Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-03-09

detention by British cruiser, "should
suffer loss and Injury, il would be follow.
ed by prompt and ample remuneration =
and in order 10 make more manifest her |
dimensions in this r. spect, Lord Aberdeen,
IN the d spach OF the CON Of December,
makes known TO Mr.. Everett the nature
of the instructions given TO the British
cruisers. These are such as, il faithful
Is observed, would enable The British
Government to approximate the standard
ola fair indemnity. That Government
has ia several cases fulfilled her promises
in this particular by making adequate re-
paration, for damage done TO our com
merce. Ii seems obvious 10 remark, thai
right which is only to be- exercised nn-
der such restrictions and precautions, and
risk, in case of any as,igaabla damage,
to be- followed by the consequences oil
trespass, can scarcely be considered any
thing more than privilege asked Tor,
aud either conceded or withheld on the
usual principles Of internstlonal comfy.
The principles laid down IN Lord Aber.
deen's dispatches and the assurances OF
Indemnity therein held out, although the
utmost reliance was placed on the good
faith OF the British Government, were not
regarded by the Executive as sufficient
security against the abuses which Lord
Aberdeen admitted might arise in even
the most cautious and moderate exercise
of their new maritime police and, there
fore, IN my message at the opening OF the
last session, set forth the views enter
tanned by the Executive on this subject,
and substantially affirmed both our ncli.
laws, protect our flag from abuse, and
acquit ourselves Of all our duties aud OBJ
legations o. the high seas. In view OF
these assertions, the Treaty OF Washing
ton was negotiated, and upon consuIta-
ton with the British negotator ns to the
quautum Of force necessary TO be EN-.
poyed in order to attain these objects,
the result to which the most deliberate
estimate led was embodied in the eighth
article Of the treaty.
Such were my views at the time Of ne
golia,ing that treaty, and such, IN my
opinion, is its plain and fair Interpretation.
regarded the eighth article as removing
oil possible pretext, on the ground Of mere
necessity, to visit and detaln our ships up.
on the African coast because Of any al
legged abuse of our flag by slave traders
of other nations. We had taken upon
ourselves the burden Of preventing any
such abuse by STIMULATING to furnish an
armed force regarded by both the high
contracting parties as sufficient to accom-
pish that object.
Denying, as we did, and do, oil color Of
RICH, to exercise any such general police
over the flags of Independent nations, we
dill not demand Of Great Britain any for
nal remuneration Of her pretenson, still
less bad we the idea Of yielding any thing
ourselves 10 that respect. We chose To
make a practical settlement OF the ques-
ton. This we owe to what we have alreai
dy done upon this subject. The honor of
the country called for ii; the honor Of It's
IA, demanded that it should not be used
bv others to cover an lnlqultous traffic.
This Government, | am very sure, has
both the inclination aud the ability to do
this; and if need be, it will not content
Itself with fleet Of eighty guns, but
sooner than any foreign Government
shall exercise the province of executing
It's laws and fulfilling its obligations. the
highest Of which is to protect It's Dag a
Ike from abuse or insult, it would, doubt
not, put in requisitIon for that purpose
its whole naval power. The purpose OF
this Government is faithfully TO fulfil thr
treuty on its part, and 1t will not permit
itself to doubt that Great Britain will
comply with it on hers. In this why,
peace will best be preserved, and the
most amicabe relations maintained be
tween the two countries.
JOHN TYLER.