The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-06-03
tge 4ortnge stntinel,
G-------------
.AS. w. sOMERVILLE, Editor.
-RAVENNA OHIO.
The Right Of Search.
Thursday, June s, 1883.

Within tie las. few weeks, no less than
eighteen OF cur merchant and cUastipg res.
sells have been boarded BY British cruisers,
almest in sigh, of cur own coast, under the
fimsy prettxt OF searching for slaves, etc.
This is direct and gross insult to the
American Hsg, snd the same or similar out.
r-ges committed half century ego, it will
be recollccted by the readers of history,
was the cause that produced the war Of
1912. Fortunately, We have a President
and a Secretary Of State possessing the
right kind of pluck for the occasion. We
have every confidence that MIR. Buchanan
and Gen. Cass will give the naughty Brit.
ish government 10 understand that these
Outrages on our commerce and insults to
our flag cannot be tolerated much longer,
snd that the doctrine that "frte ships make
free eoods" is one they intend to adhere TO
at ell hszards.
We give below q full synopsis Of the
Presidents Message. touching these out.
Ipkcs VIZ
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1858.
The President sent q brief message to
the Senate to-day transmitting some docu.
meHts in reply to resolution heretofore
adopted. The most interesting among the m
ia a note to Lord Napier, dated May I, in
which Secretary Cass says that in his letter
TO the latter, of the 10th ult., he alluded to
the statements then appearing in the public
journals that o merchant vessel OF the Unit
cd States, the N. B. Borden. had been fred
at and boarded by a.British vessel of war,
the Styx, off the coast Of Cuba, and had in
formed him that he had received no official
information upon the subject, and therefore
could say nothing as to the truth OF the re.
port, but that he had taken measures to as.
certain whether such On occurrence had
happened.
lie now transmitted to bis lordship copy
Of letter from the Collector Of the Gus.
toms at Savannah, inclosing a statement of
the Captain of the N. B. Borden, by which
it appears that an unjustiable act of vic.
lence has been committed against a mer.
chant vessel OF the United States, to which
the attention of His Mojesty's Government
il requested, in the confident expectat ton
that tha act will be disayuwed. and such
measures adopted as are called for by the
circumstances, and as will tend 10 prevent
the recurrence of similar proceedings here.
after.
Lord Napier replies May l6, that lie had
the honor to receive Secretary Csss's letter
conveying an account Of the circumstances
which are alleged to have attended tht
boarding Of the American vessel, N. =
Borden, by Her Mujesty'. steamer Styx.-
lie says he has transmitted copies Of Gen
Cass's communication to Her Majesty
Government, und the Commander. in Chic
of Her Majesty's forces On the West Indie
station.
General Cass writes to Mr.. Dallas, Ma
18th.
Sra: The accompanying papers, ccpie
OF the originals, which have just been RI
ceived, will make known to you that anott
outrage has been committed against III
rights OF the United States by Brits
armed vessel, which calls for the imm ediat
attention OF the British Government.
am persuaded that If the occurrence
took place, as they are stated, the condut
vf the British officers will be disayowed an
beg you would communicate to Lor
Malmsbury the earnest desire of the Pres
dent that this practice, which seems to be
come more prevalent, OF detaining an
searching American vessels should be dii
continued, and that the most peremptory OF
der for that purpose should be given an
enforced. Such measure is called by i'm
portant considerations, which will resdil
occur to you.
While this GoverEmen mt 10 determined (
use ell proper exertions for the supprsssio
Of the slave trade, it 10 not less deshou
that The Just immnnitiee Of vessels Of th
United States upon the ocean Sho6ld b
preserved. Whatever may have been tn
true objects Of the Cortez, it she had paper
stating her American character, she we
subject 10 neither search nor Cspture by tn
British cruiser. do not doubt that th
1icts reported will be fully investigated b.
I, order OF The British Government, and prop
er measures taken to prevent the recurrence
4; similar Get hereafter. cali Yo,r Z,