The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-10
From tho Richmond Enquirer u Sep 4.
MIR. TYLERS LETTER.


MIR. TYLERs LETTER
MEssns EprTons Although have observed profound
silence in regard to all public political discussions since
the close Of my official residence at Washington yet Il
seems 10 me 70 he not oay proper but In
required Of me TO vindcate act Of my administration
for which pusterity will hold accountable against
public attack made upon g. Such an occasion has oc-
CURED IN the published debates of the commercial
Convention at Knoxville wherein member Is stated To
have declared the provision in the treaty Of Washington
stpuing The part Of the United States the main
tenancs of fleet Of eighty guns for the suppression of the
slave trade under the American flag, act Of dis
courtesy and insult 10 the South for its abro-
CATION. The declaration thus made to have met
with the countenace OF large majority Of the
ton in the final vote upon the subject.
propose TO do more, Aessrs Editors, than revive
with the public recollection Of the incidents which led
to the incorporation Of that provision in the treaty and
having done So shall be content to leave the matter to
the sibtranient Of the proper tribunal.
shall, however, be permitted TO observe that tho
marks reported e. hRye fallen from members of the
vocation, in debating the main subject entirely
rant from the popular sentiment entertained throughout
the southern States believe in 1872, to occasion
little surprise Who, in 1872 even dreamed that
there would be- az early 1857 proposition seriously
made TO revive the slave trac certainly entertained
no such idea nor did, ] quite sure any Of the
able and patriotic statesmen who nay constitutional
lylera really thought and often declared, that the
southern States opposed to the slave trade than
any other portion Of our people. They had voted with
singular uannity for the act of Congress which declared
that all citizens of the United States engaging in that
Trade should be regarded and ii convicted punished,
pirates. How it happens, then, that provision intro
duccd into treaty to enforce law for which the South
had voted be Iishtfuy regarded insult to the
South must say passes my comprehension Certainly
such an idea never entered into my head or heart.
My principal desire, however is to call the attention
of the country in brief to the facts they existed inn
mediatey anteceent TO the treaty of Washington The
British government had insisted upon the right in yr-
tue Of various treaties with other nations visit ships
,ac ~ no Apnpf uay
for the purpose Of ascetaDing the true nationality of
the ships England had venturod 10 put their clam
into practice This called forth strong remonstnces
from Mr. Stevenson who then minister at Lon
don and most nbe argument In pamphlet form appear
cd after from tie pom of Gen. Cass who was our
minister at Paris Tho conduct of our representatives
at London and Paris in this particular fully approved
| by the administration and in my annual message to
Congress- took decided ground against the claim pre-
fcrrod by Great Britain and made the occasion to say
that the United States government tho first to de-
csrc tho slave trade TO be piracy m as the citizens Of
the United States were concerned 40 was fully able TO
enialce its laws without the mid Of British cruisers
Thus the two governments remained for time antag
onsed the question. Great Britain urged that she
meant no insults To the American flag but that j.
impossible, without visit 70 the ship, TO ascertain
whether she belonged 10 the nation whose flag she bore
or had assumed that flag merely to deceive thus seeking
immunity under the American flag when the vessel,
officers and might be French, Portuguese Span
ISL or OF some other nation intent the slave trade,
whose treaty engagements had given to Great Britain the
rsht of visit aud search Great Britain also urged
I.Qoyerrncnt us a consideration for quicscencc
part in the matter, that ii the vessel visited should turn
ont to be truly American bound peaceful Inercan
tile yoyge she would indemnify all less and every dam
age sustained had been honorably done in all proceed
Ing Lord AsiburtGn was possessed OF full power
to negotiate this ether subjects and upon con-
terence reiterated my declaration. made in my annual
message that the United States government was able to
enforce its own laws aud that should to their
orcement treaty treaty under the obligations ct
paramount duty. then suggested by way OF discharg
ing this duty my part that VIE should keep upon tho
African coast naval armament sufficiently great to visit
sll ships that might hoist the United States flag and fall
under suspicion but that could not permit another
nation to do Upon this bass the stipulation in the
treaty has in my mind always rested Certain il is that
for the attertinc my serccno VISIT much less search,
of an American vessel occarred the part of British
cruiser What has taken place since will not undertake
4 10 say.
have nothing to do with what the government OF this
country may deem t proper do in regard to that stpu-
lation but this will venture To say, that repeal when
IL plcscs that provision of the treaty it will still find it
necessary for the enforcement Of the laws OF the United
States us well as for the protection of the traffic Of Nor
chant vessels on that COAST traffic every year increas-
ing in value and destined in the end to lie Of vast magni-
tudeto Iaaintn fleet Of ct least eighty guns ON the
coast OF Africa 1t might be worthy Of Consideration by
the next commercial convention whether before they nd
wise tie canceling Of the provision in question, and de-
nosnc as an insult te South they should not first
repeal the Law rl,rto piracy in REGARD to the slave
! trade.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN TYLER.
/ AuGusr 81, 1851,
Extract OF a letter, dated August %, 1857, from
/