The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-27

bonds was given, as its share of the plumber,
which was divided out by Barstow and his fol.
lowers, he receiving $4,000, his private sec.
Rotary $4,000, the editor of the Madison Argus
during Barstow's administration $50, and
SO on. To other outside papers there was paid,
for their influence, $246, 1000; about S4O, 900
went to Republicans, and the rest to Demo
Gratis.
THE SLAVE TRADE AND RIGHT OF SEARCH
PATRIOTISM AND PHILANTHROPY.
1t would seem that an elaborate correspond.
ence on the subject of the African slave trade
has been going on between the American and
English Governments during the last two years,
of which copies were lately communicated by
the President to the Senate. 1t has not yet
been printed, or if printed, made public, but the
National Lntelli9encer, through the attention of
its Senate Reporter, was enabled to lay before
its readers part of letter from General Cass
to the British Minister, dated April 10Th, 1858,
in reply to q communication suggesting the
adoption of more efficient measures on the part
of the United States for the suppression of the
evil.
General Cass thinks that the best method of
effecting this object is of every difficult solu-
ton" The measures resorted to hitherto have
failed. The system of joint blockade on the
coast Of Africa has secured no benefit at all
proportioned to the blood and money expended.
"But this failure need not discourage the anx.
ious hopes of Christendom. There is another
way of proceeding without the dangers and diff.
fculties and ineficiency which beset block
ade, and which is sure to succeed, if adopted
and persevered in and that is, to close the
the slave mart of the world, or rather of the
Island of Cuba, which ia now almost the only
region where the save-dealer can find q mar
ket If these unfortunate victims could not be
sod, they would not be bought. To shut the
ports of Cuba to their entrance, is to shut the
ports of Africa to their departure. And to
effect this nothing would seem to be wanting
but the cordial cooperation of the Spanish
Government. The example of the United
States is sufficient to show that, however exten.
sive country may be, it can be rendered in.
accessible to this evil by a sound state of public
opinion and by rigid laws rigidly executed.
The introduction of slave into this country is
a fact which believe the present generation
has not witnessed. And Brazil, also, with her
long line of maritime frontier, has succeeded,
by her legislation, and by the faithful execution
of it, in rescuing herself from the reproach of
participating in this great crime, as well ma
tionsl as individual.
"The conventional arrangements which exist
between Great Britain and France and Spain,
for their mutual co operation in the suppression
of the slave trade, are very imperfectly known
to me but it is understood that Spain has en-
tara utO anfo mil ps;f
not with France also, that she will use her best
exertions to prevent the importation of slaves
into her dominions. This pledge, if given, has
certainly not been redeemed, although it is diff
fcult to believe that the Spanish Government
would resist or neglect the firm remonstrances
of these two great Powers, or even of Great
Britain alone, if she alone has the right by
treaty stipulations to demand of Spain the faith
fol performance of duties which she has volun-
tarily assumed. Upon the course of the Span
ish Government far more depends than upon
the most vigorous blockade of the African
coast"
1t is worthy of remark, that while the Ad-
ministrstion is manifesting 30 much solicitude
for the suppression of this traffic, which it de-
nounces as " a great crime" many of its warm
eat supporters in the South are as anxiously
seeking to revive the traffic, denouncing all
Governmental efforts to repress it as originating
in fanaticism, and at war with the interests
of the Slaveholding States.
General Cass proceeds to say that the United
States have no suggestions to make respecting
the most expedient measures to be employed
in Africa, but he says that persons intimately
acquainted with the slave coast suggest " the
extension and improvement of the free colonial
establishments in that region" and " also the
construction of several military posts or block.
houses, garrisoned from the acclimated popu.
lation at or near the places to which the course
of the trade has been directed, and where the
means of interchange are to be found"
General Cass is at pains to guard point Of
vital importance to this country, and which, we
hope, will never for moment be surrendered
or compromised. He says
"Your lordship, while stating that it is the
habit of vessels on the coast of Africa to hoist
| the American flag as protection against Brit
ish cruisers, remarks that this precaution
does not protect the SLAYER from visit, but ex.
onerates her from search The distinction here
| right of search, between an entry for the pur-
pose of examining into the objects of voyage,
cannot be justly maintained upon any recog,
Missed principle of the law of nations. To the
former, Lord Palmerston, in his correspondence
with the American Minister at London, added
that the vessel must be nsvigated according
to law To permit foreign officer to board
the vessel of another Power, to assume com.
mand in her, to call for and examine her papers,
to pass judgment upon her character, to de-.
eide the broad inquiry whether she is navigated
according to law, and to send her in, at pleas.
ure, for trial, cannot be submitted to by any
| independent nation without injury and dishon.
or. The United States deny the right of the
cruisers of any other Power whatever, for any
purpose whatever, to enter their vessels by
force in time of peace.
In conclusion, l am instructed by the Presi
dent to inform your lordship, that while he is
determined to execute the treaty of 1912 with
fidelity and efficiency, he is not prepared, under
existing circumstances, to enter into any new
stiPulations on the subject of the African slave
trade"
The ground taken by General Cass is the
American ground, and ought to be maintained
at whatever cost. The right of visitation is the
right of search; concede this right, and it may
and will be exercised for the worst purposes.