Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-14

! M- Gui-ot 10 ifr. CaSs.-( Translation
Paris, May 20, lsI2
| General: | received in due time the letter with
which YOU honorpd on the 18th OF February, res
peclinr the treaty signed on The 10Th OF December
ween the penlpotenares of France Austria, Great
Britain Prussia and Russia, with the object of attain
ing efficient repression oil the negro siave trace
You therein expressed your desire that the KING
Government should not atify this treaty. and you at
the same time stated that you were about 10 inform
YOUR Government CT measure which you had thought
proper 10 take, without authorization upon your own
res possibility and that as soon rs yeu should have re-
ceived the approval or The csavowa OF your Govern
ment YOU would communicate TITO me. | have JUS.
received with your letter OF the Sd of this mon copy
of that which MIR. Webster has written you, anncun-
eng the approva By the President of your despatch o!
The 18th of February, and as that despatch has thus
acquired official character, which did not before
possess conceive that should longer defer my
! answer, which would have been hitherto premature.
You expressed to me- Sir your apprehension that the
treaty Of December 20, mig ht constitute The part OF
the contracting parties, an engagement 10 create new
principle of international law, whereby the vessels even
of those powers which have not participated the ar
seou.d subjected 10 the right Of search
established in its stpulaons AS The act in question
has no. been ratified BY the Kings Government, and
consequently does not exist so lar as regards France
at this moment might abstain from entering into any
EXPLANATIONS on the subject. But the amicabe rela
tons snbsisting between France and the IT, S Iaake
it nv duty TO forward and prevent all misunder-
Standing by frank and complete explanations moreover
we have always been actueted III this BY nten
lions too correct and honest (droitcs ioyales for
TO embrace with eargerneSs an opportunity TO ex
hibt them to the world.
II is not nv part 10 examine the value Of the deduc
TONS with regard TO the private views OF the cibinel
Of London, which you draw from certain passages oil
the dispatches written by Lord Pamerston and Lord
Aberdeen to Mr.. Stevenson, but shall not hesitate
to say what was the IDEA of the Kings Government,
pom the serious question which you raise The treaty
of December 20, IS4l whatever hereafter might be lis
destiny, was founded upon no other principles than the
conventions of 1871 and 1888 The stipulal,ons of
these conventions only engaged France and England ;
the treaty OF December ~ extends them To AUSTRIA
Prussia, aud Russia, with some changes more or less
important bnt not altering their nature. In order
that the extraordinary intention oimposing upon other
States the obligation TO submit 10 them should be de-
duced this intention, which 10 in Indicated in
the act of December 20 might be the result Of the
terror conventions Never have We, never could we
have, understood them IN such sense
! huve the less hesitation, sir, in here giving the
formal and, in my opinion, entirely superhuous assn
rance that the Kings Government its part, places
the fullest confidence IN the firm resolution SO often
proclaimed by the Federal Government 10 aid, by its
most sincere endeavors i'll the defnit;ve abolition OF
the trade. The despatch of Mr.. Webster, which you
do the honor tn communicate 10 me, IS Of such u
nature this confidence. II seems To show
in fact, HAT the cabinet of Washington foresees the
probability Of concluding, with The States which have
adhered 10 the right of reciprocal search for the sup
preston of The slave trade arrangements proper TO attain
| the end which they propose.
We should attach the value to this concurrence
of views from the circumstance that while it would
hasten the entire destruction of the slave trade, il
would have the effect, by placing all Governments in
the situation, regards the measures adopted
for the suppression TO give 10 the maritime laws and
the commercial activity of all nalions guarantees Of
tsecury which it wonld be difficult obtain amid the
complications and causes Of collision, which would ne
cessari!y result from opposition diversity of the
| systems. However il may be, nevertheless should
this hope not be- realized should the u 5 persist their
isolation, have Tie conviction that they will regard
il sacred duty prevent hat isolation from afford
ing to the prosecutors Of infamous speculation too
many chances OF impunIiy.
Accept, General, the assurance Of my high conside
ration with which have The honor 10 be your very
humble and obedent servant,
GUIZOT