The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-28

ship, by reason OF any ylsli OF detention by y
British cruiser, should suffer loss and injury, |"
would be followed by prompt and ample remu-
nera,iou." And in order TO mske more mani
fest her intentions in his respect, ord Ao~x'
deem, in the despatch Of sbe 3Osh Dscsm'e'
makes known TO Mr.. Everett the nature d re
instructions given TO the British cruisers. inese
are such as, if faithfully observed, would snso'e
the British Government to approximate 'ne
standard Of fair indemnity. That Govern
men. has, 10 several cases, fulfilled her PROMISES
in this particular, by making adequate repafa-
lion for damage done TO our commerce
ID seems obvious TO remark, that rish'
which is only 10 be exercised under such re-
strictions and precautions, aud risk, In case OF
any sssignable damage, to be followed by the
consequences Of a trespass, can scarcely DC con-
sidered any thing more than privilege asked
for, aud either conceded or withheld on the usual
principles of international comfy.
The principles laid down in Lord Aberdeen's
dispatches, aud the assurances Of indemnify
therein held out, although the utmost reliance
was placed on the good faith OF the Brush Gov
eminent, were NOT regarded by the Executive as
sufficient security against the abuses which
Lord Aberdeen admitted might arise in even
the most cautious aud moderate exercise OF
their new maritime police. And therefore, IN
my message at the opening Of the last session.
/ set forth the views entertained by the Execu-
tive on this subject, and substantially affirmed
both our inclination and ability to enforce our
own laws, protect our Aag from abuse, and ac-
Quit ourselves of all our dulles and obligations
on the high seas. In view of these assertions the
Treaty of Washington was negotiated; and
upon consultation with the British negotiation
as to the quanium OF force necessary to be EN-
ployed in order TO attain these objects, the re-
suit to which the most deliberate estimate led
was imbodied in the eighth article Of the
Treaty.
Such were my views at the time of negotia-
ting that Treaty, and such, in my opinion, is its
plain and fair Interpretation. regarded the
eighth article as removing all possible pretext, on
the ground of mere necessity, to visit and de-
tain our ships upon the African coast, because
OF any alleged abuse of our flag by slave
traders of other nations. We had taken upon
ourselves the burden Of preventing any such
abuse, by STIMULATING to furnish an armed force
regarded by both the high contracting parties
as sufficient to accomplish that object. De-
nying, as we did and do, all color Of right
to exercise any such general police over
the flags Of independent nations, we did not
demand of Great Britain any formal renuncia-
ton Of her pre,ension. Still less had we the
least idea of yielding any thing ourselves in
that respect. We chose to make practical
settlement of the question. This We owed to
what we had already done upon this subject
The honor Of the country called for 1.-THE ho-
nor of its flag demanded that il should not be
used BY others to cover an iniquitous traffic
This Government, am very sure, has both The
inclination and the ability to do this and, if
need be, it will not content itself with
a feet of eighty guns-but sooner than any TO-
reign government shall exercise the province of
executing its laws, and fulfilling its obligations,
the highest of which is to protect its flag alike
from abuse or insult-it would, / doubt not, put in
requisition for that purpose, its whole naval pow
er. The purpose of this Government is faith
fully TO fulfil the Treaty on its part; and it will
no, permit itself to doubt that Great Britain
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, February 81, ls43