The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-21
PRICE TWO CENTS
ihE VISITATION AND SEARCH OF AMERI-
cAN FESSELS-OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

ton heretofore adopted. The most interestinc
All ;s inh .Ien note to Lord Napier, dated May
70 tbn la4au Cass says, that in his letter
" le atter OF the 10th ult, he alluded to the state
ments then appearing in the public journals that y
merchant vessel of the United States the N. b. Bor
den, had been fired at and boarded by British YES
sci OF war, the Styx, off the coast of Cuba and had
| informed him that he had received no official in
formation upon the subject and therefore could saw
nothing as to the truth of the report but that he
| had taken measures to ascertain whether sncb ~
occurrence had taken place.
He has transmitted to his lordship the COPY of n
letter from the Collector of Customs at Savannah
enclosing the statement of the captain of the n b.
Borden, by which it appears that an unjustifable
act OF violence had been committed against mer-
chant vessel of the United States to which the at
tention OF her majesty's government is requested
IN confident expectation that the act will be disa-
vowed ana such measures adopted as are called
ior by the circumstances as will tend to prevent
the recurrence OF similar proceedings hereafter.
Lord Napier replies, on May 10th, that he had the
honor to receive MIR. Cass letter, conveying an ac
count 81 the circumstances which 90 allaGad @ 70
N B. Borden by her MaEiestys " steamer Stvx. He
says he has transmitted copies of Mr.. Cass commu-
nication to her Majesty's government, and to the
Commander n-chief of her Majestys forces on the
West Indies station.
Mr.. Cass writes to Mr.. Dallas, on May 18th, as
follows:
Sir-The accompanying papers, copies of the
originals, which have just been received, will make
mitted against the rights of the United States by
British armed vessel which calls for the immediate
attention of the British government. / am per-
suaded to believe that if the occurrences took place
as they stated, the conduct of the British Off
GERS will be disavowed and condemned. | beg YOU
would communicate to Lord Malmesbury, the ear
nest desire of the President that this practice which
seems to become more prevalent, of OBTAINING and
searching American vessels, should be discontinued,
and the most peremptory order for that purpose
should be given and enforced.
Such measure is called for by important
sderations, which will readily occur to you. While
this government is determined to use all proper
ertions for the suppression of the slave trade, it is
not less desrOus that the just mmunities of the
sells OF the United States upon the ocean, should be
preserved. Whatever may have been the true OBJ
Jects OF the voyage OF the Corez, if she had papers
stating her American character she was subject
neither to search nor capture by the British crus-
er. do not doubt, that the facts reported will
be fully investigated by order of the British gov
ernment and proper measures taken to prevent the
recurrence of a similar act hereafter.
call your attention also to the circumstances
ported by the Consul General at Havana, showing
the existence of kind of police system by which
American vessels in that port are watched and in
terfered with, and have to request that you bring
the matter to the attention of the Earl of Malmes-
bury, with view to the correction of the evil.
| Mr.. Cass in letter to Secretary TOucey, dated
May 18th, communicates the statement of the Con
sui General at Havana, relative to aggressive out
| RACES recently committed against a vessel of the
United States He adds that he is firmly persuaded
that the British government will not justify these
acts and that it is possible that the proceedings in
this case may not have been of the fragrant charac
| ter presented Still the subject calls for
| the immediate attention of the govern
ment, and Mr.. Dallas has been instructed
to bring it to the consideration of the British
government with view to such action the cir
cumstances demand. Outrages ofthis nature against
our vessels, ifonger continued cannot fail to lead
to most unpleasant consequences 1t appears that
several British armed vessels are cruising on the
coast of Cuba and that merchant vessels are
posed to vexatious interruption by their interter
1t is therefore proper that a vessel should be
dispatched with instructions to render prompt pro
lection to all American vessels that may need it
The forcibe search by cruisers of that power the
| high seas, cannot he tolerated
The Secretary of the Navy wrote to the President
on the 18th of May, that the steamer Fulton, Capt
Almy, had been ordered to cruise actively on the
northern coast of Cuba, and take such measures
may be deemed necessary to protect all vessels of
| the United States on the high from search
| detention from the vessels of war of any other
| ton. Orders have been given for the preparation
| of the razee Savannah, and the brig Dolphin to
join the home squadron for the purpose of cruising
in the neighborhOod of Cuba; and the steam frigae
Wabash. now fitting out at New York, the flag
ship of the Mediterranean squadron has been di-
rected to show her flag in these quarters, and pro
tect at all times the persons and property of Amer
lean citizens.
Mr.. Cass, writing to Mr.. Dallas on the 18th of
May, informs him that various statements have been
| made in the public papers, showing that there
of forcible detentions and searches of Ameri
can vessels, by British armed ships-ofwar in the
Gulf of Mexico and the adjoining seas.
In every case where these reports have come to
the knowledge of the State Department, applica-
| tiOn has been Immediately made to the proper col
lectOr to procure from the captain of the vessel
particular account of the outrage, with view to
| make it the subject of reclamation upon the Brit
| ish Government The answer to some of these pub
locations have been received, and copies of them,
agreeable to the annexed list, are herewith trans
|
prompt action. Y0u shall be kept advised OF the
progress of these assaults on our national rights.
In addition to these aggressOns on the high seas,
and the ndeensible acts of violence against several
of our merchant vessels-said to be eleven in num-
ber-a fOrcible entry and examination has been
committed by British armed steamer in the har-
Dor of Sagua la Grande, in the Island of Cuba. No
| authentic report has reached the department with
the exception of letter from our Consul General at
| Havana, and of which copy is transmitted proper
measures have been taken to procure all the neces
sary information, which will be forwarded to you.
When all the facts are ascertaned, the proper re
presentations will be made, without delay, to the
government of her Catholic Majesty, against this
search of American vessels by the naval force of
another power, within the territorial jurisdiction of
Spain. The government of the United States is sat
istied that the government of that country will
adopt the most efficient measures to protect their
vessels resortng to Spanish ports from lawless yio
ence. Such protection they entitled to, and II
it is not secured elsewhere it must be found in the
power of our own country.
| Mr.. Cass says he is not informed whether any
injury was sustained in consequence of the proceed
ings against those vessels. If there it is ex-
pected that it will be made good by the Spanish
government or by means of its interp0sition with
the government of Great Britain. These fragrant
violations of the laws of the United States, he
adds have excited a deep feeling throughout the
country, and have attracted the attention OF both
houses Of Congress. Their continuance cannot fail
to produce the most serious effects upon the rela-
tions of the two countries.
The President confidently believes that the Brit
ish naval officers, in the adoption of these high
handed measures, have acted without the authori-
ty, and have misunderstood the views of their gov
ernment. But it is not the less due to the United
States that their conduct shall be disavOwed, and
peremptory orders issued to prevent the recurrence
of similar proceedings. You will communicate to
the Earl of Malemsbury the reasonable expectation
of the President that this subject shall receive the
immediate attention of Her Britanc Majesty's gov
ernment and that the officers who have been guilty
Of these outrages shall be held properly responsible
for their conduct and that where pecuniary inu
ries have been sustained the interested parties shall
receive Just compensation. You will invite the par
ticular attention of Lord Malemsbury to the
renee at Sagua la Grande, and to the Just ex
pectation of the United States that the measure O.
redress adopted by the British government upor
this case will be such as to mark with its displeas
= ure the conduct of the officer whose proceeding
have given serious cause of offence to friendl,
power; and to prevent similar interference here
: after.
: Mr., Blythe, the Consul General at Havana com
municates to the State Department, under date OF
April 29th, statement of the capture of the schoon
4 er Cortez, of New York, by the British gunboa
Forward, on or about the 18th of April, about hal
5 way between Havana and Matanzas. He says that
: for some time past, number of British gunboat
and large vessels have been active in cruising 70
slaves on the north and south side of the island
I Many complaints have been made by the American
shipmasters that espionage has been exercised owe
their vessels, both annoying and insulting in 1T
character. The American brig A. A. Chapman
n trading to New Orleans, was thus annoyed on hel
last visit to Havana. Her commander complained
and expressed his fears of being pursued and board
/ ed.
3 Similar complaints were made few days afte
g by Mr. Simpson, the captain of the Brownsville, il
&C the same trade. Samuel ubersham OF the bsrqu
l. Glenburn. of Richmond complained that he wa
stopped on the 18th of April by the British steame