Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-04
INTERESTING LETTER FROM EX.PRESI-
DENT TYLER.
For the Enquirer.


Messrs. Editors: -Athough have observed pro
found silence in regard to all public political discus
siops since the close Of my official residence at ash
ington yet it seems to me to be not only proper eut
in some measure required of ms to vindicate an ACT
of INV administration, for which posterity will hold
me accountable, against public attack made upon
il. Such an occasion has occurred in the published
debates of the recent Commercial Convention at
Knoxville, wherein member is stated TO nave de
clared the provision in the Treaty OF Washington,
spuating on the part OF the u States for the main.
tsinance OF set of eighty guns for the suppression
of,he slave trade under the American flag, was an act
of discourtesy and insult to the South rs reason for
it's abroga'ion. The declaration thus made seems 10
have met with the countenanGe of large majority of
the Convention in the final vote upon the subject l
propose to do no more, Messrs Editors, than revive
with the public recollection Of the incidents which
led to the of that provision 10 tho Trea
ty, and having done go, shall be content TO leave
the matter to the arbitrament of the proper tribunal
I shall however, be permitted to observe, that the
remarks reported to have fallen from members Of the
Convention, in debating the main subject, are 80 en-
treIy variant from the popular senment entertained
throughout the Southern Sates as believe, in 1912,
"a 10 occasion inc no little surprise Who, in 1872,
even dreamed hattbere would he, as early as 1857
proposition seriously made 10 revive the slave trader
certainly entertained no such idea, nor did, AIN
quite sure any of the able and patriotic states
men who were my constitutional! advisers. really
thought and often declared that the Southern States
were more opposed to the slave trade than any other
portion Of our people. They had voted with singular
unanmity for the act of Congress which declared
that all citizens Of the United States engaging in that
trade should be regarded and, it convicted, punished
rs pirates. How it happens then, that provision
introduced into treaty to enforce law. for which
the South had voted, be righttuly regarded "a
insult to the South, must say passes my comprehen
sion. Certainly such an idea never entered into my
head or heart.
My principal desire, however il, 10 call The atten.
ton of the country in brief to the facts as they existed
Immediately sntscedent to the treaty Of Washington
The British Government had insisted upon the right,
visit ships on the coast Of Africa sailing under the
American flag, for the purpose OF ascertaining the
true nationality Of the ships. England had even
ventuted 10 put their claim into practice. This call
cd forth strong circumstances from Mr.. Stevenson.
who was then our minister at London, aud most
able argument in pamphlet form appeared soon after,
from the pen Of Gen. Cass who was our minister at
Paris. The conduct Of our representatives at Lon.
don and Paris in this particular. fully approved
by the administration aud, in my annual message to
Congress, took decided ground against the claim
nraferred by Great Britain, aud made the occasion
ssy. that as the United States Government was the
rst 70 declare the slave t<ads To be piracy tar
the citizens of the United Ststas 1ers concerned,
il was fully able to enforce its own lava without the
aid of British cruisers. -
Thus, the two governments rsRaaned tor time
antagonized on the question. Great brtAln urged
that she meant no insults 10 the American Tag but
that it was impossible without visit to the ship, 10
ascertain whether she belonged TO the nation whose
nag abe bore, had assumed that aag merely to de-
cove, thus seeking immunity under the American
nag, wnen the vessel, officers and crew might be