Washington telegraph., 1851-12-24

| Ties may arse Ill carrying the laws feterr-
ed I'd into execution, in country now
having three or tour thousand miles of
sea coast-wi;h All infinite number of
ports and harbors and small inets, from
some Of which Unlawful expeditions MAY
suddenly set forth, without the knowl-
edge of the government against the pos
sessions Of foreign States. Friendly re-
lauons with all, but entangling alliaEces
with none, has long been maxim with
Us. Our mission is not to propa gate our
opinions, or impose upou other counties
cur form of government by artifice or
force, but to teach by example, aud show
by our success, moderation and Justice,
the blessings Of self.government aud the
advantages of free institutions. Let ev-
cry nation choose for itself, and make
aud alter its political institutions to sui:
its own condition ard convenience. But
| while we avow aud maintain this neutral
policy, ourselves, we are anxious to see
the same fori,earance on the part OF 9TH
er nations, whose forms of government
are different from our own. The deep
| interest which we feel III the spread OF
liberal principles aud the establishment
OF free government, and the sympathy
with which we witness every struggle
against oppression, fofbits that we Should
| he Indifferent to case in which the
strong arm of IA foreign power Is provok-
ed TO Stih. public sentiment and rtpresS
the spirit OF freedom in any county
| The governments of Great Britain aud
| Trauce have issued orders 10 their naval
| commanders on the West India station
| TO prevent by force, if necessary. the land
ing of adventures from any nation on
| the island of Cuba, with hostile intent.
| The copy of memorandum Of Con-
vention on this subject, between the
| Charge de Affairs of he. Britanic Majes-
sy and the acting Secretary Of State, aud
| IA subsequent note of the former to The
| Department of State, are herewith sub
mitted, together with IA copy Of no;e OF
the acting Secretary of State to the Min
lster of the French Republic. and the
| reply of the latter Oh the same subject.
| The papers will acqualnt you with the
! grounds Of this interposiIiou Cf the two
leading commercial powers of Europe,
and with the apprehensions which this
Government could no: fail to eutertain.
that such interposition, if carried into
effect, might lead TO abuses IL derogalion
of the maritime rights OF the United
| States.
The maritime rights Of the United
States are on firm, secure and well-de-
tended basis; TREY stand upon the ground
Of national independence aud public law,
and will be maintained in all their jnst
extent The principle which this Gov
erument has heretofore solemnly announc
ed, It still udheres to, and will lEaintain,
under all circumstances and at all haZ-
ards. That principle Is. that IN every
| regularly docunented merchant vessel,
| the crew who navigate IT, and those on
| boa rd of it, will hnd their protection IN
the flag " hich is over them. No Ameri-
can ship can be allowed to be visited or
searched for The purpose of ascerta:ning
the character of individuals OH board
nor can there he allowed any watch. by
vessels of any foreign nations. over Amer
lean vessels, on the coast OF the Uuitet
States or the seas adjaceut thereso.
Ii will be seen 10y the last conmun-
cation from the British Charge de AfFaires
to the Department Of State. tina. Ire IS
authorized 20 assure the Secretary CT
State that every care will be taken that.
in executing the preventative measures
against which the United States Govern
ment itself has declared, as not being eu-
titled to the protection OF any govern
ment, no interference shall take place
with the lawful commerce OF any natio.i
In addition to the correspondence on this
subject herewith subnite1, official IN
| yoR a yp-
par,nent of State, OF assurances ny the
French Government that, III the orders
given to the French naval forces, they
were expressly instructed, in any opera
lions thew might engage Ill. TO respect
the flag of the United States wherever 1t
might appear. and 10 commit no act OF
hostility upon any vessel or armament,
under its protecton.
Ministers and consuls of foreign ma
tons are the means aud agent OF commu-
uica;ion between us and those nations,
am! it is of the utmost importance that,
while residing in the country, they should
eujoy perfect security, so long as they
faithfully discharge their respective du'
ties. aud are guilty of no violation Oh
our Tvs. This is the Admitted law ol
aaiionS, and no country has deeper m
terest in maintaining it than the United
States
Our commerce spreads over every sea
and visits every CLINE; and our ministers
and consuls are appointed 10 protect that
commerce, as we'll as to guard the peace
of the country and maintain the honor OF
its flag But how can they discharge
| ho.o d,,t;os nnI.,SS he themselves
protected. aud if they be protected 10y
1.-THE laws of the country in which they re-
| side, then what is due to olir own pnolic