The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-30
Fer the Unit
THE SLAVE-TRADE.
No. G.

No. G.
In my last number, stated that it was known that
the slave-trade no longer existed in the French colo
MES. 1t is also fact, that vessel has used the
French flag to carry on this trade. The right of
search board of French vessels longer presents
an object; and the treaties Of 1881 and 1888 have
seen their time, inasmuch they have accomplish
ed their work. The negotiations which preceded
them, and the written stpula,ons inserted into them,
establish that they are temporary, and revocable
by the sole will of either of the contracting parties
Marshal Sebastian, who, under very critical
circumstances, had the misfortune to sign the treaty
of 1881, yielded with painful feelings. He resisted
a long time, and more than once declared that II
repugnant to his feelings to yield to England the
right Of search. These honorable feelings sub
stantia,ed in the despatch of the 3lst of October,
1881, from Lord Granville to Lord Palmerston
"The French ministers apppehensive that, notwh-
standing the reciprocity proposed to the right Of search
the French people will consider the concurrence of its gov
ernent to such arrangement as an acknowledgment Of
the maritime superiority of Great Britain"
Lord Palmerson felt that he must remove what
he called the prejudices of France that he must re-
strain their pretensons; and only ask, at first the
right of search, as an experiment, with hope OF ma
king at later period, the Professionally article dehn-
tive, and the temporary perpetual On the 7th of
November, he transmitted the following instruc.
tons to Lord Granville:
II have the dispatches your exceency of the
sist umo, reporting the steps you still taking to bring
which appear he Indispensable for the eHectua suppress
sion of the erade Her Maestys government regrets
that the objections of the French government against
mutual right of search upon the African coast have not
yet been overcome.
Nevertheless the opinion of her Majestys government
u.s. that restricted proposition can be made which will
sufficiently accomplish the object in view, without too
deeply woGndng the prejudees Of the french marine
that instead Of establishing general and permanent recip
roca right Of search each OF the Two nm shall
the African station, written and special authority
giving the power TO search merchant vessels sailing under
the flag the other nation between certain degrees OF lat
itnde and longitude, to be determined In the treaty.
These powers might be granted only to officers com.
length 0 time they 10 continue force and to their ex
tension e the space they are to cruise in.
and Temporary experiment which always leave the
question to both nations may become very useful and
permanent arrangement render such arrangement UNI
necessary"
The despatch Of the 7h November is the COM
mentary upon the treaty of the 10Th of November,
| and the commentary agrees with the text. we
read in the Sd and 9Th articles, THAT no vessel OF
war shall exercise the right Of Search If 1t has moi
the authorization of the two governments; that the
number of vessels that may be vested with the right
of search shall be fixed upon erey year, by special
agreement"
| Each of the two governments may each yeal
restrict the number of authorizations or ORDERS and
may if it think proper, refuse to issue any. This
absolute power granted to each government, proves
that the right of search such it conceded by
the treaties of 1881 and 1893, was essentially tenn
| porary and revocabe.
England herself. thus understood the treaties o.
| 1881 and 1879; for when she wanted to establish
the right of search as irrevocabe and perpetual she
entered into new negotiations, and in the treaty Of
the Goth of December, lS41, she had stricken on
the ID and 5th articles of the treaty of 1881, ant
had formally stipulated, That each power would
have the right to exact as many mandates as !
4 pleased; that their annual renewal should not bt
| necessary, but delivered forever, and without thu
possibility of q refi,saln On the same day that thi
new treaty was signed, and without waiting for III
ratification, Lord Aberdeen, in the ecstacy OF hii
diplomatic triumph, thus wrote to Mr.. Everett, thu
| United States Minister al London;
powers the right OF search reciprocay established
| permanently and tortssr,"
Is not this formal acknowledgment that thu
RIGHT of search had not been established permantnt
and forever by the treaties Of 1881 and 1883 tina
the right Of search, as established by these treaties
| was temporary and revocable'
M Guizot himsef-a little late, 1t is true--in thu
session of 1874 acknowledged that the dispatches
| of ord Palmerston and Lord Aberdeen furnished
| him powerful argument in favor OF the right o
France, and promised to make use of 1t. Did HI
make proper use of t' | hope so, without ex
pecting il. have always present in my memory
these words of the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
/ The negotiations can only end in weakness o
/ folly Treaties once concluded, are withdrawn b,
mutual consent, or are cut asunder with the sword
Kind relations with England are morally and politi
! cally worth more than the modhcation OF ueaue
, upon the right of search
AN OFFICER OF THE NAVY.
.