Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-03
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsGINCToN Nav 1899 Z

ted in the following despatch of Gen. CAss t,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, !
WASHINGTON. May II, 1858.
SRI: The accompanying papers, copies o
the originals, which have been just received
will make known to you another outrag,
committed against the rights of the United
States by a British armed vessel, which call.
for the immediate attention of the British
Government. 1 am persuaded that, il the
occurrences took place as they are stated, the
conduct OF the British officer will be disavow.
ed and condemned. l beg you would com.
municate to Lord Malmesbury the earnest
desire of the President that this practice
which seems to become more prevalent, OF
OBTAINING and searching American vessels,
should be discontinued, and that the most
peremptory order for that purpose should be
given and enforced. Such measure is CALI d
for by important considerations which will
readily occur to you. While this Government
is determined to use all proper eXertions for
the suppression OF the slave trade, ii is not
less desirous that the just immunity of the
vessels of the United States upon the ocean
should be preserved. Whatever may have
been the true objects of the voyage of the
Cortes, if she had papers showing her Amer
lean character she was subject neither TO
search nor capture by British cruiser.
do not doubt the facts reported will be fully
Investigated by order of the British Govern
ment, and proper measures taken to prevent
the recurrence of a similar act hereafter.
am, sir, respectfully, your Obedient SER
want,
LEWIS CASS.
In its comments, upon this letter the Jour
nal says
Thus Gen. Cass raises no issue whatever
with the British Government. He doesn't deny
the right of visit. Much less does he insist
on the abandonment of either He blinks'
lodges the whole question. combining himself
merely to a demand for satisfaction Tor plain
abuses of the right, which the British Govern
ment avows itself ready at all times to
grant. He does not agitate the question of
visit at all He doesn't touch it.
The question of the right of visit, instead
being settled, remains an open one. The OPP
portunity with which Mr.. Buchanan engaged
with SO many fOurishes 10 improve for the
permanent adjustment of vexing question
has passed away unrecognized, except i'll empty
gasconade. The Administration, we ex-
pected, has clustered, and succumbed.
So much for the Journal On the other
hand, the Washington Union presents very
different version of the matter. 1t says
On the 10th of April last Gen. Cass address
sed a letter TO Lord Napier ON the subject of
the claim of the British government to search
or visit American vessels upon the high seas
saying:
..The President of the United States, in his
annual message to Congress, in December,
lS4I, denounced this profession 10 detdn and err
anime 1nericau vessels Interpolation into the
n,aritsnae code of the UorLd 10 Ichich the United
States ,oould not submit. The years which have
passed since this authoritative declaration,
marked as they have been by repeated re-
against these aggressions. while
they have added nothing to the strength of
the claim, have served bat to confirm the gov
in their determination to oppose 1t.
No change of name can change the illegal
character of the assumption. Search or p.sa
il is equally an assault upon the independence Of oa-
tons"
We regarded it as fortunate that British
cruisers in the West India waters had excer- |
cised over American trading vessels the right |
of visitation; because, in 50 doing, the impor-
tant question of law involved in the matter |
was the more likely to become Of practical |
Importance, and thus demand on the part Of
the two governments its definite settlement. |
General Cass, in explicit terms and with dis
tinct reference to the despatch of Lord Aber
deem, in 1872, disavowed the right OF her
MaJeBty'S cruisers 10 VlslI American ncICnaut
ships, declaring such an act to he IAN assault
upon the independence OF the nation"
1t is not our purpose To run through the ne
gotiations which have taken place between
General Cass and Lord Napier in this city |
since the 10th of April. 1t is enough to say,
as we understand the present aspect OF the
question, that Lord MIlalesbury tow declares INT
H. H. GoUernnse,a recognize the principle Of inter-
national Ian, as land dorm by General Clss. m has
aote Of The l0h Of Aprii, and that nothing an the
treaty Of 1872 Ithe 41sItburto" treatyl superseies
hat Ld,c.
We think it likely that the Union is right |
and the Journal wrong. The latter bases it's |
position in part upon despatch which was
evidently not intended as demand for the |
of the right of visit and search,
whilst the former Introduce an earlier despatch |
addressed to Lord NAPIER in which the Anne |
-ican position is maintained, and which Lord
MALMEsBURY recognizes as correct. We shall
soon see, however, the true state OF the case.