Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-09

Ipa > m &,
mi rht give information % Tie cruisers 'i lie on''eu
,e..c h,, Il cout not be in his own power 10 arrest
or nnefe ;h. prosecution OF The voyage ana "c sue
cess of the undertaking , ,.;,n =
OF is obvious therefore, 'hal INC utmost
nacess,-v IN tho exercise OF tins right claimed by "fee,
H.: wills ye have recourse TO the necessary, ana
;nda.d tho only means for detecting imposture, lhe
n,c,;cs w be carefully guarded and limited TO cases
| r. -, sns,icion The undersigned begs to assure
Mr. Stevenson that the most precise ana pos.Ve ~
,.;s, hor. been issued to her majesty officers on
this subject -. p:,:.L o,,;r, o. rra,en
s;on and II stood in this form at the delivery OF III
Presidents message 10 Congress- IN Dece,''o'' 'I
message IN wi,ca you are easeu ~ -. ."Is nv
si yesns;ou was promptly net ahc ii'hiy res'sea'
nv ,o,. n,oceed more particular examination
IF ,I,a alice o. *iiich yon make 10 The treaty
Van ohs.,vc. that you think Just sell respect re-
c;,ad IF the Government O! The United States 10 de-
o.,, Of ard As!5a7ton distinct Remuneration Of The
n-,; I, 10 search ouT vessels, previous TO entering
H.. 49, ,,,o.;.iicn Tha Government has thought
o,he,o and this appears 10 be your main objection
to the traa,v H. indeed !, be not the only one, "hic
- clso1lv and distinctly stated The Government OF
the United States Supposed, 'ha' IN this respect,
stood j.; ,osi,jon IN which it had no occasion to de-
mand nnvtb,nr O. ask for anything Of England The
8r;,;sh nre,ensoB whatever 1t was or however exten
co., Us weu known 10 the President at the date OF
b;s 10 Congress al the opening OF the last ses
s,o, And must be allowed to remind you how the
ipntt
4 ..Ilo.crer DESTROYS the u. S Inay be, SAID he, 'or
the ,,o-essor of tie slave trade, they cannot consent
10 ;nlerpo!ations INTO the maritime code, al we mere
will and Measure Of other Governments. we oeny
me richt OF any such Interpolation 10 any one, or ALL
tho no,nns of the earth without our consent we
-; - ,,ve voice in all amendments alterations
~ that code and when are gwen 20 understand, as
in this instance, by foreign Government, lhet us
treaties with other nations cannot be executed WITHOUT
the establishment and enforcement oil new principles
OF maritime police, to be applied w'hont our CONSENT
we must employ language neither ot equivocai I'M
mort nor susceptible of misconstructon. American ci-
tzens prosecuting a lawful commerce IN the African
seas under the flag ut their county, are not response
be u- he abuse unlawful use q mat flag by others
they righuy, OH account ct any such aiiegeo
ah.seS he Interrupted, moesod, or DETAINED while ON
he ocean; aud ,hus u'ele-!ed ant detained ""'.e
pufs4.nr honest voyages III !e usual way, aud vo'ai
iug law themselves The" are u"Gue"t"nao!F e"i'
lied 10 indemnity.
This decarat.ou of the Ires'ccnt STANDS No; cyl
table Of ii has acen or w;.. he, rere@:rd. The primer
MES which il announces rest on their inherent justice
and propr,ety-on their conformity to pnb!ic aw-onG,
50 far as we are concerned, the DETERMINATION and
ability Of the country TO maintain teen. 10 ihese
principles the Government is pledged ana lha' Peoge
II will be al all times ready to redeem.
Bul what is your own language on tins point, on say:
"1h.s claim Iihe British clam thus asserted and sup
ported, was promptly met ana iirmiy Iepeiied Dy lhe
President hs message al the commencement oi we
last session of Congress- aud IN your letter !" me ap
proyag the course had adopted IN relation 10 Inc
question of The ratification by Trance o! lie guniurle
,reay vou consider the principles ii ,iat message as
he established policy Of the Government AND you
add: $50 far, our national dignity was dncomPToin'
ted Ii tins be so, what is there wa'ch mas since
occurred TO compromt this dignity: You shall your
self be Judge of this; because you say, IN subsequent
part of YOUR letter. that ,he mutual rights OF The par
ties are in this respect wholly untouched. 1T, then,
the British pretenson had been promptly met and
firmly repeled, by the Presidents message; II SO lar
our national dignity had not been compromised; and
#, you further say, our rights remain wholly un-
touched by any subsequent act or proceeding; what
around is there on which TO found complaint against
the treaty.
But your sentiments on this POINT do not concur
vii! tie Opinions et y0ur Government That Govern
.aenl i or opinion lhu the sentiments Of the message,
winch vou 80 highly approve, re.atirmed and cor.
ba-ai,d by the treaty and the correspondence accom-
PAVING It, The very object sought to be obtained, IN
,ronosirr the mode adopted FOR aboshng the slave
;ade, vas to take assay all pre;ence whatever tor M
lerupng lawful commerce by the visitation OF American
vessels Allow me 10 refer you, or this point, to The
following passage in the message OF the PRESIDENT
to The Senate accompanying the treaty:
ain my message al the CONNIE ncement OF the present
session Of Congress- endoayored 10 state the principles
ahich this Government supports respecting the r'ghl
of search and the immunity Of flags. DasnoDs OF
maintaining those principles fully, the same time that
existing Obligations should BE- fulfilled, have thought
II mcst consistent With the dignity and honor Of the
country that II should execute lis own laws, and per
ormi rs own obligations, by rs own means and lis own
po"cr. The examination visitation OF the merchan
vessels Of nation by the cruisers Of another for any
purposes, except those known and acknowledged oy
the law of nations under whatever restraints or regu
a,ions may take place. may lead TO dangerous results
far better by other supersede any supposed
necessity, any motive, for such examination or visit
Interference with merchant vessel by an armed
cruiser is always delicate proceeding-upt to toucs
the point of national honor we'll as to affect the IN
eress OF individuals 1t has been thought therefore
expedient not only accordance with the spula,tons
of the treaty OF Client but the time as removing
all preext on the part of others for violating the mmu
mites OF the American flag upon the seas as they exs
and deGned by the !aw OF nations to enter INTO the
articles submitted 10 the Senate.
''fhe treaty which now submit 10 you proposes nc
alteration, mitigation modification OF the rules OF The
law OF nations Ii provides, simply, that each OF The
two Cove .Ements shall maintain on the coast OF Africa
sufficient squadron 10 enforce separately and espec
lively, the laws, rights. and obligations oil the two coun
tries for the suppression Of the slave trade.
In the actual posture of things, the President thought
that the Governmen, of The u. S stands on lis own
rights; and its solemn declarations would only
weaken its position, by making such demand as ap-
pears TO you 10 have been expedient.
We maintain the public law of the world as we re
ceive it and understand it TO be established. We de
!end OR own rights and our own honor meeting al
aggression at The boundary. Here we may well stop
You are pleased 10 observe that, "under the circum
stances Of the assertion OF The Grsn claim, III Inc
core spondence Of the British secretaries, and OF II:
denial BY the President Of the u. States, the eyes o
Europe we're upon these two great naval powers; one
OF which had advanced precnsion, and arowed he
determination tie enforce it, wkich might at any momen
| bring them into collision.
1t certainly true, that the attention OF Europe has
been very much awakened Of late years 10 the
subject, and quite alive, Also TO whatever might take
place in regard it between The U. States and Grea
Britain. And it is highly satisfactory TO find that, 81
far as learn, the opinan IS universal that the
Government of the u. S. has fully sustained its rights
and lis dignity by The treaty hich has been conc!u'ed
Eurorc, we believe, ia happy to sec iha; a coll'so:
vi III might have disturbed he pence Of the Who'll
civilized world has been avoided IN manner whIci
-cclnces the performance Of gh rational duty, ana
the igiiu:ori If positive s'luuat,ons, 10 The refiec
immunity OF Gags and The equality OF nations npon h
ccean.
| mnst te permitted to add, thai irom every agent o
the Government abroad, who has been heard from or
the subject, with the single exception Of your own let
ter IAN exception most deeply to be regretted vel