The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-13

MT ffesaent much OF the infancy OF our government
was passed IN arguing The Question OF maritime rights
against HE most outrageous claims ever urged by Gu.
pldy and ambition. as was yesterday stated BY the hon.
otabe senator from New Jersey Mr SrocKToN] in Ian
guage equally eloquent and true. ] trust its maturity
will be passed IN very different manner--n defend.
ing and enforcing Them, when necessary not with he
pen, but with the IRON hand. The argument was long
since exhausted, under the administrations of Washing
ton and Jefferson and Madison; rather The true prin-
ciples were stated with great force and Know
argument agalns, these POSITIONS there Those
statesmen maintained the doctrine that in time OF peace
no power on earth has the right TO board and search an
American vessel Tor any purpose whatever and that in
time OF war belgeIent power has the right 10 boards
neutral ship, solely Tor the purpose OF ascerianing her
real national CHARACTER which having ascerained the
cruiser must depart peaceaby without touching
or cargo And this doctrine OF the nvioablily of our
flag should be cardinal principle in policy, to be ad
heIed 10 with unyeldng enacty in all our vcissudes
whether o. prosperity or adversely The soil of the re-
public and the flag oil the republic should be equally
sacred, and the violation OF either equally avenged And
trust that, IN all time 10 come the boarding and search
OF an American ship upon the great highway oil nations
where the proceedings OF the officer approved by his
government except in state OF hoslilites, bege
rent right, merely TO ascertain her national character
VIII be considered as an ac OF war, to be met by the
whole power OF the country, with an energy and una
nlmy as great as wond an invading force crossing
boundary.
observe among the executive papers laid before u.s.
in relation TO the Cuban expedition that prelensions are
advanced by the British and French governments which
bring up this claim 10 search our vessels in a new
form The principle has assumed many phases and is
destined TO assume many more before its final abandon.
ment The last comes in the guise OF right TO protect
the government OF Cuba, and 10 exercise preventive
police over the neghborng by stopping and search
ing vessels bearing our flag, and navgated by CHI.
zens We are not told whether their engagement for this
purpose, between France and England is temporary d
plonac arrangement, whether il permanent guar
anee, making part OF secret treaty. Be this as il
may, we want no such ministerial officers NEEDLE with
US When our laws are violated, we quite able to
punish the offenders; and even when unforeseen acct
dents occur TO prevent punishment, sometimes will
happen both here and everywhere else do not
to invoke, and trust we do not mean 10 permit either
France or England, or even France and Engl land
to assume 10 be shcrifs and judges, and to take
American citizens from the decks of American ves
sells, and form the jurisdiction OF American tribunals
and punish them at their own discretion. "All our
government contends ior, said the London Times in
1884, on the subject OF right of search, sis the right
to act as consables in boarding suspicious vessels bear
ing the American flag" modest claim, and modestiy
urged, especially with the admission made by the same
powerful but reckless Journal that in the practical en-
orcement OF the claim 10 search, "he searching party
being from the nature OF the the strongest and
moreover, ordinarily speaking. persons OF summary
habits, apt be somewha, arbitrary in their udg
iuhen they doubted they look Ue trek" Memorable words
never to be forgotten by the American people or by their
government
American citizens offending against our laws are re
sponsble TO our tribunals, and to no other earthly juris
dc,on, except in the OF piracy, which by universal
consent is crime against all civilized nations. and may
from our own country engage in unlawful expedition
against any other, they OF liable 10 The
cuences OF their Accomplishment by the government
injured when taken in the attempt But this is far diff
ferent from the voluntary nteTposon of other powers
TO watch the high seas under petenson which
be carried into effect without assuming its coollary
the right search every vessel which may make her a
pearance upon the Gulf of Mexico, Or indeed along our
coast, wherever these protecting powers may choose
exercise this new jurisdiction for the claim 10 prevent
vessels OF certain character IRON approaching Cuba
cudes OF course the claim TO examine all vessels found
within the tdbood REGION in order 10 ascertain whether
they within the condemned Glass; whether in fact
nj he fUke ~ nf -titpad
doubt Or, in other words, this doctrine, II established
would establish the full right OF search at all upon
waters Of the ocean, whose free navigation
ta TO the United States that OF the English channel
to Eng land, and would give 10 two great maritime pow
the control of the Cult of Mexico and OF the mouth OF
the Mississippi Lord Pdlmerston, indeed, assures us
that commerce shall not be interrupted Cold com
fort this We had rather depend upon own rights
and power than upon his moderation or that OF his
country.
:. Timeo Dannos" is a wise caution in political affairs
when counsel profered by those who are not with
nor OF us. We know the British Secretary of State Tor
Foreign Affairs is not easily turned from his purposes
He has stamped his character bold statesman, il not
ccumspect one upon the history OF the foreign inter-
course Of his country and II he has not always serupa-
lousy regarded the rights of other nations he has kept
steady eye upon the interest oil his He undertook
10 convince US few years since that because Eng land
had formed treaty with some OF the European conlnen-
tai powers for the suppression OF the slave trade she had
therefore, right TO search vessels IN order TO carry
these engagements into effect And because France
and Eng land have constituted themselves the guardians
OF the Spanish government in Cuba, therefore their cruIs
are at liberty 10 violate the American flag in
with coasts, and which navigae1
by a large portion OF mercantile marine. The former
effort failed and this will fail, will the Others in what
ever fruitful brain they may originate, which are des
tined TO follow.
mus, express my qualification, in looking the pa
pers at the ground taken by Mr. Crenden in his com
munica,ions with the French and British ministers lie
laid down the true docirine-the doctrine for which
have always contended; and trust the administration
will firmly adhere TO it, They will meet am sure, with
the general concurrence OF the country This precisely
one OF those questions before which party disputes should
be hushed and which appeal TO the hearts OF the whole
American people.
NOTICES
Mr. BORLAND gave notice that he should to morrow
or on some subsequent day. ask leave TO introduce bill
10 grant 10 the Stale OF Arkansas the Hot Springs that
State and the four sections OF land reserved from sale
by the act OF 1882.
Mr. BRIGHT gave notice that he should 10 morrow
or on early day thereafter, ask leave to introduce
bill TO provide for improving the navigation OF the OHIO
river, well above as below The Tails thereof,
WELCOME TO
The hour OF one having arrived, the Senate resumed
the consideration OF the Joint resolution, introduced by
Mr. SEWARD of welcome to Louis kossuth-ibc question
pending being upon the first branch OF The following
amendment submitted by Mr.. BERRIEs
"And BE- IL futhc,resoircd That The welcome thus afford
ed Louis Kossuth be extended to hts associates who
have landed shores; but while welcoming these
protection which laws do and always VIII hford 10
them due csndor TO declare that AZ Is not the pr-
Congress depart from the settled policy OF THIS
government which lobds all interference with the dolncs
TIC concerns OF other nations
Mr.. BADGER, being entitled to The floor, gave way TO
- a.. I.xf