The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-20
The Right OF Search In Parliamsnt-The
Question mot Settled.

The Right OF Search in Parnamsnt-The
Question mot Settled.
We learn by our adyices from England by the
Vanderbilt that the question of the British out
RACES had been again brought up in Parliament
and the Minister of Foreign Affairs had been
interpolated upon the subject.
Orders are said to have been given to stop
the visitation of American vessels on the coast
of Cuba, and the hope has been expressed by
Lord Malmesbury that when conversation he
had had with Mr.. Dallas has been reported to
the United States government, and despatch
be had sent to Lord Napier had been delivered,
nothing would occur to mar the alliance 80
happily existing between the two countries, as,
from the conversation he had had with the
American Minister, he believed there was no
great difference Of views between the two. We
do not yet know what the views of Mr.. Dallas
are, but from careful perusal of the express
sions used in the House Of Lords on this occa-
sion, we are much inclined to differ with Lord
Malmesbury, and to believe that there is very
material difference of views between the two
governments, and that not only is the question
of the right Of search far from being settled
but that II will becume al no distant day sub
ject Of irritating discussion
Our reasons for such belief lie in the fact
that all the parties to the present and former
discussion In Parliament on this subject, and
all the editorial comments Of the British Jour-
mails upon the question, with Q single exception,
have studiously ignored and slurred over the
true point at issue. We will recapitulate the
positions taken by three leading statesmen in
England, in the last discussion of this subject.
Lord Clarendon believed that it was desira-
BILE to avoid either an extension of the slave
trade or a rupture of political relations with
the United States; that the American govern
ment did not desire that the slave trade should
be extended; that vessels belonging to the
United States had carried on the slave trade.
and he did not see how II could be stopped I'm.
less some right Of search was given that such
a right has been admitted by all maritime ma
tions that no British officer would exercise
the right of searching an American vessel II he
was really convinced that 1t was bona .fde Anne
rican that II any foreign Power should inter
pose to prevent the preparation Of nefarious
offences by British vessel England would be
obliged to them for their interference aud he
did not think the American government would
differ from England on that point.
Lord Malmesbury entirely agreed with bis
noble friend, that the American flag is constant
ly prostituted to cover the slave trade aud other
illegal acts; that 1t is highly desirable that
some agreement should be made between the
two countries, by which it may be distinctly
understood what proceedings ought to be taken
by their officers respectively, and which will
not be offensive to honest traders; and that it is
to this point he has directed the attention of
the government of the United States ON which
there Is no great difference Of views between him
and the American Minister.
Earl Hardwicke said that the mode of opera
tons Of inquiring into the nationality OF YES
eel had been clearly laid down, and If there had
been any excess Of those instructions, it was
against the direction that no offence was to be
given TO any nation In conducting the operations
In those seas
Now we deny, pointedly and categorically.
all the positions assumed by Lord Clarendon
and Lord Malmesbury; and IL Mr.. Dallas has
no great difference with these statesmen on
these points, be has kept too much company
with British ministers, and does not represent
the views of bis government; or If he does re-
present the views of the administration In this
coDcidjng with Lord Malmeebury. then the sd
ministration does not represent the almost
unanimous wishes of the American people. The
extension or extinction of the slave trade
Is not point in which the United States
sympsthizes with England, and is not the
true point at issue. The government OF the
United States takes care that no African slave
trade is carried on with the United States
but II is none Of it's business whether Eng
land, France, Spain, Portugal and all other
nations Of the world, permit or prohibit the
slave trade in their dominions Vessels Of
the United States do not carry on the slave
trade, nor " the American flag proritnted
to cover that and other illegal acts. as Lord
Melmesbury asserts The criminality OF selling
American vessels TO the slave traders IN
Africa to carry their slaves ia, il no greater
than that Of selling them Brtish goods to buy
the slaves with. The British flag protects those
goods until they are safe In the slave traders