. Archer says the practical effect is obtained
Was t' Allowing his construction to be right, the
r-sotical effect wand only extend n he nj
whereas SIR Robert Peel expressly disconnected
the right of search from that question. Now while
be sulied, ard incapable OF comprehending the true
construction put upon The treaty the Preside n;
message, or the Presidents construction was errone-
Gus; and inasmuch 40 Sir Robert Peel had ackuow-
lodged the basis upon which the right of search
predlcated, so to include the African squadron, ii
perfectly manifest that that article Of the treaty
was complete nudity. II would be absurd there
FORE 10 attempt carrying it out by making appropra-
tions.
As far as he himself was concerned he did not in.
a oil atip in fpr
OF the reaty-not even to pay the 100000 dollars to
the States lie would not do it, because he considered
the treaty worse than But he would not 90 into
the character Of the treaty now Other gentlemen
viewed it IN different lgh,-gen,emcn Of more ex.
perience, and who had better means Of Judging per-
haps. This, however, was his view; and he Should
continue TO act upon IL. Tie desired To know what ii
that we had received compensation for sending
out those 80 guns, il there he ri lea., sus
pension or the right TO visit our vessels The President
manifes,y considered that there TO be suspension
OF that right, when he penned his message Congress
and he asked, true that had gained so much
in reference tG the right of visitation upon the coast Of
Africa, what he'd they gained upon the general prnc-
pe' The British still assert that they have right to
visit any vessel for any purpose whatever. They were
about pay half million dollars what they
supposed to be, some time ago, compact by which
peace had been purchased aud before Congress had
had opportunity 10 execute its pat OF the contract
BY aPpropIating the money, It discovered to have
been no guaranty ct peace at all The proper time
meet thus question was the present; and he pre-
pared, II any one would introduce bill FOR that pur
pose, to instruct the President 10 take possession Of
every foot OF The disputed territory If the
ton put upon the treaty by SIR lober, Peel was right
there were stil more pregnant consequences grow
out of II; because II showed disposition on the part
of the British Government TO promote quarrel, by
holding up Government to the world as putting one
construction upon the treaty, whilst they hold another
and different
If the President vas right then there differ
ence OF opinion, though the attempt to make diff
ference, the part of SIR Robert Peel, showed de
sire of presenting the question worse aspect than
if there vas, IN reality, difference. SIR Robert Peel
did not cay he presumed there room for some MIS-
understanding there di'tTe of opinion
but he had come GU, and placed this Government IN
the attitude Of having underworld 10 give 4 mlscon
structon 10 the Treaty. Would any snan En-
rope believe that the Pres dent Of the United States
did not know what he meant in his message How
would they stand before Tie world: They must either
N homely phrase knock under, in order impress the
tn Tho nF e..