Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-02
-.r.s.sn Aggressrons Depare IN the
Senate.


Senate.
-,., WASHINGTON. May 29-SEN4TE-Mr. Ma
son, from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, to whom was referred the resolution
inquiring whether additional legislation is
necessary to place power in the hands of the
Executive to obtain redress for recent British
outrages, submitted a report. the substance
of which is that the official statements show
succession of acts of aggression by the Brit
| ish cruisers in the Gulf of Mexico so marked
| and extraordinary as have awakened the
| indignation of the country Vessels under
| the flag, pursuing lawful commerce. have
| been fired into, stopped, and Intercepted as
to their cargo, destination, crews. &c. No
! less than fifteen American ships in the harbor
| of Sagua La Grande, and six on the high
| seas, have been officially reported. each arri-
val bringing additional facts of the aggres-
sions of the same power on our flag. 1t has
hitherto Happened that in isolated cases,
where aggressions have occurred through
misconception, the United States has been
content to accept disclaimer of intent, but
| the continued and persevering character of
these outrages is such as to arouse the in
| dignaton of the country, and require us to
arrest at once, and end at once and for ever.
the continuance of such indignities.
On motion of Mr.. Seward, of New York.
one thousand copies of the resolutions of thu
IL.
| were ordered to be printed.
| Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, spoke on the resolu-
/ tions, showing that Individually the interna-
| tional law recognizes no right of visitation
| in time of peace and in time of war it is only
| conceded to the extent of preventing the
| carrying of articles cOntraband of war. He
cites as authorities Judge Story and Lord
| StOwell, showing that no armed ships of any
| nationality has the right to stop, visit or
hat ~
| are not bound to lay to or wait. The reso-
| lutions indicate no more than that the time
| has arrived when this must be settled at once
| and forever. 1t is hoped that it may be
Immediately settled by the Executive. There
is every reason why it should be, and none
why it should not. Angry feelings and
| reprisals cannot but bring the two countries
into collision; but whether or not, the nature
of the indignations is such that the American
people cannot longer permit it.
Mr.. Mallory, OF Florida, proposed an amend
ment declaring that the American people
cannot permit such aggressions, and there
fore Congress should legislate to enable the
Executive to adopt measures at once to pre-
vent the continuance of such indignities.
Although fully recognizing that the mission
of the United States and England should be
the preservation of peace, he could not sacri-
flee the rights and honor of the country to
any issue whatever. He could not consider
that this succession of outrages was the mere
act of individual naval officers. 1t was
doubtless by the orders of the Admiral at
Jamaica, who in turn had orders from his
Government; and it was a suspicious circum-
stance that these outrages commenced imme-
diately after the refusal by this Government
of certain demands made by England respect
ing the slave trade.
Mr.. Douglas asked, what good does it do to
resolve that the search is belligerent act?
The American people and England know it is.
England was informed of it forty years ago,
and has violated our rights thirty-three times
within the past few weeks. He commended
and admired the promptness with which the
President has sent a force to the Gulf, but
that force is only up to the point of preven-
ting. Do you suppose ii will ever find an
opportunity to prevent a search, unless ship
of war be sent TO accompany every merchant
vessel? The Senator from New York (Seward)
was wrong in saying our force could sink the
British feet in the Gulf England has there
three guns TO our one. Is it brave, at least,
to think our one will sink her three? Mr.
Douglas recommended another course; let
ship of war-say Ne Wabash-get on the
track of the StyX or BuZZard, follow her up,
capture her, and bring her into an American
port, and it will then be time to make explain
atoms. If England avows the cruisers acts, it
becomes an international question; if she disa-
vows the acts, it only remains for us to say
what punishment we shall nfiict on those law
less persons who have perpetrated these out
RACES.
The President having gone as far as he can
go, let him have at once such powers as are
necessary to protect the flag and maintain
the rights of our citizens at home and abroad.
He had no fear of the abuse of such power,
by the present Executive, or any that may
follow him. The President is almost power
less abroad. Every other Chief Magistrate
has power, not only to repel, but punish out
RACES on nationality, and why should not the
Chief Magistrate of this Republic have power
ample and full, in aid CT our flag? Instead
of having apprehension that power would be
abused, Mr.. Douglas only feared it would not
be exercised often enough.
We cannot protect our commerce in the
Gulf and Caribbean without power in the
Executive to punish promptly the British
Her name is respected, and ours despised
among the Spanish American portion of the
Continent, because the British take instant
reparation: whereas Mexico and other weak
republics, know our President has no instant
power, and by any delay of negotiation re-
paration is lost. Mr.. Douglas holds. there
fore, as general policy, to keep the President
clothed with power TO protect our citizens
outside of the United States, by summary
yrocess, without going through this formula
do it again. He Was in hopes there would
have been no speeches, but that the bill would
have passed unanimously, without a word
which expression of sentiment would have
carried more force than the army or navy.
MIR. Hayne spoke in praise of the gallantry
OF the navy, who, he said, would go to the
bottom, and do their duty.
Mr.. Wilson was proceeding to address the
Senate, supporting the resolutions, but adding
1t was also our duty to see that our flag be
not prostituted by men engaged in the slave
trade, when the special order coming up. Mr.
w. concluded by moving that the President is
hereby authorized and empowered to employ
the naval force of the United States and send
the same to the scene of the recent outrages,
with instructions to capture the ships which
have committed or may commit belligerent
acts.
The appropriation bill was then taken up.
Kansas Intelligence,