The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-29
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH THE REPORT OF The
ATF fOMMrrrEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.


Wepublish to-day the report OF the Senate Com
ittee on Foreign Affairs in relation to the recent
outrages Of British cruisers upon our merchant
vessels in the Gulf of Florida and the coast of
Cuba Accompanying this report win be found the
resolutions Of the committee the subject distinct
ly and formally denying the right Of other nations
to visit, modest, detain" vessels bearing the
American flag and claiming them within the ju-
risdiction ri the United States That is the princi-
pie Of the maritime code Of nations. The merchant
ships of each bear with them and retain for their
government the laws and jurisdiction Of their own
: country Mr.. Webster, while Secretary OF State
discussing the rights of our flag, maintained that
where vessel was forced by stress of weather into
the port of neutral State the jurisdiction of the
United States over such vessel remained complete.
There is no safety or reason in the claim to visit
or search merchant ships sailing upon the high seas
because, independent Of the offence thereby COM
itted against the jurisdiction and authority of the
nation to which they belong and whose flag they
exhibit, it may wen be doubted whether the least
practical good would ever come of the exercise OF
such a power. The pretension set up, that Wis
iation is necessary to circumvent slave-traders
who use simulated papers and colors, especially in
reference this country, is unworthy Of the least
credit. We have given sufficient earnest of our
intention to suppress that trade; and we feel that
! to us, and not to her Masstys government, is in
trusted the duty of protecting our flag against I'M
proper use If Great Britain is sincerely anxious
to suppress the slave trade in connexion with the
island Of Cuba we suggest that the London cabinet
devise means at once by which her Catholic Maj
estys minister's at Madrid shall signify their readi
g ness, on fair terms to cede that island to the
United States. We know Of process by which
this end can be effected. Certain it is that the
British government, with their mixed commits
\ sions diplomatic remonstrances, and the spas
motic exertions Of their vesselsof-war, have made
no sensible impression upon the slave trade between
the coast Of Africa and Cuba. Then, il tits deemed
an object Of great importance to suppress that spe-
cies of piracy in the West Indies, the British gov
eminent have the strongest proof that the island of
Cuba, brought under the Jurisdiction Of the Union,
viii be the shortest and quickest process by which
purposes in this regard can be accomplished Be-
sides it will soon appear that this government will
resist any pretension to visit search our vessels
and we confidently expect the British cabinet to re
nounce all right to interfere with merchant YES
sells. If then, the latter have relied upon our sub
mission as the last hope of efficiency in suppressing
the trade, it will be good time to adopt the best
plan in the world of disposng of the whole matter
by urging the United States to purchase Cuba and
Spain to sell it. ~. l3ti.