The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-17
THE BRITISH CRUISERS IN THE GULF.
(rsom tho louaon salppssg Gazette, June IL

i 9 Z : & b
(Trcm the London shipparg Gazette June ~
The Right Hon. the Home Secretary has promised, on
the part Of thA government In reply to the member for
7ynemouth that Information shall be given tonight
relative to the alleged boarding and searching of Ame
can merchantmen by our cruisers. Mr. Lindsay has ex-
hbited c0mmendabc promptitude In this matters
prolnptttnde, we may add by means dlsEopQrloned
to the serious nature Of the question at issue Mr. Wal
polo stated last night that the only information In the
possession Of the government that supplied by tho
American jourals but they contain sufficient not only
to justify the inquiry put by Mr. Lindsay, but to render
resort to the American Minister at this court necessary
for NO collect from them that both the Senate and the
House Of Representatives at Washington have taken ac
ton in this matter aud have called upon the President
for information, and that Mr. Buchanan has actually de-
mandel explanations from England and from Span In
reference t. the % ~ ID and visitation of American
vessels In the Culs waters, No doubt the American
government will give effect to the demands of Congress
and no doutt also oar government will be prepared to
1asy any instructions which may have been issued to
tho Admiral IN command of the West India station and
to explain the conduct Of officers in command of our
cruisers In tho Gulf Of Florida
II the American government sufficiently alive to
ths national honor, and to the evil consequences Of this
ABUSE Of the national flag they will operate with the
British government in preventing the Cuban sayers from
covering their cngoes with the stripes and stars If they
DO not regard as abuse of the national ensign OF
The States they Will let matters remain they are We
may regret this determination but involving It does
Or may do the maintenance Of that right OF which ms
maritime nation America is peculiarly jealous mmun
y for her mercantile marine from search upon the high
Seas we havenot word 10 say against It. The right
o. search has been formally denied by almost every Anne
ncan statesman from Jefferson to Webster, and from
webster to Everett and there is public in the
Sates who would venture to propose its admission in any
shape or form. t' -Hff5gI
ihe American flag protects the Of the Union
Just as ehcctualy as flag protects the commerce
BRUSH islands, and that protection, found ont
oy SIX years ago. meant something real and Il il not
70, the british government the government OF any
oher state oqussion the right Of America to cover any
commerce she thinks proper With her flag except that
state Is prepared TO make the question oasus Bill We
rust therefore that II will appear that the accounts wo
navc received Of the prccptancy Of the officers In com
MANI OF our cruisers in the Gulf Of Florida have been
exaggerated and that the whole affair admits of salts
,'ofy explanation. We have apprehension Of a col
, so between this country and the United States upon
s OF any other question bat We deprecate anythink
rom whatever cause proceeding likely to disturb DOR
numerical relations with that nation ON whose stead
aance with this country the commerce. tho civil
uon, aud, we may add, the freedom OF mankind main
y depend