New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-13
RIGHT ON THD SEAS.

TIE Police Of the Ocean 10 maintained BY the
armed ships of the civilized nations which trs
verse it, But for these, Piracy would blast the
hopes OF commerce and obssrucs tee intercourse
of nations. Deny to ships Of war the riga. TO
overhaul the questionable vessels that they mag
encounter at sea and ascertain their true charac-
ter and you deprive them ofhalf their value If
the suspected craft rove TO be honest aud engaged
in q le Ultimate trace, then no harm 10 dole or
suffered beyond brief detention; but, if they
cannot show the proper documents, then they are
clesrly outlaws, and msy be dealt with &C ,ording
y. Let the opposite rule be adopted, aud no
mans property, DO wonsn's honor, would be sa o
on the high seas for moment
OF courie the power thus devOved on the
captains Of National vessels is liable to abu,e-
al power'is. A Naval comm inder may disre-
gard or preteId to discrtdit correc. and well.
authenticated papers, and treat as corssir or
fllibuster a weaker vessel which carries its flag
ss honestly as be does. For any such abuse, the
wrong deer is responsible to his Government
while bis Government 10 answerabIe to that whose
Cog he has insulted. But for National ship to
,top unknown vessels on the high seas long
Ell ouch TO ascertain their true character, and
mike sure that they are not engaged in some
lswless or hostile adventure, is no outrage. no
insult, no ofiense even, but JUST and proper eX-
ercise Of authority, which it we're folly to re
INT and kDavery to twist into the semblsuce Of
wrong. If National armed vessels msy not do
this, it were better 10 burn them s, once, and
not send them out on fools errands which the
mere display of strip Of counterfeit bunting
may at any moment render nugatcry.
TIE dust raised on tbs subjectbs slsve-traders,
fllbusteIs and their attorneys, from Gen. Cas-
down to The ~ Y. Times, is meant to cause and
cover confusion Of two very different ure.en-
sisns. The " Free-Tfsde and Sailors Rights,
coDteDded for by our Country in the War Of 1872,
was the right of an American vessel, kaorn to be
suoh to exemption from search OF other acts of
authority by the armed chips of foreign pc YER.
Our Government deDie the right of British
Commander, net to ascertain that vessel display.
ing the American flag WAS entitled to carry it,
but to NEEDLE with her further after sscertIniDg
tbishct. The doctrine preached by Gen. Csa as
ambassador to France, with reference to the
QuIniuple Treaty, was ~ Oiucrent from Inis as
madness from common sense. He held 10 sub
stance that British National ship had no right
to look beyond the American flag carried at the
fore, even by vessel which it should catch load
ing slaves on the coast Of Guinea, or committing
piracy on the high seas Such doctrine is a joy
to the heart of every freebooter, but is at deadly
war with the interest and safety Of every honest
seafsrer, Of every moral, thrifty and commercial
people.
There is no "insolence, no "outrage," ac-
tusl or intended, in the act of Spanish war
steamer in the Gulf requiring one Of our merch ant
chip, to beave-t aud let it be seen that she i, not
crowded with ammunitions and flibustsrs, bound
for the coast of Cuba. 1t is just what that
stesner ought to do-what her com naoder
should be ca,hisred if he failed to do. And ii
ally such act Of necessary police is made pre-
text by our rulers for a raid on Cuba, 1t will
only prove them as bullying aud rapacious 10
their treatment Of the feeble, as they are kno Hn
to be cowardly and pu.ilanimous in their bearing
toward the strong.