The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-24

DRY.
WITHDRAWAL OF OUR NAVAL FORCE ON THE
COAST OF AFRICA.
The New York Times of the odd inst the report
Of the Committee Foreign Relations in the Senate
the proposition abrogae the eighth article of the Ash
burton treaty in regard to keeping naval force the
coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade This report
made to the Senate in executive session. and the in
junction of secrecy has not been removed Without know
ing by what leakage it found its way into the Times
sec nothing in it that is not emneny worthy of the
public eye and its publication will correct certain mis-
chievous Misrepresentation of its character which have
already found their way into the papers deem not inn
proper lay it before readers 1t has been understood
that the report presented by Mr. Sdell and that it
received the sanction of Messrs Mason Clayton Douglas
and Weller
Report Of the Committee Foreign Relations (of the enate)
resolution relative to the aJrogation Of the 8 article Of
the treaty ,ch britain of the 9th Aaga 1872 pro-
riding for maintaining nopo force he coast Of Ai-
ca, dc.
The Committee on Foreign Relations to whom was refer
red the resolution submitted by Mr. Sde the 10th May
ls5hat in the opinion of the Senate is expeden and in
conformity with the interests and sound policy of the United
States that the Sh article of the treaty between this
and Great Britain of the 9th of August 1872 should
be abrogated and that should the President of the United
States in this opinion, he be requested signify
the of Great Britain in conformity with the 18th
article of that treaty the wish of this to erm
nate the said Sth had the under consider
ation and now respectfully report:
That by the sth article of the treaty with Great Britain
made at Washington the 9th of August 1872 commonly
known the Ashburton treaty, he parties mutually stp
uate that each shall prepare equip and maintain in service
the Of Africa, sufficient and adequate squadron
naval force of vessels of suitable numbers and decrp
tons carry in all less than guns enforce sepa
ratey and respectively the laws rights and obligations Of
each of the two countries for the suppression Of the slave
trade the said squadrons to be Independent Of each other
but the governments stipulang nevertheless, give
such orders the officers commanding their respective
forces shall enable them most etecua in concert
and corporation upon mutual consultation exgencies
may arise for the attainment Of the object this article
copies OF all such orders be communicated BY each gov
eminent to the other, respectively"
By 18th article Of the treaty. 1t is declared that
the sth article shall be in force for five years from the date
Of exchange Of the ratification, and ards until
the other party shall signify wish to terminate it,
The policy Of spusons OF this kind with any foreign power
may well be questioned on general grounds but your
mee do think necessary upon large and
debatsbe field Of discussion, and will conne themselves
examination Of the question: whether, admitting the pro
py and expediency Of the the time its adop
ton, with the imperfect information then pos
sessed it may not be proper and expcden abrogae
IT, II then supposed that the efficient mode OF sup
pressing the Save ede to employ cruisers
he coast of Africa and the very caption VI the treaty
Gates the results that expected to be obtained BY
entitled "A treaty to settle and define the boundaries be-
the Territories Of the United States and the posses
ons Of her Britannia Majesty in North America for the final
suppression Of the African slave trade &C. II was believed
that the best point for the employment Of naval force for
the attainment Of object which the people and govern
Of the United States desired quite earnestly az her
Britannia Majesty and her subjects the coast Of Africa
An experience Of twelve years has demonstrated the scy
Of that opinion.
Large squadons have been kept up during that period by
the powers, at expense money with la
mensbe loss Of life and destruction Of the health ~ the Off
and employed in that noxious climate And what
has been the result Let the record show The British
squadron comprises several steamers counting In all ~
sells carrying about 500 guns, and 5000 The annual
expense Of the squadron, f7o6 5Osbou So 600, This
the expense proper Of the squadron That auxiliary Is
tsbshmess On the coast connected with this Services
which might otherwise be dispensed With, estimated at
$500 900 $500 600 Take the lowest figure YOU have
81 900 to add TO tho direct Of squadron
total annual expenditure Of Ave millions Of dollars In
1885 alone the number Of deaths Of officer end men was 2o
and Of officers and men invaided, all.
The United States have four and 80 guns on the
Of Africa, being about onc-eghh our whole naval
force aaoat and the estimated expense of the navy
deduotng special objects such the Of
the mail in steamships, improvement Of nsvy-yards &C. l.
Ill., the annual cost Of this squadron may fairly
calculated at $500 900 Al 600 per year This Il viii
be observed is considerably less than the per gun Of the
British squadron, which ~ about Sill
II subject Of congratuaton however that for the last
four years the mortality Of officers and employed
this eryce bears favorable comparison with that Of other
stations Tits tao Nfyy Department attributes the extra
ordinary sanitary adopted by he officers Of the
squadron.
France at time obligated herself to Keep up equal
force with Great Britain the coast Of Acasay twenty
ix vessebut finding the engagements too onerous she an.
piled 70 the British government for modification Of the
treaty which yes conceded, and she has only twelve
vessels employed There 10 precise data which the
expenditure Of France be established fut estimating n
by the proportion Of vessels eployeday twelve TO twenty
sxit would be about 81 100000 The annual iont expend
ure Of England France and the United States thus an
pears to be s7,iooooO
Mr.. Hut the chairman Of the select committee Of the
Horse o. Commons appointed TO investigate this question
stated, c 10th Of March, 1880 chat the number Of
slaves exported irem Africa had down IN sf2he very
OF the negotiation Of the Ahburton treay-to very
nearly 10000 In lsts Il to S. IN 1915 Il was TO-
0OOi In lsi was "a 900 and then state Of unu-
sua activity Sir Charles Holtham who commanded for
several years on the coast OF Africa and who the
most distinguished officers Of the British navy on his exam
nation before the select committee thus replied the que
ries propounded to him,
WAS the force under your command in a high state Of
discipline, generally speakng2r
/" thought So
Were your views carried by the officers under your
command q your entire satisfaction2'
"whst the result 81 your operations Did yop suc
coed n stopping the slave trsdef"
NO.
Did you cripple q 20 such il in rour opin