The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-06-03
"British On,ragcs upon American
Vessels"

taken up and it the article is read through and
believed ono would he convinced that Old Mother
England was disposed to give her truant child a
severe "spanking,' and that our national honor
had been materially damaged
II is one thing to write windy articles founded
on imaginary oulragcs, and quite another thing TO
state the facts. We prefer to pursue the latter
course, aud let the responsibility rest where il
properly belongs.
The laws of England and America declare the
African Slave Trade piracy, aud those engaged in
it, when arrested and convicted, arc punished ns
pirates 1t is the duty Of the vessels belonging
TO both governments TO be vigilant in their efforts
to detect and capture pirate vessels.
Recently, the Southern States have been making
every effort TO revive the Slave Trade, and the
southern newspapers have not hcsitatod to chroni-
Gle the arrivals OF corgocs Of Africans at southern
ports. The esomc papers have concndod that Con
grcss have no rghl TO interfere with their trade in
human beings aud therefore the law making the
Slave Trade Piracy, was null aul void. This po-
sitlon has been taken in Congress, and some of is
advocates have declared that Congress could not
favorable influence Of the present administration
the African Slave Trade has been cncctually re-
yivcd and several cargoo5 Of negroes have been
landed and sold III southern States. The law pro
hibHing it has not been enforced.
These facts were observed by the British gov
cnmcnt, and her cruisers were charged to give the
matter their special attention, and as lar az posi-
bic detect aud arrest the guilty parties, They
have consequently required every vessel which they
have met, TO which they could attach the slight
est suspicion, to show her papers Some have re-
cCuscd to comply with this demand until they were
fired into aud brought to. Perhaps the cruisers
have in some instances been governed by less
politcucss than ought to characterizo their con.
duct, but the general principle We believe has
been right and proper.
The Charleston Is, O. Mercury now before
"a, contains an able editorial in which it is con.
tended that the action of the British cruisers is
right SO long US our laws make the Slave Trade II
praticul business. The editor advocates the re-
peal of the law us the only proper remedy. ln
this we would not agree with him. but prefer to
favor its rigid enforcement The Mercury says
We see it stated in the papers that the ground
ol defence ON the part ol the British cruisers for
lOrclbly Overhauling our coasters IN the Gull of
Mexico, is, tina! they are only looking out for
pirates that, as by law OF The United ST, tes,
II Is rendered piracy for any citizen of the Uni
ted States, to Drlng slaves into the United States
;hcy take our coasters into their philanthropic
aud imperial supervision, aud propose to protect
US from the pirates who may bring slaves into
| Ia, nj Inv In h;.,h
seas, and hanging them III Jamaica Here,
again, we see the humilatins position in which
the United States are put by our absurd legiSla-
ton with respect To the African slave trade. AS
u pirate is hOStiS humdH9 geHeriS," no cruiser
OF any nation, it Is supposed, can be blamed for
asCertainng by force whether a vessel is pirate
or not Hence the cruisers of every nation in
the world have right to come upon our coast
and overhaul every vessel which they think
proper to suspect OF being engaged in the ACri-
can slave tradc--the laws of the United States
declaring them to be pirates.
Our readers will perceive that this is a very
different ground for interference from that which
has been assumed on the coast OF Africa. Great
Britain claimed right Of violation Of Ameri,
cun vessels on the coast of Africa, simply to as
certain whether the vessel was American or not
Such II vessel, carrying slaves to Cuba or Brazil
was not pirate. She was merely engaged in an
Illicit trade. To bring slaves into The United
States only, is piracy. The ground now MS
sumed is, that slaves are being imported from
Africa Into the United States aud this, by on,
laws, being piracy, British cruisers have righ
TO detect the piracy aud suppress it. Hence q
British naval police, by our own laws, is created
over the coasts of the United States. This j;
the position.
Now, in all frOnknesss, we must confess th0
there is great force in this position, ir assumel
by Great Britain, There is no question that th,
cruisers ot every nation under the sun have
right to S. ilo ON The high seas aud condemn
pirates in any port in the world Pirates belon9
to no nation, All nations are intereS ed to de
stroy them, and the flag of no nation can pro
tcct them. Hence Il is right, as it is the duty
OF the cruisers Of all nations to ascertain wheth
er vessel on the high seas Is pirate or not
As all vessels on our coast bringing slaves int,
the United States are pirates by the laws OF til,
United States, why should not British cruiser
ascertain by search and examinations whethe
they are pirates or uot2 This is the position
aud it is not without strength. The fault is il
our laws, declaring that to to piracy, which, b.
the decisions OF the courts of Great Britaii
herself is perfectly consistent with the laws o
nations, The African slave trade, in no sense
can be piracy.
One OF two things, it is plain must be done
il we would preserve our scll respect or righttu
t position amongst the nations of the earth. w
must either deny the right OF foreign nations t
boarl II vessel sailing under the flag of the I'm
ted States, even h. assertion whether she is
G pirate or not, or we must repeal the law maxim
{ The African slave trade with the United State
2 piracy. Ii we admit that the cruisers OF lorcjg
e nations may board an American vessel 10 osce
tain whether she Is pirot', and continue OF
r. law making tn slave trade piracy, then we mu;
submit To foreign nations having on oar cons
G aud in our seas, naval police, with limitles
, pow, OF harrasSment aud tyranny. As Grea
Btitan anl France have practically revived Il
il African slave trade, our proper course is to T,
. Ipeal the law making tn slave trace piracy, an
thus take from Ggtat Britain the rlShI Of in'e
s. f,rng in any way with our ships ON the hig
y seas, II sh, then preSumeS to eX rcjse a rigl
e o, search over th'pl, 1T us once more so TO W