The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-03
TWO CENTS.

the unwillingness Of the Americans to submit to the
execution OF those instructions which for fifteen years
they had practically carried cut and, In either
tsse what was the duty OF her Maie1ys govern
ment x she first case their duty was to regtrain
ths over-zcal Of oul tshmandefs, and IL became us,
us a great nation, to acknowic5-s and repair any
wrong that had been done. IT. on the otses hand,
the Americans unwilling to SEQ those instruc-
tons eared into effect it would be for her Majesty
goycfnient to CONCERT with the American government
such measures as might be necessary IN such case II
would never suit the purpose OF the Anerica In carry
ig OH their commerce the Chinese seas where piracy
prevailed IL otter pirate ship had taken and plundered
an American vessel and pcthaps killed the crew. she
had only hoist British flag and that nag was to pro-
tect her against examination. But as the lonorabie
gentleman had Justly sd these two great nations
having the regard for the rights Of humanity and
he fd =. Russel did not think very much consequence
to be attached TO Tie spsscbes made on this subject
in the American Congress He believed sue interest OF
those two great nations to remain united and he was
happy to e that whatever to be their decision as
to the disposition Of the rqradon it was not the nten
tion Of her Macstys government 20 deyiac from that
line of policy which had followed for 70 many
years. and which policy ws wero Justified IN continuing
Lord Palmerson suspected the excitement IN regard to
ths entrages originated with the slavctraders He also
concurrcd wh Lord John Russell in thinking it was i'm
possible to admit the naked prineipe that the hosting
Of the flag of any particular country Was TO be taken
~ unequvoca proof that the vessel belonged to the
country whose aag she hosted. It was well known that
every vessel carried for sat purposes the flags OF va
rious countries and If the simple hotrg Of the flag Of
England or the United States Of any of the .netous
South American States were to be admitted com
petc and sufficient proof Of the nationality Of the vessel
piracy of every description would roam the seas with I'm
punitf; md every country possessing mercantile navy
would soon feel tc disastrous consequences OF srch an
admission Hear hear I. He had not understood the
honorable gentleman the Under Secretary to have stated
that the government had adopted that prncpe sS the
cytent to which he had referred
The M n
listened with very great ea.seon to the observations
of the noble lord the member for Lonon and thought
that the best to the violent speeches tha had
been made in the American Senate would be the calm
and dispassonae discussion that had taken place that
evening His honorable friend, the Under Secretary, in
his statement on the part Of the government, had not
stated what he he Chancellor Of the Excheqne might
mention that without conceding the point TO when the
noble lord had just referred, and which they had not in
any way conceded, her Majestys government after
pointing out the terrible abuse Of their iaS under the
present system and that piracy OF the most hagrant
character might be committed, had invited the gov
ernment of tie United States to favor them with their
suggestions as to the mode by which steh things might
be prevented and had offered 70 take those suggestions
into consideration, and If possible, to combine with
that government in any arrangement that Ught
promise satisfactory solution of the difficulties which
both governments at present experienced They had
t yet received any answer to that proposition put
he intlisa TO believe that it would DC received
by the government Of the ttcd States in the same spirit
as it had been offered His honorable friend bad SO Ny
entered into the question: far as at present We were
masters of the details that Il not necessary nor In
deed would 1t be convenient for him te Chancellor OF
the Exchcquor to go at any length Tito the subject lie
confessed he looked forward with great confidence that
the existing misconceptions would disappear, and
that their occurrence would lead to an understand
ing upon this subject that would prevent renewal Of
them hereafter He stas sure that both the American
goverfmdnt and the American people; when they had
examined thoroughly this subject, and had paused and
pondered over all that had occurred would feel shat ii
for the advantage of both countries; and for the BEN
eft Of civilization, that there should be some clear un-
dcrstanding to the united which both govern
alarmed he not dspleased to hear that American
shps-ofwar had been sent into the Cuban waters be-
the of those vessels would themselves be wit
of what taking place there and he did not
doubt that they would act with the prOnptnsss
and fidelity they had shown other occasions, and to
which the noble lord, the member for Iiyerton, had
borne witness. There also another reason why he
took gloomy view Of our relations with the United
States however threatening they might appear 1t was
because upon all the great principles Of policy which
influenced the system Of the United States, there
between the government of that country and that Of her
Majesty generally speaking, complete accordance We
witnessed with jealousy the general expansion of the
United States did not find, in the general course of
their policy any of jealousy dstrust part
and knowing that there in general among the public
men of America sincere desire to cultivate friendly
ations with the and people of this country
he could not allow an accidental ebuon to induce him
to believe that policy founded upon deep reflection and
an intimate acquaintance with the mutual interests of the
two countries could be terminated in any way dis
urbcd by circumstances which could only be regarded
of transient nature, and which, if considered of
minatory nature assumed far serious character
than their essential merits could Justify.