Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-18
British .3af Sinreru .Yor,mepts- E1e,enent at RI

British 3ah Sarery .Horsmenfs-E 1citencnt al Rin
Treatment Of re captured Negroes by the British
Gorernmcnt.- Our readers will remember that gave
time since account of the loss Of the u. D.
ship Concord, by striking sand bar, the coast
of Africa and of the loss of Captain Boerman, Purser
Hart and seaman, and of the rescue of the remain
der of The officers and Ii now appears that
the Portuguese vessel procured for the crew, at Qni
Imam, the African coast, TO come home in, was,
in pursuance Of that much moocd claim the right Of
visit and search, boarded and overhauled BY British
cruiser, is the custom of British vessels towards
those Of any and every other country in the world,
except own, and even towards ours, with some
gard, however, TO the principles laid down in the
late correspond nce between Lord Ashburton and Mr.
Webster.
! When the chartered brig, under the Portuguese Gag
Of course, was ovcrhaucd by an English cruiser.
Of the Leu,enants explained 10 the boarding officer
their stuatlon and pointing 10 his Dress remarked
that he supposed that uniform sufficient guaranty
replied he did not recognize his buttons any guaran
~, but that they must examine the brig. A!.er
atous detention of some hours, they were permitted
TO proceed 1t is stated that if the brig had been under
the American flag and any means of resistance at com
mand the spirit of the officers board could have
been restrained from violent outbreak. Defenceleas
they were, submission was necessity.
! 1t is very true that under Treaty with Portugal
the British rad ght 10 visit search their vessels
hut this exercise OF their power The less olerahle
from the supercilllous aud naughty way in which it is
usually performed.
The exercise Of the right OF search and VISIT as to
all vessels suspected Of slave trading, has been pushed
to great and conspicuous at naturally to
excite the feelings Of those snbectto lis operation And
the question is daily coming TO prominence
whether the Cgsa. zeal of England in prosecuting these
efforts against slave trading does spring from some
other E:orc polite motive than philanthropy That
Government; fits cut cruisers with The osensi5le pur
pose OF snppressBg the slave trade and her vessel,
capture The r'at engaged in tina, internal ,rac-apc
their officers, in their zeal 10 obtain prizes, sor I'll:
honor OF their flag, we'll Us their own in,erests)
exceedingly p7omp. in performing their duty. And
this p'ompllude is apt to bring them into contact with
the rights and interests OF other nations, and the ires
zion, matter of course, arises, what the
tive Of this policy:
In considering this it is natural enough 10 enquire
what disposition is made OF the re-cap.ured negroes
by the English Government Does she verify hel
phlnnthropic pre,ensions By carrying them back &c
the land of their birth, With the least possible delay
and restoring them to their home and their domestic
relations, without proongins the pain and misery o
separation? Or does she retain these poor wreehes
pledges for the payment Of her officers prize money!?
nay, detan them in slarery, AFFECT fact, though
not in nane that from which she pretends to ave
rescued them and this too to exact from the liberated
slaves tie high price demanded for their captore:
These points Of enquiry fast becoming of p,5a
mount Importance in the estimation of thinking men
And II this Pretenson 10 The right Of search EXISTS, !,