The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-13

the foregoing rates.
perfect hIh and in almost exactly the wordsI have
used over and over again / have my lords, writsen
much tho subject than hope IL viii ever be
necessary for the noble earl opposite TO write The re-
suit however, that for period Of sixteen cigh
teen years the most perfect oontentnent and tranquility
prevailed until now when for the FIRST time hear Of
whnt is called British Outrage believe that this
fortunate affair has arisen from the zeal of cruisers
who whilst the coast of Africa have been accustomed
to more active measures and when transferred 20 tho
Cuban waters thought that similar system might be
adopted.
do not apprchend how the noble earl could have
given UP any such right that alluded TO- But the no.
bic earl has added that IL important some mode should
he adopted verify the nationality of any vessel ON the
There is doubt unless you can do that you
have security whatever for the preservation Of the
police of the ocean in such manner as will prevent INC
flag being assumed by all the pirates the eau
only say that the instructions framed for the eau
tious and careful exercise Of the right and If the no
Bile earl devise anything eectual for the at
tanment of Objects shall be happy to in it,
and to admit that my noble friend has done good service
But with the assistance which had in the framing OF
the instructions issued sixteen eighteen years
agohaying had the valuable advice of tho noble earl
now ut the head of the goyernment-I am disposed 10
think that If they had been completely followed they
could not have occasioned dissatisfaction to any
do not complain of the noble earl, because the sub
ect is probably TO him but those who advised him
ought TO have recolected that this subject occupied
many months Of care and attention. At the time to
much interest then IL does now, and il assumed
much more serious character. / have no intention OF
renewing discussion upon the subject and 1t Is less
necessary for to do so because my last note has re-
maincd than year unanswered, and because the
Secretary of State has declared than 70 the
British plenipotentary at Washington that the eplana
on was entirely satisfactory BY that note tho Presi
dent is assured that Great Britain will always respect
the just claims of the United States it makes pre-
tension to interfere in any manner, either by deten
ton visitation search, with the vessels of the Uni
ted States, known believed to be such; bat will
meintain their right to ascertain the genuineness of
any flag suspected vessel may carry IN the cxercisc
Of that right, If any involuntary be committed;
and If in spite of every precauton, loss OF injury is
sustained prompt reparaton will be afforded but that
we should give up the right would be impossible
think that is the way in which, in and
justice the question ought to stand and does stand Mt
this moment. am much pleased to that the noble
words myself with respect to this question and
hope that the exercise of this right maintained has
been for the last sixteen eighteen years may not lead
into any bad position If no change is made in
the Instructions If however, the noble earl can import
any real Improvement into the present system, for
shall be heartily glad f n4
Earl GRANVILLE said he had never heard the state Of
the law as laid down by his noble and learned friend
questioned had he heard that any complaint had
been made against the government with regard to their
mode of carrying it out. IT. however, any alteration
to be made he thought it was important that the
noble lord the Minister for Foreign Affairs should stats
strlctons until the communications with the American
government concluded.
The Earl Of MAIMEsBuRY replied My lords, the noblo
earl who spoke last but one, omitted the very important
point which has been extremely prominently put forward
in the whole Of discussions with the government OF
the United States The noble carl assumed that tho law
such as that laid down by my noble friend behind
but he has not said that the American government
went further than that and conended that they nonc
had right to maintain their police, and whatever
idea had If the American flag flying on board Of
vessel, had no right to visit search her They
have consistently maintained that they would carry
out their police, and would be medded with by no
othe country whatever The only difficulty seems to be
the discretion which the officers should exercise. am
quite willing to admit that they acting under their
orders but one thing seems clear, that when her
Maestys government entered Office there appeared TO
be very much increased activity among cruisers The
accounts given by the American government have, no
doubt, been immensely exaggerated and can state in
vindcaton Of the British officers, that after careful
animation have not found, in any instance that they
have been guilty of any incivty to the officers of the
vessels they boarded In the of vessel the dis
erection which given them by the instructions of the
noble earl opposite certainly went to the extent OF search
ing the vessel and they had to suppose that
they were acting improperly in so doing My noble
friend opposite has asked whether Ihave altered those
instructions. My reply is, ] have not. They remain
precisely they Those instructions perhaps might
be improved in such q manner not to expose Off
GERS so much they do to the risk of making mis-
takes Looking at the question in an international
point of view have, without altering the instructions,
s,spended them until the negotiation proceeds further,
and have issued orders to cruisers on that coast to respect
Che American flag under any circumstances. America,
ON her mart placed number Of cruisers In those waters
and promised to use possible cndeayos TO prevent her
flag being used for the purposes OF the slave trade.
[Cheers
The subject was then dropped.