The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-06-23
THE BRITISH CLAIM OF THE
RIGHT. OF SEARCH DEFEND-
81 ED THE REPUBLICANS. *


s ED BY THE REPUBLICANS.
The Republican, press of the country is
almost unit indefense of the old claim
of hesBrilish TO search our vessels upon
the high seas andsto exercise police juris-
dictions over theiisin a form andaiaannee
SO offensive as to disgrace our flag and /,
humilitate our nationality. It makes no
difference that the stars and stripes wave
at the masthead of,the yesseis--thst is
no protection against the insolent visits
of the armed British cruisers, who, with I
out hesitation, fire into every craft that
does not lay-to and submit to an annoy
ing detention, aud TO The degradation of
havioga a foreign officer assume command
of the deck. Because there are pirates
and siavers on the ocean England claims
that her men. of-war have the right to de
tain, stop. and fire into ali vessels that
her officers may effect to believe are pi.
rates or7slavers, thus placing the whole
American mercantile marine under tine
police supervision of the British crown
We do not hear, however, of this claim
being practically carried out against auy
! French or Russian vessels, which nations
would at once resist it, but only against
I the United States, whom great Britain
appears TO have forgot went to war with
her upon that ground forty five years ago!
1 Is it rot humiiiating that upon ques-
Itioh like this that there should be any
tpariy or organization among US to defend
the British aggressions aud counsel the
/ UDitsd States to submitlto them? p1i
While there are, many high. minded
and patriotic men amohgsthe opposition
who would have our Governments resist
with all its power .thisiinyasion Of ma
1 ;ionality, tits yettrue there. is no party
\ bHt the Democracy, which as ans 'organi-
! cation takes that ground.i Even the
American which, three or four years
ago, boosted gifts exclusive pdeyotioa to
our g national Interests and. honor, rand
siigmatized uhe Democracvi as the for
eign' party, are either silent, or else their
views chine in; unison with the British
ipretensions. They woHld lay the stars
and the stripes and the eagle at the feet
of the British cfoss. The Republicans
are loud,- vehement and noisy in behalf oI
the British claim. Upon the Democracy
alone, as in the,days of the Revelation
f in Nc war of 81 with England, and that
of 1876 with Mexico, aud upon all Other
occasions when there were collision:
with foreign nations, brests the task o
rin Il
t ttruly America n grounds The opposition
| to the Dem mocracy upon these Question
f has never changed its course, but has pre-
/ served always ain lanti-American consist
, ency.i In the Revolution it 1sidetlIwitl
/, the Tories; in 1912 it sustained th
< British claim ofAsearch ahd8 OF, impress
: tment; burnt the blne lights toswhrlpth
/. ieBeuly'S cruisers of danger. InabS46fI
! wished our soldiers in Mexico would b
e received with bloody hands aud hhospita
S bile graves It was "a unit in favor {
a giving to Great Britain half of the Stat
e of Maine in lS42, and large part of Oh
# egou IN lS46, and upon many other oc
: casions voted to compromise our nations
e honor and rights, and utterly tarnish aou
G reputation. That it should now sustai
# the British claim of the right ofseareh i
nothing but what we would naturally el
i pect in view of its past histery, which ha
e invariably shown it deaf to the call !.
d national honor aud tozthe dictates of pa
Il triotisnl. 5 Ar @ -
e The Democracy, accept the is cswhie
the republicans would force ufo.f then
e They take the ground that the flag J,
e the Union protects every Americanedec
d and that no British commander has al
y right 10 set his foo. uponit or stop ii
e vessel in its course on any Pretext wha
ir ever. They utterly repadiate all IL
IF British doctrines of the right ofasearc
e or visit, and if they are not. practical
is abandoned they are in favor of var I
&c maintain our rights. This is the do,
st trine of the administration of sJamt
d Buchanan in 1858, as it was that
II james Madison in 1Sl2.: The aDemol
Is racy will stand by it now as they stoo
e by it then, whatever consequences ma
; be the result. They appeal othe pc,
~ tiiiS QoCtltuc dt ttuc cOukffl
J. elections. Will the patriotic people
1t the West elect any man to Congress, G
to any effieial position. who is not, III ti
most uuequivocal manner, pledge
i against The British pretension Of th
h right of search2 Shall the Republican
who as an organization are entirely wron
d ON. this question, be placed in poRe
II where they vii have an opportunity
e carry out their British predilections an
n feeling and cripple the Administratio
in any effort it may make to preserve on
= national rights and dignity? The peopl
e should stand by that noble organizatio
: which always carries '.the flag and skeeT
n step to the music of the Uniop,' and mo-
s emyhalically discountenance the oppos
), tien to it, who. we have reason to fea
!, would disbonor both by Submission {
e the British pretensions.-- Cinci'uaati +,
: Qairer. -. s1,s zy sssass alsxi5sss9c
t .3 --o-r---7e a-se sg3 II
: PRESIDENT Pierce. The followin
: pleasant tidings of Gen. Pierce and wlf