The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-28

refuting the principle on which it wa.
attempted to assert, under ne w nurne,
the usurpation OF the right Of search.
Generate our nninisterin, France
| met il there with the same spiris; and
1 bv a triumphant argument, which con,
vlnced the French nation, absolutely
annu'led the engagement entered into
between the governments of. France
and Great Britain. The last arrival
brings us the result of the bold and pat
! rIotfe resistance of our ministers
abroad,in defence of our rights. which
were BETRAYED at home by the Anglo
American power, installed in our gov
ernmentby the unfortunate elections of
1910.
Wilmer and Smiths European
Times, OF the 4th of March, has this
notice of the changed aspect Of this
question:
The right of search-that irritating
surveillance of the high seas, which has
proved oflate years an endless source
of annoyance to American shipping
is virtually at an end. The commits
sion which has been appointed on the
part of the English and French cabi-
nets to modify the evil. may throw
dust in the eyes of the Exeter Hall
saints, but it will assuredly deceive no
one else. For all practical purposes
the power is gone. Public opinion in
France is so potent against the princi-
pie, that no ministry can withstand it;
and some of the most clear-headed of
English statesmen think that not only
does this obnoxious right Of search
constantly keep US on the confines of
a collision with the United States, but
that, SO far from mitigating the horrors
ofthe slave trade, it has actually increa.
sed it,"
How this altered state of opinion
has come about, will be seen in the CON-
munication of the French premier to
that of England. In speaking Of the
right Of search to the French ambas.
sador, in his despatch delivered to Lord
Aberdeen, M, Guizot SAYS:
"All the events which have occur.
red, all the reflections which have for
ced themselves upon us,since this ques-
tion was raised, have made us feel more
strongly the necessity OF modifying the
system actual Y in force. In order that
this system should be effectuaI. and
without danger, it is not sufficient that
the two governments are animated bv
reciprocal good will and Confidence
Constantly liable in its application to
oppose. cranp, and injure private inter.
ests, often legitimate and inollensive
ones, this system keeps up,in the minds
OF numerous class, active, and neces-
sarily rough in manners, "A source of ir.
ritation which, though it may sleep for
a time more or less long, may, by an
unforeseen accident at sea, or by the
slightest disturbance 10 the politicalre-
latIons Of the two States, he at any
moment devel ped, inhnmed. extended
and transformed into powerful and
formidable national sentiment. This
being so, the system of the right Of
search, rsed as means for repressing
the slave trade, is more dangerous than
useful; for it comprises, at one and the
srme time. peace. good understanding
between the two countries, and even
the success of the great cause which il
is intended to serve"
The hint given that the French mon
arch could not withstand IA powerful
and formidable national SENTIMENT"
had its natural and necessary effect on
Lord A berdeen. He dared not insist
on what would bring on war between
France and England, especially when
he was assured Of it by l.ord Cowley,
British Minister in France, who thus
writes, under date OF 18th January,
1915:
"a great change had taken place in
the opinions of the Chambers, as we'll
as of TIL public generally, upon The
question OF the right of fsearch. 1t would
be useless, he said, to enter into any ex-
animation of the causes which had led
to that change; he would only say that
the prejudice existing throughout
France against the exercise of that
right was unconquerable, and was daily
increasing"
Lord Aberdeen Yields to this repre-
sentation. But although Lord CowIey
did not choose 'to enter into any ex-
OF the causes which had led
to that change" it was looked into and
fully exposed bv one Of the abest of
British statesmen, Mr.. Macaulav. He
said:
"To this system Of maritime police
which, as think with great humanity
and wisdom, the government of this