Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-11
PUBLIC Doc MEsTS.
RIGHT OF VISITATION, oa SEARCH
DEPARTMENT Of STATE, J


Sr:-I .ranfnlit 10 YOU n.in th,s despatch, ,n"s
ssre from tho President Of tho United States Con-
press communicated ,he 2rl of February, and ac-
companied By rspn-. mide from IBIS Department u
the President. cf the substance nf despatch from
Lord Aberdeen 10 iir Tx, which by hn read
10 ne Oh the 2ith ul;imo.
Lord Abetdeens despatch, you Will perceive,
vas accustomed BY passage N the Presidents Mes
SAGE to Congress, al the opening OF - late session
The pa-'cula, passage Is not s'7,sd by BIS Lodsho
but no mistake will he committed, 1t presumed. IN
considering he that WHICH quoted by SIR R.
Der, Peel, and other gentlemen n the debate IN the
House of Commons 30 answer h tic Queer $
Speech The third Of February.
The Pres dent regrets tat shnnl1 have become ne.
cessary 10 hold diplomatic spoa5ence upon the
subject of communication irou the head of the Exc.
cu,ive Government 10 the Lsgisla,ure-drawng after
H. as ia this case, the further necessity of referring 10
observations made by persons in high and responsible
stations, in the debates of public bodies Such
cessity, however seems 10 be unayoldobly incurred
IN consequence of Lord Abcrdeens despatch-for, al
though President may be regarded
as a clear exposition of his opinions the subject
vet lust respect for her Maestys Government, and
disposition 10 meet all questions with promp'ness,
well with fauaness aud candor, require that for
NAL answer should be made 10 that despatch
The words in the messar" 4; The opening OF the ses-
sion which compla'ued Of, II is supposed, the
following ssAi;hough Lord Aberdeen, in his cores.
oondence with the American ENJOYS, at London, ex-
pressy disclai;ned all right American ship
on the high seas & found with cargo Of slaves
on board and restricted the British preension TO
mere claim to visit and inquire yet 1t could not well
be dscerned by the Executive of the United States
how such visit and inquiry could De made without de
tension on the VOYAGE and consequent interruption Il
the trade 1t regarded as tae right ct search pre-
scented only IN nev !orn and expressed IN different
words and therefore 'Ii 1t 10 be my duty distinctly
to declare IN my annual message TO Congress- that
such concession could be mcde-and that the Uni;ec
States had both the will and The ability TO enforce ihe
own laws ana to protect ;iier flag from haing used
for purposes wholly forbidden by '!use iaws, and oh
noxious 10 the moral censa;e %! the world.
This statement would tend, as Lord Aberdeen
thinks TO convey thc supposoa not only that The
question of the rgh, Of search had been dsavowed by
the British plenpoientary, at Washington, but that
Great Britain had made concessions on that point.
Lord Aberdeen is entirely in saying tha
the claim OF rGh, OF search not discussed du
ring the late negotiation ans that neither any con
cession required by this Government, made by
that of her Britannia Majesty.
The Sh and 9th articles of the Treaty of Washing
ton constitute mutual stipulation for concerted effort:
10 abolish the African slave trade This stipulation
may be admitted has other effects the pre;en
sions of either party, than this Great Britain har
claimed right, that which tins Government coulC
not admit right. and IN the exercise OF just ono
proper spirit of amIy. mode was rcsoried To, which
might render unnecessary both the assertion and dena
Of euch claim.
There probably are those who think that what Lori
Aberdeen calls rgh, of visit, and which he attempt:
TO distinguish from tie right o! search, ought to have
been expressly acknowledged b. the Government o
the United States; at the same time there ;hos.
on the other SIDE who think that the formal su9rer
der Of such right Of visit should buve been demand
ed by the United States precedsa condition 10 h,
negotiation for Treaty s;ipuaiions the subject o
the African slave trade. But the Treaty neither as
serts the claim in terms, denies the claim in terms
il neither formally ass's upon 1t, nor formally re
nounces it. Still, the whole proceeding shows, tina
the object Of the stipulation 10 avoid such differ
ences and disputes IA had already ARISEN and the Sc
rious practical evils an which ii
be denied are always atl t. result from the pruc.ic,
which Great Britain had asserted 10 be lawful Thes.
evils and Inconvenience had been acknowledged BY
both Governments They had been such as 10 caus,
much irritation, and 10 threaten 10 disturb the AMIGA
HE sentiments which prevailed between them. Boil
Governments were sincerely DESTROYS Of aboshing th
sl.ve trade both Governments were equally desirou
Of avoiding occasion of complaint by their respective
citizens and subjects; and both Governments regarded
the 9Th and Oh articles efcctnal for their
purpose and likely, at the sane time, to preserve al
friendly relations, and 10 Toxic away causes of future