Polynesian., 1858-07-24

suppressed, and our laws and treaties promise
our cooperation to effect its suppression. But
the rights of American seamen are n subject of
paramount Importance, and must be maintained
first of all. The country went to war with Great
Britain In 1872, to maintain them, and would not
hesitate, if necessary, to do so again.
While there is no doubt that our government
will take prompt and decided action to put an end
to these interruptions of our lawful commerce, it
will also use its best endeavOrs to suppress the
slave trade, for 1t is well known that it is carried
on principally under the American flag. But un-
der the Webster -Ashburton Treaty of l842, great
and frequent difficulty is liable to arise from the
underlined relations of the various parties to the
attempted suppression of the traffic by naval
force. The right Of visit is so nearly the right of
search, that it is liable to great abuse and for this
it has been stOutly resisted by our govern
ment, and particularly by Mr.. Webster, in his eel
ebrated negotiations on this point. But he failed
to define the precise course which should be fol-
lowed, in order to render the force available which
was agreed to be kept on the for the suppress
sion of the slave trade. That force is in constant
danger of falling into nullty; and if mistaken
challenge, made on probable grounds, is to be
causuS belli, there be nothing done by Ameri-
can or British cruisers. and both may better be
withdrawn. The government should at once define
the precise duty of master of vessel, if posi-
tive line Of duty must be determined for him, or
how far courtesy should go As it now stands,
the master clearly has right to hold his colors
inviulable, and n make the author of forcibe
detention responsible for personal damages, as well
as for a national apology. The captor of q vessel
takes her at his peril, and the rights of the par
ties so lily defined by the practical interpreta-
tiOn of the treaty, that the only wonder is that
savers are taken at all.
The course of the British war vessels has been
evidently misudged to say the least, and it must
at once be settled that American vessels prOsecut-
ing 4 lawful commerce on the high seas, under the
flag of their country, are not responsible for the
lawful abuse the unlawful use of that flag by
others nor can they rghtfully, on account of any
such alleged abuses, be interrupted, mOlested, or
detained, while on the ocean, and if thus moested
or detained while pursuing honest voyages in the
usual way and violating no law themselves, they
suffer wrong which will not be tolerated. Di-
rectiOns have been issued by the Executive to the
Collectors to promptly report all cases Of vista
ton and search to the government and orders have
been despatched to prepare reinfOrcements for the
Home Squadron.-N Y. Shipping Last.
War Movements i'm New Orleans.
New ORLEANS, May 2Sth. In the Common
Council resolutions have been read authorizing the
Mayor to equip and send an armed vessel against
the British cruisers. A meeting has been called
at the Arcade for tomorrow to take into consdera-
tion the sending of an armed vessel to the Gulf
A great indignation meeting was held at the
Arcade to-day, at which 5000 people were present.
Gen. Palfrey was called to the chair, and after
several eloquent speeches, resolutions were adopt
ed, recommending every vessel to arm and equip
before leaving this port, and to offer every resist
ance possible to the British cruisers. Great en-
thusiasm was displayed
The Movement ofthe People in New Orleans.
An Extra from the office of the True Delta dated
June the 4th. at o'clock P. NJ, has the follow
g sHn- e 10
that city, to rid themselves of the rule of rutiian
ism.
Law AND ORDER TRIUMPHAST-THE VIGILANCE
Committee LEGALIzED.-The people of New Or
leans may breathe freer. Mayor Waterman and
Major General Lewis became convinced this morn
ing that the people, heart and hand, were with the
Vigilance Committee. Not regular volunteer or
militia man responded to the order of Major Gen
eral Lewis, which was published in the morning
papers. The Major found none but lawless rab-
bic, scant at that, ready to oppose the forces OF
the Vigilance Committee
TIE CONCLUSION OF MAYOR WATERMAN AND
GENERAL LEwIs.-These officers wisely concluded
that as the Vigilance Committee, backed by the
people, could not be put down, and would not dis
band until their Just purposes were accomplished,
1t would be best to affiliate with them the peo
pie had already done, by coming to good under
standing with them.
CONFERENCE ENsUEs.-A conference was
then proposed by Major Waterman and General
Lewis. They met the Executive Council of the
Committee, therefore, at Fort Vigilance, about III
o'clock this morning, and conferred until about 3,
and succeeded in effecting an arrangement with
them, the protocol of which was signed by the
Mayor and General Lewis. the Executive Council
and Messrs Cornelius Fellows and Norton on the
part of the citizens, who desired peace and order
This document is to be duly published in the
morning.
The terms of the treaty are substantially these:
Mayor Waterman for the city, and General Lewis,
as Superintendent of Elections, accept the forces
of the Vigilance Committee as special police to
preserve order protect life and property, and exc
cute the laws. The Committee does not dlsband,
but retains its organization in all respects, especI
ally as a military body 1t is to hold its present
position long it may be necessary for Its de-
fence, and the performance of its legitimate duties,
or until it secures another equally advantageous
and effective.
THE MAYOR ORDERS THE MILITIA MEN" TO
Waterman, after the treaty
was made, came up to Lafayette Square and re-
quested the pseudo militia there assembled to qui-
etly lay down their arms and disperse, inasmuch
as he had effected settlement OF the difficulty
satisfactory to himself and friends. No sooner
was this said than a rabbe of IS or 100 men
seized two of the cannon in the square, and with
muskets on their shoulders, proceeded to Canal
street, thence into Royal, and afterwards into
Chartres.
The greatest excitement followed in all that
part of the city.
But after marching and counter marching
awhile, as if about to attack Fort Vigilance, they
carried the two guns back to the square, and took
up their march into the lower part of the city by
way of Bourbon street. The last seen Of them
they had got a long way before Fort Vigilance,
and were, apparently proceeding to the Pontchar-
train railroad.
New Orleans is to be congratulated on the re-