The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-13
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH.

Of the right vi search nov ciAimco W w eAes ~
Spain upon American vessels and eloquenty describes
the dangers certain result from the exercise Of this right
As well TO the to the tranquility OF The
country.
The earnestness with which the American people have
repelled the assumption Of this right by Great Britain
matter OF history Upon other issue have they e1hip
cd stronger determination The annals OF the war Of
1912 show that conflict waged in opposition to
this assumption The celebrated Ashburton treaty, and
the questions which led to that convention, strongly re-
vived the public feeling this subject The protest Of
General Cass against the Quinuple treaty. which eiec
tualy broke up dangerous and crafty combination
between the five European powers, was based upon the
American purpose Of rsolute rsstsncs TO this right Of
search and led il win be recoected TO an animated cor
respondenee Mr. Webster and General Glass; the
latter believing that the Ashburton treaty did not fully set
forth American principle the right Of search and
that great danger might be apprehended in consequence
Of this omission This view sustained by many
Of the leading Of the day, and especially by
Mr.. Benton aud Mr.. Buchanan, and others. General
Cass saw, with great sagacity, that the Quintuple
treaty originated under the disguise Of Engsh hostility
TO the African trade and that If France could be
seduced ssconding the movement Russia Prussia and
Austria, who comparatively indifferent to the in
irigue would unite with the powers to which they
then friendly and thus the real object of Great Britain
that of enforcing the right of search upon the vessels
Of the United States--would be secured In this d-
le,nna he conceived the bold and patriotic design of
protesting private citizen against this treaty in his
justly celebrated letter addressed Mr. Guzot that
time Minister Of Foreign Affairs under Louis Philippe
Such the effect Of this noble paper upon the French
Chamber of Deputies that the treaty almost unan
mously condemned; and Mr. Guizot declared that "he
Americans right, and that France under the
circumstance would do the Same thing" The great
argument must not be forgotten, Of General Cass
in this protest that the Quintupe treaty would
commit France and the other powers to the right of
search American vessels and that this country
would subiait it, 80 cer,anly this the object Of
England nj that time that just prior TO the attempt TO
summarize this Qantupe treaty Lord Palmerston declared
(2Ith Of August l84l ha the e1enpson Of he pessels Of
the United Naes from search doctrine which The British
government cH subscribe !" and he ad
ded 80 The day is not far distant when the Of
The United States will to conound two things which
in their entirely dierentw look to things
and to worisand becoming wiser from the lessons
thus taught will suffer the British cruisers to search their
vessels all times and in all places and content them
selves with calling it visit" This odious doctrine
the of the Qunupe treaty. as it had been the
Of the second with England and this is the doc
,rine up by Spain and pernacioasy defended by
the Nltionai Intsliyeneeri 4Yaa mar
What said General Glass; however to this treaty. and
the arrogance Of this English assumption? We copy from
his letter Mr. Secretary Webster dated Paris ls42,
F myself mutual concession by which the par
ties be brought together contested territory be
divided and claim for peounary Injury may be reduced
- hat.
the attributes Of iadependenccnor redsce The sphere Of
operation. We only dAs.aad sss aviolabty scA
just consequences r. go
We leave the pretence upon which Great Britain de-
handed this right handsthe suppression Of the
slave ,rade-to the historian No nation has done more
through long years. against this traffic than ours But
government be decexed by this pretence Of
European zeal against that which the United States have
opposed since lsos into yielding great principle for The
purpose Of proving her sincerity in opposing great
wrong. Aaasa a ~ asat4
1t interesting recall the fact that while the Ashbur-
treaty discussed in secret session Of the United
States Senate THAT treaty having been negotiated about
the time the Quinuple treaty being exposed by Gen
Cass many Of most distinguished Statesmen used the
strongest language the subject Of the right Of search
claimed by Great Britain ts IS sssam
Mr. Benton through the designs Of Great Britain in
the Quntupe treaty and appaaded Gen. Cas- for arrest
ing the progress Of England,
Mr. Calhoun said Of the right search during this de-
bate: tYv 4. IS
We had long since taken against it, and had
resisted M abase, belgsrent right tho mouth of the
cannon Neither Ao~or policy part cosd tolerate
Is erercise ~ -s Of peace, osy forrsAetAs tAos Of
search, ciaed BY Lord PaIseron s lses offensive
and rnreaosods Of vafio~ proposed By A
sor, Lord Session Of the IT, s. Senate
August, ls%2)
Mr.. Rives said that e8
"The Of Great Britain had recently put forth
pretenson Of alarming EXTENT and which resisted
and must resist wholly upon any Just
principle Of pablo (Secret Session, August ls42)
Mr.. Buchanan said
After 81! that has passed. should upon that
cred principle Of the law OF nations that the American flag
running tho head Of American protect
Asr from aad search BY British Secret
Session, ls42.)
Ia order 10 show to the world, however that our flag
should not be abused encourage the African slave trade
we engaged keep squadron the coast Of Africa to
proven, all such infractions Of nationality And
what President Pierce do in regard to Cuba Does he
viailanty enforce neutrality laws, and has
he checked illegal expeditions sailing from shores
to disturb that Spanish dependency Span therefore has
right to search visit ships while peace
fully pursuing their way than hes England to search
visit vessels the Of Africa II she dos so
hereafter Il Is at her peril The government Of the Uni
ted States competent to Of ITSELF and TO fulfil