Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-29
sTAUnToN A1G11sTA Comfy VIRGINIA, MAY 20, 1858.
Search and Seizure OF American Yes

i Search and Seizure OF American YES
800 &C., sells.
The President has transmitted to thu
Senate, in response to q resolution Of that
body, several official papers, relating to .
subject that is now engrossing attention
throughout the country. The report ofthe
Secretary Of State to tire President is as
follows
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
| w ashington, 18th May, 1853 !
| SIR: Since my despatch No. lob, of the
18th instant, various statements have been
made in the public papers, showing other
cases Of the forcisle detention and search Of
American vessels by British armed ships
of-war ID the Gulf Of Mexico and IN the ad
jacent seas. In every case where these re-
ports have come to tie knowledge OF this
Department, application has been made i'm
mediately to the proper collector to procure
from the captain q particular account oft
outrage with view to make it the subject
Of reclamation upon the British govern
ment. Answers to some eff these applioa-
tons have been received, and copies OF
them, agreeably to the annexed list, are
herewith transmitted, for your information,
as well as for your prompt action When
| others are received, you shall, in like man.
ner, be furnished With copies, that you may
be kept advised Of the progress Of these as
saElts upon cur national rights.
In addition to these aggressions upon the
high seas, another iadcfensible act of vio-
lepoe against several Of our merchant yes
sells, said to be eleven IN number, By fer
chile entry and examination, has been com
mitted by British armed steamer, in the
harbor Of Sagua la Grandc, in the Island Of
Cuba. The statements il the public jour
nails contain the details Of this transaction,
but no authentic report On the subject las
yet reached the Department, with the ex-
ception Of q letter from the Consul General
Of the United States at Havana, Of which |
transmit you a copy. Proper measures
have been taken to procure all the necessa~
ny information, which will be forwarded to
you as soon as it reaches here. When all
| the facts are ascertained, proper represen-
tations will be made, without delay, to TIE
government Of Her Catholic Majesty a.
gainsb this search Of American vessels BY
| the naval force Of another power within tie
territorial Jurisdiction Of Spain Tile Uni
ted States are satisfied that the government
Of that country will adopt the most efficient
| measures 10 protect their vessels resortsng
to the Spanish ports from lawless violence.
| Such protection they are entitled to, and If
it is not found elsewhere, it must be found
! in the power Of their own country, I am
not informed whether any injury was sus-
ltained ii consequence Of the proceedings
against these vessels. If there were, it will
be expected that It be made good by the
| Spanish government irsel1, or by means 81
its interposition with the government Of
Great Britain.
These fragrant violations Of the rights of
| the United States have excited a deep feel
| ing through the country, and have attrac-
ted the attention Of both houses Of Con-
gress. Their continuance cannot fail to
produce the most serious effects upon the
relations Of the two countries. The Presi-
dent confidently believes that the British
naval officers, in theadoption of these high
handed measures, have acted without the
| authority, and have misunderstood the
! views, Of their government. But it is not
the less due to the United States that their
conduct should be disayoyed. and peremp-
tory orders Issued to prevent the recurrence
of similar proceedings hereafter. You will
communicate to the Earl Of Malmesbury the
earnest expectation Of the President that
! this subject should receive the immediate
atteptiea Of her Britannia Majesty's gov
eminent, and that the officers who have
been guilty Of these outrages should he held
properly responsible for their conduct, and
that, where peeuniary injuries have been
suffered, the interested parties should re-
ceiye just compensation.
You will also invite the particular atten-
ton of Lord Malmesbury to the occurren-
ces at Sagua la Grande, and to the just ex-
pectations Of the United States tkat the
measures Of redress adopted By tie British
government upon this occasion will be such
as to mark with its displeaSure the conduct
Of the officer whose proceedings have given
serious cause Of offence to friendly pow
er, and to prevent a similar interference
hereafter.
| am, sir, respectfully,
! your obed;ent servant,
! LEWIS CASS.
| GEoaGE NJ. DALLAS, ESQ, &C., &C., &C.,
| General Cass, on the 18th instant, in
lstructs Mr. Dallas, our minister at London,
to call the attention Of the British govern.
ment to the aggreaaions complained Of.
The letter is as follews;
! The accompanying papers, copies Of The
originals of which have just been received
will make known to you another outrage
eommitted against the rights Of the United
Estates by British armed vessel, which
calls for the immediate attention Of ths
British government.
Il am persuaded that, if the occurrences
took place as they are stated, the conduct
Of the British officer will be disavowed and
condemned.
i Il beg you would communicate to Lore
Malmesbury the earnest desire Of the Pres
Iident that this practice, which seems to be.
come more prevalent, Of OBTAINING ant
searching American vessels, should be dis
continued and that the most peremptor,
order for shat purpose sho4ld be given and
o,foroad Such o meas r,ra Ia ca1lod for ~