The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-28

A
Mr. d. thought, furnished further evidence spirit
Of concession and constant yielding OF rights oy
/ this TO the British government.
| The third question the right OF soaroh' or o'
visit, claimed by Great Britain, which was another
name for the right Of impressnent-a claim winch
had at all times been resisted by uls government as
inadmissible and unauthorized. In correspondence
Il with the American minister in London, Lord Pai-
mersto1 and his successor Lord Aberdeen, In l64l,
under pretence Of arresng the slave trade had as
serted The right Of British cruisers 10 board Amerl-
can vessels in time Of peace, with view TO
determine. by search, their nationality, and
ayowed its intention to exercise t. About this
| lime Ave European powers-England, France, Rus.
STA, Prussia, and Austra-for the alleged purpose
Of arresting the slave trade (the slaves Of Russia
being white and therefore not objects OF sympathy
signed the quintuple treaty, asserting the right Of
visitation or search. The American minister in
Paris, Mr.. CAss,l believing that it was an at
tempt TO establish this doctrine as the law Of
nations, IN the name Of his government pro-
| tested against II, exposed It's true character,
and maintained and INDICATED the freedom Of the
seas in a manner worthy of himself and the govern
ment he represented at that court. Although
France had signed, she refused TO raty this treaty
| and such refusal was imputed 10 the influence OF
i the American minister at Paris. Thus stood the
matter when Lord Ashburton came charged with
the adjustment Of subsistng difficulties between
| Great Britain and the United States. The Amer
Caroline, but the question Of the right Of visit and
Of imprsssment, and showed with great ability that
the ocean was the common property OF nations, and
| that vessel under the American flag was as sacred
as American soil, and that no other power had the
| right TO violate or invade It.
| Lord Ashburton seems to have waived discus
sion Of the subject by saying that he snot charged
with II, though he virtually admits that Great
Britain claimed the right when emergency should
arise, requiring its exercise.
Mr.. CRrrENDES. Do understand the senator
| as saying that the British minister insisted upon
the right Of impressmenf
Il Mr.. DICKINSON. ! think he claims such right
exists TO be exercised In time Of war, but not
sary to be exercised in time Of peace, and waived
its consideration because he not particularly
charged with II. The right of visit was, however,
| a practical question, openly asserted by the British
| goyernment-one that was deeply agitatlng this
coun ny and all Europe and fnot waived by our gov
eminent, IL was not abandoned by theirs, but was
passed over to the future with the declaration ofthe
British government before the world that British
armed cruisers had the right to visit or search YES
sells bearing the American Gag. with view TO as
| certain their identity.
| On the discussion Of the Ashburton treaty, Lord
Brougham assails minister in Paris, who, he
sers, Influenced France against ratfying the qulntu
pie treaty, in a shower OF bitter epthets and re-
prosches; and we had heard much Of the courtesy
Of that government towards ours, he would read an
extract or two from the speech Of that distinguished
British statesman. Upon that discussion, he says:
81 must refer-though am 10th 70 breach any matters
but those Immediately under discussionto man existing
IN France who be said TO have besn and still TO be-
the mpenonaton Of hostile feeling the promoter OF dis.
cord between America and England. him. because
wish TO attach undivided blame to the quarter within
which as hope the guilt is without any accomplish.
fined name Gen.rsl Cas- as the person whose msnou.
vrs whose dscreditabs conduct whose breach Of duty
his own goyernmentnore fragrant than his breach oduy
to humanity and as descendant Of free English parents
whose conduct in these particulars wholly impossible
| either 10 pass over or TO palliats."
And in the same connection, continues:
wherever there be discovered inferior Of
in nking into the filth and the
dross OF faction the dregs Of political society there to be
| dug up gTovelng, grounding set Of polteisns-that
wherever the Tahbe holds sway eontradisngu
ed from men Of property Of information and Of principle
In that quarter among those grounding statesmen among
those rsbble moh among that lowest class Of the people
you are absolutely certain find the strongest and
envenomed Preudiees against the American alliance with
and the greatest disposition to see war usurp the
place OF peace bstween the two kindred nations"
This inelegant invective was earned by the
American minister in France for truly representing
and maintaining his country's interests and the hon
or of Its flag; question which not only concerned
our whole merchant marine here, but the rights Of
every citizen of the United States. The course Of
the American minister was approved by the consti-
tuted authorities Of his country, and appauded by
the popular voice, and yet the right Of search was
left where it was found by the Ashburton treaty;
and Mr.. Cess, in becoming spirit, asked leave to
return to his country the day he advised of its
ratification. Mr.. d. did not intend to pursue the
question further than necessary to show that il
was another concession by this to the British gov
eminent, which was already apparent; and yet it
was said, we were incorporating and INDUCED
spirit Of war.
Thus would be seen how three of the four matters
IN difference In 1912 had been disposed OF by nego-
tiation-on which side had been the concessions;
and the fourth, Oregon, was where it then, and
the question now under consideration The only
action contemplated by Congress was the question
Of notice, which could be disposed of with much
brevity What kind Of notice should be given
Mr.. ID. preferred the notice provided for by the
treaty. simple notice that the convention shall
terminate. This would best comport with the dignity
of both nations. But it had been said this kind OF
notice would break off negotiation and lead to war
which he would in no wise regard; for war between
two such nations ought not to flow from an act pro-
vided for by treaty stipulation. Nor did it neces.
sary break of negotiaton but brought the parties
together, and would aid negotiation, If they should
choose again to enter upon it. 1t was urged that
we must compromise But there was no such
question before the Senate the country, and he
would not consider any. The President, feeling
bound by the acts of previous administrations, had,
in spirit of concession, made an offer, which was
rejected and withdrawn.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON called Mr.. DIS attention to
his remark Of yesterday, and asked what kind of
tariff he meant.
Mr.. DICKINSON continued Such an ono az should
be mutually advantageous, and should benefit all
branches of industry equally, and it would be in
time to discuss it when the question should arise
Mr. DIS position was that Oregon must stand or
fall upon its own merits.
Mr.. ID. approved of the measures the President
had recommended, and would carry them all into
effect. Great Britain had taken armed occupation
OF the territory, and extended her jurisdiction over
1t without right; and Mr.. d. would have our gov
eminent do so too. She was not lawfully in DOS.
session under the treaty; and he cared not that her
hunters and traders and blockhouses were there he
would not only erect stockades on this, but on that
side Of the mountains, if necessary; and he would
as well extend our laws over Americans there. as
over the territory There was nothing to be gained
by nmidty, and neglect to assert rights. 1t should
DC .he Poncy OF this government not to seek for
territory beyond the continent but to retain all is
territories that It now has. We never can acknowl
edge the European doctrine of the balance of bower
which has recently been so Extensively exercised
within this Union We own not q single island of the
ocean, and should not desire to any, but should
guard with peculiar vigilance all that is ours agains,
| the ropacity Of power which has ulrcedy greater
possessions in North America than ourselves.