The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-12-12

ourselves. we are ANXIOUS 10 see t;e same
torbearance on the pnrt of other nations,
whose forms OF government are different
from our own. The deep interest which we
feel in the spread Of liberal principles and
the establishment OF free governments, and
| the sympathy with which we witness every
| struggle against opp.es.ion, forbid iha: we
should he Indifferent 10 case in which the
! strong arm Of o foreign power is invoked to
| s'iile public sentiment and rcpress the spirit
of freedom in any country.
The Government Of Great Britain md
France have issued orders to their naval
commanders on the West India station to
prevent by force, if necessary. the landing
Of ndven'urars from any nation on the Is
land % Cuba vi h hostile intent. The co..
py Of n memorandum of a conversation on
the subject between the Charge Affairs OF
her Britannia Ma es'y and the Acting Se>
cretary nf State, nnd of subsequent note
of the former to the Department of State
are herewith submitted, together with CO.
py of II note of the Acting Secretary OF
State 20 the Minister of the French republic,
and the reply OF the latter, on the same SUBJ
ject. These papers will acqualnt You with
the grounds of this m'crpOsl'lon OF the Nv"
Lending commercial powers OF Europe; nhd
with the approximations, which this Govern
m mt could not fail to entertain. that such
in'rrposilion, if carried into effect, might
lead 10 abuses l., derogn'ion OF the mari
time rights Of the United States. The ma
rltime rights Of the United States are found
ed on II firm. secure. and well defined nhsi';
they sand upon the ground OF NaiIona In
dependence and public law, and viii be
ma ntanrd in all their full aud just extent
The priucip pie which this Government has
heretofore s"lemny announced Is SIM au
heres to, and will mnn'ain under ali CIR
cum.rances and at all hazards. Tint prln-
clpln is, that in every regularly documenled
merchant vessel. the crew who navigate
it. aud those on board Of it, will iinl
their protection in the flag which i
| nonting over them, No American snip
can be lowed to be visited or search
ed for the purpose of ascer'anlng the
! character of individuals on board, nor
can there be allowed any watch ny the YES
sells of any foreign nation over Amerlcnn n
vessels on the coast of The United States,
or the seas adjacent thereto. II will be seen
by the last communication from the British
Charge d'Ailaires to the Department ot
State, ths, he il authorised to assure the
Secretary of t''nte that every care will be
taken that, in executing the preventive mca
surcs against the expeditions. whlch the
United States Government itseihas de-
nouncrd as not being entitled to The p7oiec-
i,n of any government, no n'erter'nc"
.hall take place with the lawi"l conmcrce
of any nation.
In addition to the correspondrnce on ms
subject, herewith submitted, otcia' iEtor.
ma,ion has been received al the Department
of State, of assurances by the French gov
crnmrnt TINT, in the orders given 10 the
French naval forces, they were expressly
instructed, in any operation they might en-.
rare in, to respect the Gag Of The United
States wherever it might appear, and to
commit no act of hostility upon any ves>
sci or armament unGer lis protection,
Ministers and consuls of foreign nations
are the means and agents oi cnlnmnnlca'
ton between us and those nations, and II
Is Of the utmost importance that, Whi'e re-
siding in the country, they should ieel
perfect security SO long ns they faithfully
discharged their respective duties and are
puilrv of no violation of oar laws. This i
the admitted law of nations, ard no country
has a deeper interest in maintaining 1t than
the United States. Oar commerce spreacs
over every sea, and visits every cIIme, hhu
our ministers and cnnSuls are appointed TO
protect the Interests OF that commeIc', n
well as 10 guard the pence OF the country
and MAINTAIN The honor OF us nag, bnt
how can they discharge these duties unless
they be themselves proteced; and, II pro-
,ectcd, it must be by The laws OF tie conn'
,ry in which they reside. And what is due
to our own public functlOnarles residing IN
foreign nulions is exuctly the measure OF
what is due to tho lunctoHarles OF other
governments residing here. As IN war, the
bearers of flags Of truce are sacred, or else
wars would be intcrmInabIc, so IN peace,
.mba asa doris, public ministers and conSuIs,
charged with friendly national intercourse,
are objects of especial respect and pro'ec-
ton, each nccnrLlng to the rights belong-
inp to his rank and staten. In view ct
these important principles, 1t IS with deep
mor,ificatipn md regret l announce TO you
that, during the excitement growing out OF
the executions at Havana, the office oi her
Catholic msjesty's consul at New Orleans
was as>ailed by nlob.his property destroy
ed. the Spanish flag found in the office car
ried off and torn IN pieces, aud he himself
induced to flee for his personal safety.
which he supposed to be in danger. On re.
celving intelligence of these events, forth.
with directed the attorney of the United
States residing at New Orleans to inquire
into the facts and extent of the pecuniary
loss sustained by the consul. with the III
,eniion of laying them before you, that yon
might make provision for such inde'nn'ly
to hlm as just regard tor the honos OF the
nation and the respect which is due to
friendly power might, in your judgment.
seem 10 require. The correspondence upon
this subject between the Secretary OF State
and her Catholic mniesty's minister plenI.
no,en,iary is herewith transmitted.
The occurrence at New Orleans has led
me 10 give nv attention TO the state OF our
Ia VS. IN regard to foreign ambassadors, NM
,stcrs ana consuls. ! think the legislation
of the country is deficien, in not providing
sufficiently either for the protection or the
punishment of consuls. ] therefore recon-
mend the subject to the consideration oi
Congress.
Your attention is again invited to the
L.. hl