The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-03
VOL. XII.

to press forward TO a great principle, by break
ing through other great principles which stand
in their way"
We must confess our surprise that anv ma,
ton of the American Press should assent 70
this dangerous pretension. There has been
exsggeration, it is said. Very likely perhan.
not 80 many vessels have been visited as is "a.
ported. Twenty-one well.authenticated cass.
we believe, are reported, and every arrival
brings intelligence of new outrage. Had bp,
one or two Instances happened, they ght have
been attributed to accident. The facts show
deliberate purpose, system. Can We submit
to this The pretension is, to q right 70
visit all our vessels-suspicious ones, it NAV ba
said; but who is to judge of this vague qua.
typ The British commander What circun.
stances shall constitute a Suspicious appear
ance? He must Judge. The British navy
then, may, under this pretension, stop eyerv
American vessel that any Of its officers NAV
choose to consider suspiciousl Who ia to
sit in judgment upon him /? Not the partv
whose ships are arrested for the assumution
Is, that the party arresting has the right to do
so; and if this be true, we have no right IA
complain. Perhaps we may be at liberty linn.
bly, to suggest to the British Government that
Its officers are over.zealous but tina. Govern.
ment may differ from US, and where is our r.
dress To allow such pretension, is 10
allow British vessels of war to ston and !.
tain any American vessel whatsoever.
The pretension includes the right to detaio
any vessel as long as the British commando
may think necessary Or expedent, and to az.
anime its papers. How long shall be such
such detention7 Who is to Judge? The Brit.
ish commander. he consult his own caprice
or convenience, who shall call him 10 account
The American captain may complain of IN.
reasonable delay-shall our Government Law
this humble complaint before the English Cav.
eminent? We will hear both sides, is tba
imperious answer and the British officer ran.
resenting that he did not subject the vessel 70
unreasonable delay, the complaint is dismissed.
Where is the remedy?
How shall he exercise this right of stopnaga
detention, examination? Suppose he be DRUM
and insolent; suppose he use towards the cap.
tain and crew of the vessel visited, such en-.
thets as are not quite unknown on shipboard.
what is the remedy? Who is to avengs the
aftont? How are such annoyances to be DE-.
fined, reduced to form, made the subject of com.
plant to the British Government How would
it suit the dignity of our Government to be
standing before the Throne of England as
petitioner for some kind of reblke to be ad
ministered to Commander Bobadil, because be
exercised the right of visitation on American
vessels in very ungentlemanly manner?
Suppose the American vessel, acknowIedg
ing no authority but that of its own Govern.
ment, refuse to obey the summons to stop;
may the British officer enforce the summonsg
Yes-if be has the right of visitation, he may
resort to all means necessary to lis exercise.
The vessel holding on it's course, he fires shot
across her bow. She pays no attention to it,
and he fires into her rigging; and, at last de-
termined to bring her to- he fires broadside
All this, we say, he has right to do, if he has
the right Of visitation. He has the right to
destroy our property and life. This is not all.
Suppose the American captain, standing upon
his rights, bid defiance to the British com
mander, and refuse to show his papers what is
to be done? If the cruiser has the right to
visit, for the purpose of inspecting the papers,
he may use the necessary means to make it
He may detain The vessel for an in
definite period he may order the captain I'm.
der arrest he may institute search for the
papers.
Surely the few editors who have assented to
his arrogant and dangerous pretensiou, have not
weighed deliberately the consequences which
might and would follow its recognition. If tie
English have right to visit and detain our
ships, and examine their papers, they have
tight to use force, should resistance be offered,
md to use 80 much force as is necessary to over.
come the resistance. If they may not use force
hen, the assertion of such right is an absurd
no American vessel need be stopped
detained, or examined, unless it please. The
English Government takes no such view 1t in.
ends that the pretension shall be carried out.
t asserts the right, and assumes the authority
o enforce 1t. If we concede this ground, it is
or that Government, not for US, to say hou,
chen, Dhere, and for phdt, the right shall be
xerted. Now, it may be on the coast of Africa,
hen, on our own coast. Now, it may be to ex-
mine papers, now, to see whether the object OF
he voyage be lawful, now, to arrest fugitive
now to seize British deserters or sea.
men. The manner may be most gentle and re
Pecttul, or overbearing and insolent; suasive or
oercive; but, it must not be for US to say.
Away with any such pretensionl We care
ot how, or how often, when, or where, or for
that this visitation lie to be performed, it is init
elf an abuse, incompatible with the interests OF
ommerce, violation of the equality of Inde.
endent States, an invasion of the Freedom OF
he High Seas, gross indignity to any nation
gainst which it may be attempted, and is inevi.
ably calculated to involve the world in the hci:
ors of war.
We repeat, however, let the American Gov
rnment do its whole duty. Let it be as siren
GUS tor the extinction of unlawful, as for the
rejection of lawful commerce. Let it demon.
trate by the zeal with which it hunts down
lave.trading piracy under our fag that 1t can
ympathize with all legitimate efforts on the
art of England against the slave trade, while
esisting British pretension. 1t would be dark
lot upon our Government, if, while maintaining
he great Principles necessary to the freedom
f the seas, and the independence and equality
{ Sovereign Nations, it should permit them to
ecure impunity to the slave trader and pirate.
duch can be done by the operation Of armed
aaaola an tho nnaat of A frina and Cnhn Int