The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-06

its undertakings.
MEDICATION OF OUR POSITION ON THE RIGHT
OF SEA, CHI.
The last arrival from England has brought
count of short debate in the House of Commons
touching the claim of visitation in which Mr.. Dis
rae is reported to have said that the government
of the United States had made friendly overture
that the British government should offer to the
United States plan for their consideration which
should accomplish all the objects both governments
have in view, namely, to put down the slave trade,
without producing misunderstanding
1t is probable that the remarks Of Mr. Disrae upon
this occasion imperfectly reported as the COM
mnncations which have passed between the two
governments do bear out this reference to them
The facts are briefly these: When the English cab
met repudiated the claim of right to search or
visit our vessels and abandoned the practice, they
suggested at the same time to government that
great abuses might take place from the assumption
of our flag by vessels not entitled to it, and proposed
that some plan should be agreed upon by which the
nationality of vessels might be verified, and thus
these abuses prevented. They stated, at the same
time that the French government had proposed, with
this view, that boat should be permitted to come
alongside the vessels, but should not enter unless
allowed to do SO. And our government was invited
to propose some plan which would be acceptable to
us, and at the same time provide for adequate
notification.
To this proposition it was answered, that the
American government great difficulty in the way
of reconciIing any examination with that entire
immunity of our vessels, which was 30 dear to the
American people, and had no proposition to make
upon the subject. But it was added, that if the
British government would submit any project for
that purpose, it would be fully considered by the
government of the United States. This is all that
has passed upon the subject, and here the matter
rests.
The LateAyencp of yesterday morning expressed
doubts as to whether the British government "has
finally and forever abandoned tho cherished ground
on which it predcates the moral necessity of the
right in question, when exercised in behalf of what
it called the police Of the seas As the bhliyeacer
admits that the British government has, for the pres
ent abandoned the practice of visiting vessels,
for the purpose Of identifying their nationality any
theoretical views become Of little practical Importance
Still the subject is interesting and the case should be
fully known. The claim of a right to visit our ships
with view to ascertain their national character
has been fully and completely abandoned, and as
distinctly as language admits. This was
adopted upon the opinion of the law officers of the
Crown, announced in Parliament proclaimed in the
public journals discussed through England, and Off
cialy made known to our government. In the
III Erat ~ 1,yt ,a y,,su.o
it is distinctly admitted and defended by Lord
Malmesbury, the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs and by whom the matter was arranged.
The InteYigencer refers to some remarks of Mr..
Disrael at that time, in which he would appear
to deny that this measure had been taken. We have
not that speech to advert to; but it viii be found
examination that Mr. Disraeli never made the assel-
ton. Ii
There is some mistake upon this point. The re-
port is either inaccurate, the reference made by
the Iteligsncer in the parenthesis to the right of
visit is misrepresentation It is utterly impossible
that an English statesman should have taken such
position contradcted by his colleague in the House
of Lords, and by tho most solemn and public dec
iaratons as well as by communications with another
government Mr.. Disraeli did not thus sutfy
himself And Lord Mamesbury also says upon thai
occasion that the government of France has taken
the same grounds have, and would not suffer
their vessels to be detained. This matter lies with
in narrow compass. The right to examine our YES.
sells for the purpose of ascertaining their nationa
character has been unrcservedy abandoned Tn,
British government, as We have stated, now ask on,
government to agree upon plan by which our flag
may be verified and the anticipated abuses prevent
ed Ford Malmesbury evidently thinks and rightly
that what the French propose--to wit, suffering
boat to como alongside merely--will be of very Lit
tie service. Should the United States agree to an,