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

IN him. u lie TOOK such exceptions 10 all Of the proyi
s'ons 0! tae treaty, was the faith of this Government
to be renounced TO be rampled upo be disregarded
unless every provision Of the treaty should be suitable
to the views OF one of the parties 10 tbe treaty? This
was The true Interpretation of the honorable Senator'S
dcctTne though he he would not be willing d.
recty to avow and TO vndicate such doctrine But
suppose the treaty to be bad the honorable Sena
Tor represented il: would he refuse the appropriation
necessary TO carry it into effect? With the same pro-
priety, he might refuse the appropriation for carrying
the recapurcd Africans to their homes-which was
made necessary by the provisions OF former treaty
should those former spulaons be cancelled, in
quence of The Senator's objections TO the recent treaty
Let the Senate judge from the arguments employed by
the honorable Senator how far that disposition was
manifested
He thought there could be no hesitation, Uhe gen.
tieman having espectoraled the wrath which filled his
bosom but that he would now let the appropriations
go on and not violate the faith OF the Government
The Senator relied very much, in the course Of his
observations, upon the alleged discrepancies between
The two messages of tie Presidenl-the of Au.
gust Il Of last year. and the other ct the beginning
of the present session. He (hr. Archer) asserted
that the purport of the two technically the same
The President, in both of them took the ground that
he stating, not that the right Of visitation
had been renounced, but that we had procured certain
arrangements in substitution of the exercise of that
right. Mr. A. then read from the message accompa-
nying the treaty, what followed that which the honor
able Senator read
"In my message at The commencement Of the present
session of Congress- endeavored state the principles
which this Government supports respecting the right Of
search and the immunity of flags. DESTROYS Of main.
tanning those principles fully a, the time that
existing obligations should be fulfilled have thought
it most consistent with the honor and dignity of the
country, that it should execute its laws and per-
form lis own obligations by lis own means and its
power The examination visitation of the merchant
vessels of one nation, by the cruisers of another, for
any purposes except those known and acknowledged
by the law Of nations, under whatever restraints
eulaons it may take place, may lead to dangerous
suits tits far better by other TO supersede any
supposed necessity, any motive for such examination
or visit Interference with merchant vessel by
armed cruiser is always delicate proceeding, apt
touch the point of national honor, well to affect
the interests of individuals. 1t has been thought,
therefore, expedient-not only in accordance with the
stipulatlons OF the treaty Of Client, but the same
time removing all pretrxt the part of Others for
violating the immunities of the American flag upon
the seas, they exist and defined by the law Of
naons-to enter into the articles submitted 10 the
Senate"
lie re affirmed that the grounds taken in the two
messages the identically, to wit not that
the right Of visitation had been abandoned but that all
equivalent had been obtained.
Mr. BENTON desired to read single sentence, to
| show the difference between the two messages.
Mr. ARCHER observed that if there was differ
ence, it not upon this point 1t because the
right of visitation had not been renounced that provi
sion made for the African squadron.
| disagree
ment between this Government and that of Great Br
the Interpretation Of the treaty To show
that there difference he would FIRST read the Ian.
guage Of The President of the U. S. and then that Of
Sir Robert Peel. The President of the U. S. in his
annual message to Congress at the beginning of this
session says (and il is to that message Sir Robert Peel
audes)
"ln the enforcement of the laws and treaty stipula.
tons Of Great Britain, practice had threatened 10
grow up the part of its cruisers Of subjecting to
-. H.. "a
while it seriously involved maritime rights would
subject to vexaton branch of our trade which
daily increasing, and which required the fostering
of the Government And although Lord Aberdeen,
in his correspondence with the American ENJOYS, at
London, expressly disclanled oil right TO detain
American ship OIL the high seas, even if found with
cargo of slaves on board and restricted the British
pretension claim to visit and inquire yet it
could not we'll be discerned by the Executive Of the
United States how such visit and inquiry could be
made without detention on the voyage, and consequent
interruption TO the trade 1t regarded the
right of search, presented only in new form, and
expressed in different words
"From this it will be seen that the ground assumed
in the message has been fully maintained at the
time that the spulaons of the treaty Of Client
TO be carried out in good faith by the two countries
and tha, all pretence is removed for interference with
our commerce, for any purpose whatever, by foreign
Government
He should now turn to what Sir Robert Peel said in
| his late speech in Parliament:
~ rejoice that the honorable gentleman has given
me On opportunity Of making observations on tho
late message Of the President Of the United States
The sincere and desire have always entertain
ed for the maintenance Of good understanding be.
tween this country and the United States, and the spi-
rit in which have always spoken of America makes
il douby painful duty 10 me TO have TO refer to that
message; which, am sorry 10 say, does not give a
account of the negotiations relative TO the right
! of Witt
49, ,to ibo Lotu Al
right Of search and the right Of visitation and then says
/ III trust, sir that have said enough to satisfy The
House this point. trust, also, that although
PEELED to avow material difference of opinion between
/ the two Governments upon this material question,
have stated this difference of opinion with the respect
| which wish 10 maintain towards the high authorities
! of The United States"
There another part in which he declares expressly
tha. the right Of visitation, claimed in Lord Aberdeens
despa!ch has not been renqushed, and will not be
elinquishcd Now, here is papable evidence that there
is difference Of opinion 10 the construction of the
treaty. between SIR Robert Peel and the Executive of
the United States. That was the point at issue.
Mr. ARCHER observed, that all the speech said,
was, that the British Government had not denounced
the right of visitation commended for IN Lord Aberdeens
despatch and the President Of the u S. says it
because the British Government would not renouncc
The right of visitation, that the arrangement became
necessary for placing squadron in the African seas to
carry out our own laws, and supersede the necessity
by the British Government. There is no difference
Of opinion in Sir Robert Peels views and those of
the President of the United States, as to the adhe.
renee Of the British Government TO the right OF vs-
tetion.
i Mr. BENTON had read from Sir Robert Pees
speech the passages in which he insisted his inter.
pre.aticn of the treaty. He should read pas
sage from the Presidents message Of December last,
in which stated his views relation to The sy.
nony mes right of search and right of visitation
He snys
ain close conformity with these views, the eighth
article Of the treaty framed, which provides that
leach nation shall keep ahoat, in the Arcan seas,
force of not less tEan eighty grn to act separately,
and apart under instructions from their respective
GOVERNMENTS and for tie enforcement Of their respec-
live laws and obligations From this, it will be
,;at the ground assumed in the message has been fully
IN .iaia;ned; and that
all pretence removed for interference with our com
nerce, for any purpose whatever, by any foreign Co.
vernmcnt."
Now, what he (slr B insisted on, was this: Tha,
there was radical difference of opinion between the