The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-20
SEARCH .4aD SEIZURE or 4MERle AN VESs
"a MsELs

u MtSELS. WiI
The President kts6 yesterday Ia the Senate, in
response to t5tado pf Nat boy asseral official pa
pers relating subjecs engossin attention
throughout the country The report Of the Secretary
State to the President is as follows o
DErARralNr on STATE
Washington, 18th May, 1855
sm Since my despatch No 1893 Of the Isth instant,
various have been made IN the public papers
showing other OF the focibe detention and search
Of American vessels by British armed ships ofwar in the
Gull VI Msxco and ia the adjacent sms In every case
whore these reports have " the OF this
DapaEtmeRt, application has been made Immediately TO
the proper collector procure from the captain paTc
ular account Of the outrage with view make IT the
subject OF reclamation upon the Bstsh government
Answers 70 vi these Applications have been received
and copies of them, agocaby to the annexed list
herewith ansmitted for your Information, we'll for
your prompt action. When Others received, you
shall like manner be furnished with copies, that you
may be kept advised of the progress OF these assaults upon
our national rights. . nfsgals7 fRLSiE IA
In addition these aggrcssons upon the high seas
another indeensbe act of violence against several of
merchant vessels said 10 be eleven ia nnbcr by forc
BILE entry and examination has been committed by n
British armed steamer in the harbor of Sagaa Ia, Grande
in the Island of Cuba. The statements in the public
journals contain the details OF this transaction but no
authentic report the subject has yet reached the De-
partent with the exception of letter from the Consul
General of the United States at Havana, of which trans
nit you copy Proper have been taken to
procure oil the necessary information which will be for
warded to you it reaches here When all the
facts ascertaned proper representations will be made
without delay to the Of Her Catholic Majesty
against this search Of American vessels the
another power within the territorial jurisdiction of Spain
The United States satisfied that the government of
that country will adopt the most efficient to
protect their vessels resorng to the Spanish ports
awless violence Such protection they are entitled to-
and if it is not found elsewhere it must be found in the
power of their country. am not informed whether
any injury sustained in consequence OF the proceed
ngs against these vessels If there wcTe it will be
pected that 1t be made good by the Spanish
ITSELF by of its interposition with the govern
ment of Great Britain.
These fragrant violations of the rights Of the United
States have excited deep feeling through the country
and have atrasted the attention of both houses Of Con-
gess Their continuance cannot fail to produce the
serious effects upon the relations of the two countries
The President confidently believes that the British naval
officers, in the adoption of these high banded
have acted without the authority and have msunder-
stood the views of their government But it is not the
less due to the United States that their conduct should be
davowed and percmptory orders issued to prevent the
recurrence of similar proceedings hereafter You will
communicate to the Earl of Malmesbury the ex
peotation Of the President that this subject should
the immediate attention of her Britannia Majestys gov
ernment and that the officers who have been guilty of
these outrages should be held properly responsible for
their conduct and that where pecunay injuries have
suffered the interested parties should receive just
pensation. #tay
You Will Also invite tine particular attention OF Lord
Mamesbury to the at Sagua la Grande and
to the just expectations of the United States that the
of redress adopted by the British government
upon this occasion will he such to mark with its ds-
pleasure the conduct of the officer whose proceedings
have given serious Of offence to friendly power,
and to prevent similar interference hereafter
] am, sir, respectfully, your ohedient servant
LEW. CASS.
GEoRcE NJ. DALLAS, Esq, &C., &C. &C.
A report from the Secretary of the Navy dated the
fo4i.:. .
Lieut. Amy commanding, has been ordered to cruise on
the north side Of the coast Of Cuba such other por.
tons may be deemed Necessary for tie protection Of
American vessels on the high from search OF deen-
ton by the vesselsofwar Of any other nation Orders
have also been given for the immediate preparation of
soop Savannah ut New York, and the brig Dol
phin at Boston, to join the home squadron the pur-
pose of cruising in the neghborhocd Of Cuba and the
steam frigate Wabash, fitting out at New York as
the agship of the Mediterranean squadron has been
directed route to show her flag in those waters and to
protect at all times the persons and property of American
citizens. Es.s AZ 4. k3 WI
General Cass, the l2th instant instructs Mr. Dali
las minister at London, to call the attention of the
British government to the aggressions complained Of
The letter is as follows:
1.-The accompanying papers, copies of the originals
of which have vst been received, will make known to
you another outrage committed against the rights of the
United States by British armed vessel which calls for
the immediate attention of the British government
81 persuaded that If the took place as
they stated, the conduct of the British officer will he
disavowed and condemned. m as es
=. beg you would communicate to Lord Malmesbuy the
earnest desire of the PRESIDENT that this practice which
TO become prevalent OF OBTAINING and search
ing American vessels should he discontinued, and that
the most percmptory order for that purpose should be
given and enforced Such is called for by
important conscientious, which will readily occur to
you. While this government is determined to use all
proper exertons for the suppression of the slave trade
is not less DESTROYS that the just immunity of the vessels
of the United States upon the should be
Whatever may have been the true objects Of the voyage
OF the Corez, If she had papers showing her American
character, she subject neither to search nor capture
by the British cruiser do not doubt but the facts re-
ported will be fully Investigated by order Of the British
government, and proper taken TO prevent the
recurrence Of a similar act hereafter.
~ call your attention, also, to the circumstances re-
ported by the consul general at Havana showing the
stence of kind of police system by which American
sells in that port watched and inertered with and
have to request that you will bring the matter 10 the at
ention Of the Earl of hamesbury with view to the
correction Of the evil ss