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

Iyond mere inquiry and visitation, and then case
would actually have occurred for begerent mea
sures on our side. Till then, however, Mr. W. wal
willing, since the treaty had been ratified, 10 vote
all reasonable appropriations to enforce IT, IL was
not that he liked any doubtful part OF it very much
or this provision at all but because this provision
took away oil pre:ence for oulrages on our trade ane
merchant vessels, under color oil mere inquiry or VI
station.
Row this mere inquiry and visitation for certain
purposes had been abused, he possessed some meant
of knowing, in this very class OF cases. formerly
Our difficulties had arisen not from the fair exercise
of such right only by British cruisers 6ut from Tie
abuse of It-from pushing 10 right OF eeaich' from
entering vessels, ovehaung their papers, sutin
their officers, OBTAINING them their voyage, ana cans
actual losses to those engaged in lawful and honor
able commerce.
This clause was what we had protested against
This was what Americans never would tamely submit
to- This was in effect carrying on the old-iashoned
rrht of search under the name only OF visit
Alright of search now disclamed by the English mi
mister except in time of war. So Lord Aberdeen mac
abandoned any right 10 deain vessels; but still
they had been Detained and they had been searched,
and both by violence; and this had denounced, and
would resist But the right of inquiry, or even
of visitation, Mr.. W., for one, had never questioned,
under proper circumstances, on the ocean, by any ma
ton Ships Of often species of police force
on the great and common highway of all nations.
When existed, the parties engaged had right
to inquire and see that travelled under false coors
so as TO eecape their enemy. But even then, We had
always denied the right to carry this inquiry TO search
OF Tie cargo in neutral vessel-for our motto had
been, Free ships make free goods; much less had
we recognized the right to search the musierrols Of
the vessel and her decks 10 impress any supposed TO
reigners, when peace existed
II pirates were common in any seas, the right OF in.
qury and vistation in case OF much doubt, existed
there in order detect DISCUSSES and Frauds and pre-
vent escapes. So in of smuggling the coast OF
mn try. If b.cn of
prevailed there, nnd exercised by US as we'll as
other nations. So in Of the slave trade the
coast Of Africa-the worst species crime, If not tech
meal piracy.
But these rights growing out of special and local
exgences, did not justify ofcious vexatious, and
slant visits 10 vessels, everywhere, and on all
sions, by dominant power, and OBTAINING those yes
sells nseessy maltreating their officers and crews
The favorable view of this part of the treaty of 1912
TO our keeping larger naval force the coast Of
Africa was that it took away all occasion from other
powers either TO claim exercise any right to
haul, in any way, ships. 1t thus should prevent
the danger Of abuses of any kind with their inevitable
collisions ending in war.
II it did not, and in fact England should still at
tempt, with force TO visit vessels there, to push
visitation into Search none would resist it quicker or
longer than he. These, in brief, were the views he
entertained on the topic; and on that account, he
should, till actual wrong occurred the other
side vote for appropriation like this, and not for
recommitment.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Benton's pro-
position, and decided in the negave-yeas 4, nays Sc,
as follows
Yeas-hlessrs Allen, Benton, Linn and Smith of
Conn-4.
Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Ber
rien, Calhoun, Choate, Clayton, Conrad Crafts, Crit
enden, Cuthbert Dayton, Evans, Fulton, Henderson,
Huntington, Kerr, King, McDuhie, Mangum, Mer
rick Miller, Moreheud, Phelps, Porter, Rves, Sewer,
Smith of Ia, Sprogue, Tallmadge, Tappan, White,
Wilcox, Woodbridge and woodb1ry-36.
On motion by Mr. MERRICK, the Senate then
proceeded the consideration of Executive business
and after some time spent therein, adjourned.