The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-18

confined unscund cargoes oil western mixed Al Coo.
roc Prime sound sold ct SOC, aud lOt 900 ashels)
Of prime round yellow ct slo No sound Sou shem white
or yellow was offering Pork steady with sales OF
mess at SIC rs sl7the latter figure for extra Gear
ess was and quiet at SIS 49, Thin was at SIS 20
and prime sold at $lS Is Beef was firm. Cut meats
more active, with purchasers especially Of hams)
for shipment TO California. Sugars were quite active aud
frm while the salcs embraced about 1900 hhds and 900
boxes 1t full prices The sales Of the week closed an
advance Of about Nc per h. Frsights hrm esps.
c'ay TO English ports while engagements moderate
Blitish Assurance and British Assurance.
1t is announced that the government have
informed Lord Malmesbury that it will not pro-
pose any plan for ascertaining the nationality
of vessels at sea-" or, in other words modi-
flying the universally admitted Law of nations
on the subject of the right of search in time of
peace, but that it will be glad to receive any
suggestions England may have to make
This is, in plain words. declnation to treat
on this question; and in declining to do SO the
government has done perfectly right. Every
time we have made any negotiation with Eng
land there has been some hitch in it that has led
to irritation and subsequent difficulty. The
treaty of peace in 1888 had twenty such, which
We need not euumerate; the treaty of amity in
1894 tried to settle many of them, and did SO
in part, with the aid of four subsequent ex-
plaDatory articles, and new convention in
1902; but her conduct under these led to the
war of 1872. Then came the treaty of Client,
under which nothing was settled; then we had
series Of negotiations about the lake naval
forces and trade, 1877 the boundary question
and fisheries 1918; slaves carried of, 1922; ar
bitration Of Maine boundary, 1927; after that
came the boundary, slave trade and extradition
treaty of 1912, with its causes of mutual
complaint; and, finally, the Clayton-Bul-
wer trick in 1S49 1t is now proposed
to hatch up some new imbroglio about
the right of search. Each of cur formal
treaties with England has led to war, or so
nearly to one that it is a wonder we escaped.
1t is wisdom, therefore, to decline negotiations
with her on these great points. Our plain path
is to make up our minds as nation as to what
course is right and just for US to pursue, and
then to follow it, regardless Of England or any
other Power.
This is the only course We can pursue in the
question Of the right of search. That question
may be adjourned for years; but it is not set
tied. The only way in which it could have
been explicitly and finally settled was by the
capture of the Styx when the recent outrages
first occurred, and showing to England that we
were in earnest In this matter. Now, the result
will probably be that which one of our naval
correspondents detailed recently: when Com
mander Kellett, of the British gunboat feet,
was asked what would probably be done with
the officer in command of the Styx, he replied,
abe will be ordered home and promoted" And
there is no reason to doubt that such will be
the result. Mr.. Champion was recalled and
made Baronet Of for insulting US and after
little delay put in fat Office again.
But il will be seen, from the letter Of our
Havana correspondent published yesterday, that
the position which the right Of search question has
assumed is precisely that which we have claim
ed to be the position of Lord Malmesbury in
interpreting General Cass' letter Of the 10th Of
April. II we accept that Interpretation we
yield to England the right to search our yes
sels provided the act be performed after the
which IL viii be seen has been recently pursued
by her Britannia Msjesty's gunboat Skipiack,
in demanding the papers Of two American YES
sells OIL the south coast Of Cuba. The master OF
one OF these II will be seen, exhibited his
papers to the British officer, but the master of
the other refused to do so. So far as we can
learn the course Of each was equally satisfac-
tory to the officer, as the Skipack went of in
both instances about her business No one,
however will be disposed TO accept this double
dealing system as the ground of final settle
ment Of the right Of the right Of search ques
ton.
As for the recent discussion in the British
Parliament, II il anything but conciliatory to
us; and the policy IL exposes, in the confessions
Of Lord Malmesbury about Spain, is anything
but lattering. This British Minister acknow-
lodges that England has always endeayored to
prevent any agreement on the part of Spain by
which she might be induced to part with Cuba.
BY this we may measure the honesty Of the pro-
fessons of England's statesmen. Cuba is the only
country where the African slave trade Is con-
nived at by the government. In their professed
desire to stop the trade, they claim right to
search every vessel at sea; that other nations
that the law of nations shall be altered; and
that, in fact, the boatswain's pipe Of every navy
shall be set TO the air of Britannia rules the
waves" Yet the transfer Of Cuba to the Ame-
rican IJnion which would sion nj the Same time