Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-10

under such restrictions and precautions, and
risk, in case of any assignable damage, to
be followed by the consequences of a tres
pass, can scarcely be considered any thing
more than privilege asked for, and either
conceded or withheld on the usual princl-
pies of international comfy.
The principles laid down in Lord Aber-
deems dispatches, and the assurances OF
indemnity therein held out, although the ut
most reliance was placed OIL the good faith
of the British Government, was not regard
ed by the Executive as a sufficient security
against the abuses which Lord Aberdeen adj
mtted might arise in even the most cautious
and moderate exercise of their new mara
time police. And therefore, in my views at
the opening of the last session, ] set forth
the views entertained by the Executive on
this subject, and substantially affirmed both
our inclination and our ability to enforce
our own laws, protect our flag from abuse,
aud acquit ourselves of all our duties and
obligations on the high seas. In view of
these assertions, the Treaty of Washington
was negotiated and upon consultation with
the British negotiator as to the quantum of
force necessary to be employed 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 nego-
ciating that Treaty, and such, in my opin-
ion, is It's plain and fair Interpretation.
regarded the eight article as removing all
cessity, to visit and detain our ships on the
African coast, because of any alleged abuse
of our flag by slave traders of other nations.
We had taken upon ourselves the burden
ofpreyenting any such abuse, by STIMULATING
to furnish an armed force-regarded 10y
both the high contracting parties as sufficient
to accomplish that object. Denying as we
did and do, all color of right to exercise
any such general police over the flags Of in
dependent nations, we did not demand OF
Great Britain any formal remuneration OF
her pretension. Still less had we the least
idea Of Welding any thing ourselves in that
respect We close to make practical set
Element Of the question. This we owed to
what we had already done upon the subject.
The honor Of the country called for 1.-THE
honor of its flag demanded that il should not
be used by others TO cover an Ubiquitous traf-
fic. This Government, | am very sure, has
both the inclination and the ability to do
this and it need be, it will not content IT,
self with fleet of eighty guns-but sooner
than any foreign government shall exercise
the province of executing It's laws, and full
filing lis obligations, the highest of which
is to protect its flag alike from abuse or in
suit it would, doubt not, put in requisi-
ton for that purpose, its whole naval power.
The purpose of this Government is faithful
y to fulfil the treaty on its part and it will
not permit itself to doubt that Great Brit
ain will comply with it on hers In this
way peace will be best preserved, and the
most amicable relations maintained between
the two countries.
JOHN TYLER.
Washington, Feb 81, lsl3.
The following is copy of Mr. Web.
ster's Letter to the Speaker of the House Of
Representatives.
10 the Hon the Speaker, &c, sc.
The Secretary of State, 10 whom ha:
been rerlerred a resolution of the House oil
Representatives of the 22d inst, requesting
that the President Of the United States be
requested to communicate to that House. il
not in his opinion improper, whatever cor
respondence or communication may have
been received from the British Government
respecting the Presidents construction oil
the late Treaty concluded at Washington
as it concerns an alleged right to riSit
American vessels, has the honor to inform
the President that Mr. Fox, II. B. NJ Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoientary
came to the Department of State on the 24th
of February inst. and informed the Secreta-
ry of State that he had received from Lord
Aberdeen, II. NJ. Principal Secretary oi
State for Foreign Affairs, despatch under
date of the 18th of January which he was
directed to read to the Secretary of State OF
the United States The substance of that
despatch was, that there was a statement in
paragraph of the Presidents Message to
Congress at the opening of the present SEES
sion, OF serious import, because, to persons
unacquanied, with the facts, it would tend to
convey the suppostion, not only that the
right Of search had been disayowed by the
Plenipotentiary at Washington, but that
Great Britain had made concessions on that
point
That the President knew that the right of
search acoer Turned the subject of discussion
dm-iAg the late acgotiGtiOn, and that neither
was any concession required by the United
States Government nor made by Great Brit
ain.
That the engagement entered into by the
parties to the Treaty of Washington for
snppressing the African Slave Trade, was
Internationally proposed and agreed to.
That the British Government saw in it an
attempt on the part of the Government of
the United States to give practical effect TO
their repeated declarations against the trade,
and recognized with satisfaction an advance
towards the humane and enlightened policy