The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-01
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

HepTeseuf0ffUes:
In compliance with the resolution of the House of Rep
resentatives of the 22d instant, requesting to commu
nicate to the House whatever correspondence
munication have been received from the British Co.
vernment respecting the Presidents construction of the
late British Treaty concluded at Washington,
Germs alleged right to visit American vessels" here
with transmit report made to by the Secretary Of
State have also thought proper Communicate copies
Of Lord letter Of the Goth December Isll to
Mr. Everett Mr. Everetts letter the 2sd December in
reply thereto and extracts from several letters of Mr.
Everett to the Secretary of State.
cannot the expression of my regret and the ap
parent purpo of Of Lord Aberdeens despatch 10
Mr. Fox had cherished the hope that all possibility of
Misunderstanding to the true construction eighth
article Of the treaty lately concluded between Great Bril-
tain and the United States precuded by the plain and
well weighed language in which is expressed The
desire OF both governments is pat end s. eedy
possible to the slave trade DESIRE need scarcely
add is as strongly and as sincerely felt by the United
States as it can be by Great Britain Yet it not be
forgotten that the trade though universally reproba
ted was up to late period prosecuted by all who chose
engage in it, and there were unfortunately but very
few Christian powers whose subjects permitted
and encouraged to share in the profits what was
regarded perfectly legitimate commerce. originated
period long before the United States had become in.
DEPENDENT and was carried within borders in op
position the earnest remonstrances and exposua
toAs of of the colonies in which was most actively
prosecuted Its character, thus fixed by common
consent and general practice could only be changed by
the positive assent OF each and every nation expressed
either in the form of municipal law, or conventional ar.
rangement The United States led the way efforts to
but they resolved without waiting the CO operation of
other powers to prohibit it to their citizens and to
COndlgn
may safely affirm that it never occurred TO this Govern
ment that any new maratme right accrued to it from the
position had thus assumed in regard to the slave trade
H. before our laws for its suppression the flag every
ton light traverse the unquesoned BY eur crus
ers, this freedom was not in opinion in the least
abridged by municipal legislation. ANY other doc
trine it is PLAIN would subject to arbitrary ever
varying system oil maratime police adopted will by the
great naval for the time being trade OF the world
in any places any articles which such power might
see 1T to prohibit to its subjects citizens principle
Of this kind could scarcely be acknowledged without sub
ior If
vexations The attempt to justify such pretention from
the right to visit and detain ships upon reasonable sup
condemnation since would be attempt to
established rule of maritime law, incorporated prin
tons, into rule and principle adopted by single nation
and enforced only by its assumed authority To seize and
detain ship upon suspicion of piracy, with probable
Cause and in good faith, affords just ground either for
complaint the part Of the nation whose flag she bears
or claim Of indemnity the part of the The
universal law sanctions and the common good requires
the existence of such rule The right under such cir
cumstances not only to visit and detan, but to search
ship, is perfect right, and involves neither RESPONSE
bility indemnify But with this single exception,
nation has, in time Of peace any authority to deain
the ships Q, snOshe, the high seas on any Iretent
And SUCH happy to nd is substantially the doctrine
OF Great Britain herself In her most official deca
These declarations may well lead to doubt whether the
apparent diff renee between the two Governments is not
the right Of search properly 50 called dsciamsd by Great
Britain, but that Of visit and inquiry Ia assert
ed with qualification: inconsistent with the idea of per-
feet right In the despatch Of Lord Aberdeen to Mr.
Everett, OF the twentieth of December Is4I "A also
in that just received by the British Minister in this
country made TO Mr. Fox, his Lordship declares
that IT, in spite Of all the precautio which shall be
used to prevent such occurrences, an American
snip, by reason OF any visit detention by Brt'b
cruiser, should suffer loss and injury, it would be fol-
lowed by prompt and ample remuneration, And in order
70 make more manifest her intentions this respect Lord
aberdeen IN the despatch of the Goth December makes
known to MIR Everett the nature OF the instructions given
70 the British cruisers These such IL faithfully
observed, would enable the British Government to ap'
proxmate the standard of fair indemnify That Govern
ment has in several cases. fulfilled promises in this
particular by making adequate reparaon for damage
done to our commerce. II seems obvious to remark na
tons and precautions and risk In case oil any assgnabe
damage to be followed by the consequences Of trespass
scarcely be considered thing more than priv
g. sskel Tor and ether conceded withheld on the
usual principles OF international comfy.