The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-04
STILL ANOTHER SPANISH OUTRAGE.

STILL ANOTHEh STANiSu
It win be seen the following despatch, which was
received from New Orleans Monday last that still an
other American mail steamer has been brought to, and
visi,ed by Spanish cruiser
Tbe Daniel webster was brought to by Spanish oop-
owar on her outward passage, and had her papers exam
ned."
THE AMERICAN VIEW OF THE RIGHT OF VISTA
TON.
The gsncer Of Saturday last opens its leader in the
following astounding way:
"AsorHEa OUTRAGE"
fsOne woe treadeth the heels of another"
aThe Washington Union double its daily issue to
keep pace with the multiplication Of Spanish ourages One
scarcely heraded, sed and exploded before another
FORTH Its press goans with national nsuits appa
ling the specres in the play and about as real The ~
Dorado outrage had barely expired under the scrutiny Of
truth another conured in the shape Of the arrest
of American vice consul, &C.
We cannot doubt that the readers Of the discussion
which has been going in the columns OF the Union and
.essye~ec~ reference to the 81 Dorado outrage who
claim for that journal high character for candor and fair
anticipating from it frank admission that had
unwitngy erred in asserting that to detan and visit an
American merchant ship pursuing her lawful commerce
the ocean was "universay acknowledged right But
instead of acknowledging its error, the htgncer has
shown how little real regard it has for candor in the
above selfgratulatory claim Of victory
When was the aE Dorado outrage ezpiodedS When
did it erpires What the truth under whose scrutiny it
came to end2
The Lteigencr has aheraded" that forciby to arrest
detan and visit an American mailseamer in the peace
full prosecution Of her lawful voyage upon the in
the track of coaswise trade did the Spanish armed
vessel the Ell Dorado was the exercise Of unipersai
admitted right If this be atruth" then has the FL Dorado
outrage been exploded and under the scrutiny of such
truth, expired naturally.
But is it true that 80 to ayY< dan and risa Amer
lean masteamer is the exercise of anversallyad
mtted right2" The Itezigsncsbas furnished proof
that this right universally partially admitted SO
from this being admitted right it has been de-
MED to be right by the executive legislative and judicial
branches Of this government
In reference the executive denial Of this right
ticle Of the 9th umo under the caption of Revval of
the Right of Search FULL and conclusvey
tanned by authorities that deem it unnecessary do
than rcarm the positions then established In that
article we showed that executive branch govern
denied the right of British cruisers the coast Of
Africa merchantmen under the pretence Of their
being engaged in the slaverade The slaverade by the
laws Of the United States and Great Britain piracy It
denied the right of ps Great Britain although the end
which the right visit claimed was to put down
piracy.
Again Congress, by emphatic legislation, has denied
ahat to visit on the sea is right. When the act to
provide for carrying into effect the treaty between
the United States and Great Britain concluded at Wash
ington the 9th Of August 1912, under discus
sion in the House of Representatives Mr. Horace Ever
...t.
sve research and sound judgment offered the following
amendment to the bill:
And be aJarer enacted That 1t shall be the duty of
the commander of each of the vessels Of said naval force
visit all vessels found the of Africa, or within one
hundred leagues thereof which he shall have to
pect BE- American and to be engaged the averade for
the purpose of scerainng whether such be Amer
and found not to be American such commander
shall give the captain Of the vessel visited certificate
stating the Of his vessel the and of the
manier the date Of the visit and the time of detention
the vessel visited Of which VISIT with his
therefor he shall enter in his book and report
the same to the Secretary OF the Navy"
This amendment Mr. Everett advocated in speech :;
and page $780, vol H. Cong Globe February 49, 1843
we fid follows:
"Mr. Everetts amendment being in order Mr.. A. v.
Brown asked for teers, and Messrs Tnghas and Roose
vet appointed. The amendment was negatved--22
voting in the affirmative, and lo5 in the negative"
Thus did Congress refuse their own navy with
the right r although the end for which the right was
asked was to put down piracy Yet the Integenc says
the right of visit is unuersa1y -adnied right
The executive and legislative branches of the govern
ment have denied the right of visit Now for the Judi
cial
In the Ilh volume of Wheaton, page is reported the
of "the Mariana Florahe viceconsul of Portugal
claimant This appeal from the circuit court of
Massachusetts, the Supreme Court of the United States
The facts relied in this these: The Ameri-
armed schooner Alligator Lieut. Stockton commander
in November 1921 cruising after pirates perceived the Por
tuguese ship Mariana Flora after squal with
flag on her mast somewhat below the head which, with
other circumstances induced Lieut. Stockton to suppose
her in Distress and he accordingly changed his course and
approached her When the Alligator within long shot
of the Portuguese ship the latter fred ahead Of
the Alligator and exhibited the appearance equipments
OF an armed vessel Lieut. nvissrd the
uniteu States flag and pendant The Mariana Flora then
fired two more guns loaded with grape which fell
short the other loaded with round shot which passed
and beyond the Alligator. This conduct induced
Lieut. Stockton to believe the ship be pratca or
slave vessel and he directed fire to be opened III on the
Marianne Flora Having captured her. he sent her into
Boston for adjudication for alleged piracA aggression
turned out upon examination that the Mariana Flora
was merchantmen prosecuting lawful voyage and had