The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-02


An Examination Of the Question now in Dasoussiou
between the American and British Governments
concerning the Right OF Search
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. rSss 4, -
The Intelligent reader need to be told that this pam
inlet has been hastily written The proofs of the fact
e but apparent This haste must apologize for some
Of tho impcrfections which to he found In It, The
continuity of the discussion Is than once interrupt
d and thorc repettions in the arguement and
in the illustrations Greater might have rendered
the whole less obnoxious to csiticisn. But work,
preparing IT, may claim indulgence from that cir
cumstauoe particularly. when in this cass the sub
st relates TO Of the grsvest questions which can
interest mankind, and when that question is pushing
10 It's results with fearful rpidy Tho general point
involving the liberty Of the SEAS is everywhere well
dcnood but complicated with this principle. in its APP
picaton to the United States and Great Britain, there
are circumstances not generally understood arising out
Of tho peculA relations Of these two oountriss and Of
events which have heretofore passed in the history of
their that increase the emharrass-
nsns Of their mutual position 1t has been the purpose
Of the writer, BY summary view OF the whole contro-
yey to convey to those who may take interest In 1t
and who docs for the liberty of the seas ID interest
iug to ALL and who do wish to original docu-
mcnts In the English langnagee-a general idea Of the
grounds upon which the demand of the one party and
ths refusal of the other maintained This he has en-
dsavored fairly 10 do--how successfully others must
Judge, sa . 5a Rs :
Whether tho diplomatic discussion has not already be-
come political dispute the writer docs not know He
fears has, But he has still hopes that tho public
opinion Of continental Europe mny in aid of the Of
forts Of tho United States and that both may nd pow
s auxaries Ia the native good and correct feel
ing Of the people Of Great Britain and that the latter
may yet prevail ther government to abandon preten
siop which cannot be rged without Injustice nor SUBJ
mitted to without disgrace. sl fE 8Esa ls4al
The writer has kept within the limits of courteous
discussion He does not affect to conceal the doep feel
ing he has brought toit But neither his personal hab-
lbs tho gravity of the subject suffered him to be turn
ed aside to meet elimination by rccriminatio concerning
the motives Of the great parties appealing to the
Judgment Of thcr cotemporaxos the powers of the EARTH
aud Of postsrty and u may bc about to appeal to the
last resort Of nations. He has therefore reained from
all topics relating to nsal nsres whether of the Fast
ladies the West which the public journals of conti
nental Europe and some OF the most enlightened too,
and many Intelligent writers have considered not to bo
involved merely, but to be, in fact looked to in the
tenacouAly pursued for tine suppression of
slavery aud the slave trade. t7Hg
It not that these topics had escaped the notice Of
The writer but that respect foF himself and for tho great
people who have dOno much for the honor and benefit
Of mankind did not allow him to touch them either for
tho purpose Of confirmation or Of refutation
@ PARIS, january II, ls42.
ExAMINATTON
The right Of maritime search, now In discussion be-
tween the British and American governments s grave
the freedom Of the dear il not In its application
TO the subject which has been the the prctext Of
M assertion at any rate from the consequences to which
iS use or abuse may lead I connection with the Afri
can slave trade but Incidental and the nature of this
traffic which nowhere finds advocates cannot affect the
nature of this question the right of State nor of
a9ombnaton Of States to nake Interpolation into
the law Of nations which shall become part of that
great public code Great Britain processes to push this
point order 10 destroy the yet existing relics of that
trade. We do not question her motives that Is no part
Of our purpose But In all general discussions We must
take human nature as II =, with the good and the bad
out the application Of principle and scek ts consequcn-
os 70 the parties And at liberty without vio-
ng any Of the courteses Of liberal controversy to
umo that neither can be Indifferent to M bearing upon
their interest," Whatever motive Of general benevoence
may have led to the difference Great Britain Is einent-
ya maritime and commercial nation and the history Of
her naval progress during the last century and half IL
with lessons for all people interested n the FREQ
dom OF the seas She has marched steadily on to her
object Naval superiority she has acquired and naval
supremacy she seeks. We say this in spirit Of truth
not Of offence Human ambition is everywhere in some
om or other in ceaselos action and upon and land
e history OF the past ID but the warning Of the future
ana nations will strive they have siven for power
It's impossible that the Intelligent government and peo
p of Great Britain should shut their eyes the effect
o THIS claim of right Of search upon their interests
Whatever motives of philanthropy may have led m first
'sgeson 10 their flag it will give tho virtual supre-
macy Of the We say urttal supremacy, because it
would be found in practice that ninetynine times out of
hundred would be her cruisers tina. would search the
vessels of other nations al a,faa 7
During twenty-five years the British government has
urged the government Of tho United States TO con-
n 70 this measure The application has been steadily
repeed and pertnaciously repeated In the mean time
treaties have been formed various intervals between
Great Britain and other nations establishing m,-
aa right OF Search and regulating the principles upon
which 1t shall he exercised Within short time five
the European powers two of which have few vessels
upon the ocean, and probably not the coast of
n1ca have reciprocally made themselves parties to
similar convention. Great Britain, says the London
Journal The Tmes has managed By gre ererons to ac-
eomplsh this object We do not Judge the expression IL
nghy chosen. 1t ID certainly very Significant And now
m principle Of the right Of search In time of profound
peace, heretofore never claimed question OF right
ana 90 soleinpy decided by tho English admiralty Judge
ora Ssowell but sought as conventional arrangement
lot tho hrst time since the last general war in Europe
and established by treaties with several powers = mat
ITO bc regulated by thcmseves, IL claimed by Great
p.an TO be part Of the law Of nations which she has
on the right and the will to carry into effect as sort
Gos sor"n for all the maritime powers of the world
All our government contends for, says the nTYmcs
the mere right to act constabIes in boarding s,s
pcious ships bearing the American flag !" And who
MADE England the great Prcct Of police Of the ocean
rchng and seixing at pleasure And the United States
VINO nave so long been asked to yield this point by con-
naon are now told that It is established without them
ad spite Of them and the great ministerial English
p,umAl "The 7MA, In leading article OF its number
January s, lS42, after defending this Interpolation
es to the last treaty will not brook to bc thwarsd
ysny ordinary restiveness It thus significantly con-
auoS "A single war With Great Britain she (tho Uni
cu StAtes) has already tried \ with