The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-02
THE SEARCH !QUEs7 ION IN Ey0LAYD.
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The latest intelligence from the United States
ports abatement whatever in the feeling Of indgna
ton at the proceedings Of the British cruisers American
men ofwar have been rapidly equipped and despatched
in haste TO the Cuban waters, with instructions
commanders against the search of American vessels
and in of persistence to prevent it by force There
is nsalng the earestness of the Washington cabi-
net in this matter and Is certainly acting with the full
of Congress- As little the aageEnos oil
the American comnodorcs be doubted TO do what Il
cessary in maintaining the honor Of their flag Hence
the danger Of collision before Lord Malmesburys in
structons shall have reached squadron Such
currence would be most dcploabe but why should it
make war inevitable No amy either side
Of the Atlantic but would shrink from bstwesn the
two nations Mr. Buchanan is prudent statesman and
knows what sefcontrol b. and present British min
istry have given evidence of their desire TO avoid
oiling this country abroad on doubtful inadequate
grounds The two governments can DO animated with
only the most friendly feelings towards each other
the men composing them have standing grudges,
open ryares nor special interests to provoke hostility
s now beyond all question certain that Lord Palmer
both the authns OF this danger but as fortunately fox
it. there kxcs, he IL not In position to paeAt by
which may Lno to fear that any unplcasanness
the orders sent Sv happen in the Mexican gulf before
Washington Or Lon received will be- Regarded either At
| dental. As any ether light than acci-
| Two questions are Involve
trade and the right of search ths dispute, the slave
trely distinct So far as we are IN OF course en-
| u
except the Times But the right Of search ssaye trade
suddenly been revived against American yesaesAas now
pretext of suppressing that trade known to be be
under the American flag is right which has reccivcd h
public recognition whatever right maintained alone by
England, in favor because of her maritime SUI
pmacy and always and everywhere denied and resisted
by other powers Now who will say that this claim set
| up by nation to visit with its armed ships the
merchant vessels of other aud independent nations
| Is not, on the face of it, piece of overbearng
annoyance The history Of the last half century
proves to what it inevitably leads, for We know not
how many times England has been involved in war with
other powers In consequence of her obstinate nsstance
this socaed right We submit that the present is
favorable opportunity for at once and formally abandon
ing it forever At the Paris Congress two years since,
wiser and liberal maxiins of INTERNATIONAL law
with respect to the rights of neuras in time of
cuncaed and agreed to than had been heard of before
that period. The representatives OF the European pow
crs again assembled in the French capital Why
should not second step be taken in the same direction
and the surrender of this obnoxious claim be socmnly
recorded in the protocols Of the conferences? It rests
with England alone, Tor the other powers have always
denied the right and where they have admitted the prac
! tice it has been by special treaty. 4ts s.3
Tho minded and insoent feeling which prompt
ed the famous britannia rules the waves has long been
snbsidng and giving place to very different sentiment
The process Is slow it ia true bnt at length the English
people beginning conceive that other nations may
have rights and that the idea of the supremacy Of one
power the is inconsistent with the Independence OF
every other power Weak governments have submitted
|
probably Of the reckless of nccndiay acts that
the late government guilty Of thus to attempt
to stir MP strife between the United States and England
Whether We determine now with good grnce to sur
render the claim of search, whether Lord Malmes
bury weakly preferring timid to decisive policy,
contents himself with simply withdrawing from the
practices complained Of certain IL is that the Amer
ican government has resolved not to leave it's position
in the question: nor the principle II takes Its stand
upon in the least doubt before the world. On tho
28th of last month the Committee Of Foreign Relations
of the United States Senate reported the following
lutions, which the committee had unanimously arrived
at L. That American ships at sea, under the American
flag, remain under the jurisdiction of the country to
which they belong and therefore, that any visitation
or molesaton an infracton OF the sovereignty Of the
United States. O. That these aggressons demand such
unequvocal explanation from Great Britain shall
prevent their forever in the future. Now,
what could be considered an unequiyocal explanation
in that sense 1t might possibly be satisfactory to the
United States to receive promise that Great Britain
will not in future resort to the visitation and search OF
United States ships although she will not surrender the
right to do But If such declaration should be
accepted by the Washington cabinet would the position
be worthy Of England of any nation having sense
of its dignity What TO say, in effect This IL our
right but won act it for fear you may go to war
with We dare say the American government will
not fight about principle provided the fact be absained
fro and that 1t very little whether British crus
visit and search the ships of all the other nations in
the world long American vessels uDInolcsed
And in that policy the American Is right for
But what ask, is this how will the moral sense OF
the nations be impressed by the spectacle of England still
maintaining its claim to this right Of visit and search to
be exercised of course against weak nations while SOL
emny surrendering the practice Of it against the power
full republic of the West That submit, is consid
Grafton which ought to make those ardent and lofty pa
triots reflect who fond of applying to this country the
magnamous character given by the Roman poet to his
own.
We think scarcely necessary say anything respect
ing the legal arguments touching the right of visitation
and search Not single authority on international law
admits it to be other than bcgerent right In time
of peace said eminent English jurist the great Ford
Stowel the equality of independent States and the
munity Of the sea, highway, the broad principles
which forbid the right of visitation, for the right OF visi
taton inraction Of sovereignty That not right
to be defended except by force and force about
dsclaim. Why, again ask, not disclam the right
itself forever The circumstances are opportune for
Great Britain to retire from her solitary defiant position
and thus give the nations guarantee for tho
| continuance of peace.
At the annual meeting of the Association for the Adj