Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-04-25
From the Mobile Register, April 6.
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH IN THE STRAITS OF
EI0RInA

draw attention to The perils to which the Amer
lean commerce was exposed in lis only practical
{ bic outlet and inlet TO the Gulf of Mexico,
through, the straits of Florida. If possible. ad
diiional interest has been recently impaired to
this subject BY the occurrence of events on The
Cuba coast The cruisers of Spain, sent out ;S
sealnels on the qui rire for apprehended fill
clustering invaders, have orerhauled and hred
Snto American vessels several lines within the
past monih. Our correspondent Meek. k.enberg,"
stated yesterday what "e regarded us the true
principle of international law on this sub hject.
Right or wrong it Is very certain that the Amer
lean government has uniformly and utterly de-
MED the British claim Of 4 right 10 search Amer.
can vessels This indeed, was one of the main
causes of war between the United States and
Grsat Britain in 1872 The principle has never
been expressly yielded by Great Britain, although
she has abandoned the practice The last, and
probably ablcst argument made in defence Of
this right claimed for British cruisers was by
Lord Aberdeen. We have not the paper in
reach, but he founded his argument principally
on the necessity of the case, growing out Of
the uses and duties of an armed marine. For
of what use, he urged are our cruisers if they
cannot cHallenge merchant-ships on the high
seas to ascertain their character, purposes and
destination! How, for eXample-how could L
SLAYER be detected and punished if the false
wearing Of the American flag was TO render her
sacred from examination? The American doc
trine, is, and has always been, that the flag is
prin,a facic protection 10 the ship; if you board
and search, and find her to be an enemy or
SLAYER, all rght but if she be what she appears
to be BY her colors, you make the mistake at
Ind ,-,
will we allow the flag to be violated That has
been the doctrine Of the United States, and We
have not heard It controvered until it became
Recessary for the enemies of the administration
10 paIliate the late outrage Of firing into the
FL Dorado on the ground that Cuba was me-
naccd and the authorities had right tosparol
the gulf and examine all suspicous-luokin
strange vessels They have no right to make
mistakes any more than man walking the
streets of city has rightto make advances to
I respectable woman suspecting her to be some
thing else. Such blunders are committed ut the
peril OF The author. Otherwise the ocean. which
is the Common highway of nations, would be no
longer free. Commerce would be subjected to
delays, harasSment, aud injuries which would b.
in,oIerabe, and the flag which she carries ut her
peak rs the emblem of her country's sovereign.
" over her deck, and as Il token held out to all
the world of her country's power and will to
protect her, might as well be slowed away in the
lumber room with her rope ends, paint pots
deck scraperS and huly.s,oues.
the OCCASION now under The public cnnsidera-
ton s of all others, the best calculated to AVA
ken American interest. for n"wncre is the Amer
Ian doctrine Of sacred immunity To her ships
aud Commerce from foreign interference 50 i'm.
por,anl It's in the Gut of Mexico.
Has The reader IN adequate conception of the
extraordinary position Of lhe Gulf OF Mexico
rs :: highway for The trade of the wonderfully
produc re agricultural, mineral, and peopIcd
regions whicn surround it? Thee is not such
another sen on the globe. On its Northern
border the American republic extends twelve
hundred miles from lis tidewater 10 the lakes,
and eRbr,ces 4 population Of many millions Of
freemen, uncquailed by any past generation OF
men in enterprise, Intelligence, growth and ak
the elements of prosperity. South of it lie The
West Indies, especially jamaica and the Wind
ward islands, dependent upon its waters for
commercial outlet. Then there are the eastern
coasts Of South America, the great trade dcs-
tined to be developed on the waters of the
Amazon, and even The trade with Brazil, and
with the extensive regions Of the Pacific, the
transi; trade across the narrow neck and by the
lakes of Central America, from California, Ore
gon and the Pacific ises-al Of which have TO
pass wi,hin cannon-shot of Key West and Tor.
tugas and mast of il directly through the straits
OF Florida Then look at the commercial ex-
changes, between the North and the South, car
ried on in the thousands of coasling tonnage,
and the immense value of their cargueS. Sum
it all up and We have dependent upon the fleet
that command, The straits Of t'lorid (l5O miles
long by so miles broad) an annual value, in
tonnage and freighis of no, less than S6O000O,-
900. Is this = time for this Country To relax the
rule Of the freedom Of the SEAS TO her merchant
men, which she has steadily maintained with the
pen of her diplomacy ard fought for usder the
inspiring motto of " free trade and sailors rghs?'
Shall we yield L principle that places six hun
dred millions of our ships and commerce at the
mercy of the caprice or The insolencc Of Span
islI cruisers, who, from The lookout haven Of the
Havana, can come out from beneath the guns Of
the Moro and the Cabanas, and. in iew leagues
of seaming, command position to annoy and
ha!ass our merchantmen!
All these are reasons weighty enough why
the nation which possess such vast interests, to
run the gauntlet Of these straits should possess
the position which commands them; but none,
We irow, why rule of maritime law as old as
our government should now be yielded, when
our progress in wealth and commerce has vastly
enhanced its value and Importance. Not only
principle, but the highest considerations Of poll
cy and of interest, demand that the right Of
vessels covered by the American flag to pass
unmolcsted over the blue waters of the gulf
should be maintained, and defended with the
whole physical force of the American govern
ment and the whole moral energy OF our people.
CUBAN BauTALITIEs-Just By the way of
Illustration Of the insults and oppression, to
which the pes, Crcoles in Cuba have to submit,
le. me tell you (says Havana letter. story of
what took place here aweek or two ago.
party of boys, all under the age OF fourteen, had
assembled and locked themselves up in house
supon the Cero to play at cards, and lhls mousse II
nus, be remembered, was the home OF one OF lhe
boys. The day police having been in some way
informed of the meeting went with very lluda-
Die haste TO the spot, and, finding the door tas-
:ened. broke it in crying at the same time Con-
>piracy, Fillibusters'' &c. The boys had, upon
he first alarm. disposed Of the cards, and now
,tlemped to escape. One of them, who sue.
.eedei in getting out of the house, was pursued
)y policeman, who. upon coming up with him,
4 dit his head with his sword from the top of
4 he skull to his chin. He WAS brought before
! he Commi>sary for this brutal murder, but as
DON as that official a,certaned the father of the
hid was u creole, he very summarilv dismissed
he case, without further notice. The street
,ficer was returned 10 his original beat in front
# the house mentioned; and when it was re-
1 nops,ra,ed to the Commisary against this in
alt TO fathers feelings, the only reply was
4 Carambo he is Creole"