Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-31
K.por, on the Alleged British ou,r.g.s.

Report on the Alleged British Outrages.
10 the Senate on Friday. Mr.. Mason from
the committee on foreign relations, TO whom
was referred the resolution inquring whether
additional legislation was necessary to place
power in the bands of the President, submit
ted a report, of which the substance is that
off .ial statements show succession OF acts
of aggression by British cruisers 10 the Gulf
Mexico of 81 marked and extraordinary as has
awakened the indignation of the county
Vessels under our flag, pursuing Lawful com.
merce have been fired into and stopped, aud
Intercepted as 10 their cargo, destination,
crew, &c. No less than fifteen American
ships in the harbor Of Sagua la Grande, and
six on the high seas. officially reported, each
arrival bringing additional aggressions OF
! the same power on our flag.
! 1t has hitherto happened 10 isolated cases
where similar aggressions have occurred
through misconception, the United States
! has been conten,ed to await q disclaimer
/ Of intent. but the continued and perseyerDg
character Of these outrages Ii such as 10
| arouse the indignation Of the country and to
require US 10 arrest at once, aud 10 end at
once and for ever the continuance OF such
! iudignities.
The slave trade is alleged as the excuse,
but this the committee will not discuss. The
| United States, though often Invoked, refuses
to recognize the right OF pollce-they rest
upon the principle that the marine under
our flag cannot be visited OF questioned with
out their consent, and the committee deem
this a fit occasion to declare it as a prin-
clple of the United States, admitting of
10
tanned at any cost. They admit Of no right
Of visitation, far lees Of search. Such have
no foundation 10 law or country, and cannot
be tolerated by any sovereign power without
the derogation Of her sovereignty.
The infraction Of sovereignty consists In
the visitation. The best American and EGG
lish authorities, Stowell, for instance, so de-
eide, founding their views on two principles
first the equality Of all independent States
secondly, the comfy of the sea as high.
way.
Indignant as the American people are and
ought 10 be at these aggressions, yet their
occurrence will afford an opportunity to end
/ them at once and forever, aud the committee
refrain from recommending further legIsia.
| tiUn only for the reason that the President
! has already ordered all the available navy t.
! the infested waters with orders to protect our
/ flag,
! IL is believed that this measure will be SER
vceable for the present 10 stopping the out
RACES The sui ect has also been brought to
the notice OF the offending power both through
our minister at London, aud their minister at
/ Washington. The committee cannot. there
| fore, until reply is received from Great Bril-
tain, decide on measures that will be . guar
snty for the tuture--fOr nothing short of that
will satisfy the American people.
| The committee, therefore, while refrsning
from recommending any present Legislation,
| have unanimously
| ReS0iCed, That American ships at sea, IN
! der our flag, remain under the jurisd ction e
the country to which they belong, aud there
! fore that any visitation or mo!estation is an
iofraCtion Of the sovereignty Of the United
! States
ReSOlced That these sggressions demand
such unequivucal explanation as shall pre-
vent their recurrence forever in the future
RGS0Ipcd, That the committee approves of
the action Of the Executive, and are prepared
to recommend such future Legislation as cir
cumstunces may require.