Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-05-07

! The articles exported from this country are eN-
changed for palm oil, ivory, hides, dye woods
and other predictions OF that extensive region
Vessels lawfully engsged in this commerce and
| ,nrroarbing the suspected lstitudes become
themselves suspected and will be liable to
vsxstious interruptions if this claim foreioly
/ n hoard and examine them is once established.
! Tbe evil has already been felt, and II the prae-
tice il not discontinued it viii 90 on increasing,
not only in derogation Of national rights, but
70 the serious injury perhaps TO the des'ruetlon'
/ Of this branch Of American commerce. The
verv nature Of these Interruptions almost ne
/ eesssrily leads to abuses. The boarding OH
Ger is supported by competent force while
| taxing the command Of a foreign merchan. yes
/ sci He usrsues his examination at pleasure,
dstaipipg The vessel Il be think proper, and
| sending her in for trial If not satisfied IL Is
not necessary 70 pursue this Tecspituiation, as
the circur1sta nces attending this naval iuqnisi-
| ton are well known, ard have been rendered
| familiar TO the people of the United States by
grsye occurrences in their history. SHch UeEG-
/ lions ,EfeTrspilons ic0ud 90 far toleaTds The
/ annihiiafien Of ihe gT0tuing commerce beftreeH
the United States and Africd, lsGging Il 10 BE-
nursusd bV fhs more fOTtunafe aSrsnfcTers o.
/ Other aafious not CTposcd 10 similar 0bsfTHc-
fgus Aud the interruption may be accompa-
MED bv circumstances little compatible with
| The continuation Of those friendly feelings
which now happily unite our respective eoun-
tries.
Ap occurrence Of this nature has just taken
place. IL the report from Savannah bow going
/ toe round of the papers is correct. that an
/ american vessel. ithe ~ B. B0rdsR,) } engaged
| in lawful trade, was fred at by the British
steam vessel Of war, (the SiyE,) on the high
seas of the coast OF Cuba, aud forcibly de-
tanned and examined. The report may be in-
correct, but have written for the necessary
information, and If find when received, that
| it corrOboratea the published statement, wall
communicate the result to your lordship, with
such representations as the circumstances may
| call for But il ia obvious that serious col
| lision may occur at any time when British
armed vessel meets wh an American mer-
chantmsn. so long as this pretension IS eXer-
cissd YOur Iordship disavows on the part OF
your government the right Of British cruisers
| 20 detain an American vessel even II found en-
| gagged in the slave trade. IN view CT this dis-
vowal AN at loss TO comprehend why an
American vessel when detained upon the high
sees, should destroy the evidence Of her ma
| tionalitY, and suffer herself to be captured,
when by maintaining her true character, she
would be beyond the control OF any cruiser,
except one Of her own nation. dispatch
I from the commanding officer Of the American
squadron upon the coast Of Africa, (Commo-
dOre Couover,) to the Secretary Of the Navy,
dated October 10, 1851, throws light upon this
subject, and shows the danger Of abuse which
surrounds this whole matter. He states that
-4mcricaH pessels efaplOgrf IN The sldUe trade
haUs been encouraged by the officers Of British
cTHisers to fhTOu their papsrs oDerboaTd tn order
% dU0id fhe punishment Of death, AID hare been
thus taken lCifh0ui aAg euidencc Of Baitoaditty
The reason assigned for this procedure IS
said T. be that the punishment Of this offense by
the laws of the United States being death, per
sons found committing II under the American
hag, if they cannot escape, prefer TO be cap
tured by 4 British cruiser, with the chance OF
impunity. o. az any rate Of less penalty than
capital punishment. The crew is landed upon
the nearest part OF the coast, while the vessel
is sent to an Admiralty Court for eondemns-
ton, and the proceeds, or a considerable portion
Of them, distributed as prize MONEY, and on al
| l0t0daoe made for each Of the captured siares.
And such slaves, It is understood, are trans
! ported under prescribed regulations, defining
| their condition, TO the British tropical posses
sions in America. How far these regulations
NAV afford adequate protection TO the imported
/ laborers. have not the means Of judging, but
observe it was stated by high authority IN the
| British House Of Lords, on 10th March last
aud not eontradIcted, that laU lad been
| passed IN the island Of JamaicG, called fhe "a
graai lar, the real object Of which Uds 10 re-
ducs the free Htgr0es ~ The iFlGEd 10 sldreTy.
Commodore COnOyer states that till be asceT-
talned the existence Of this practice, be could
sels "without hsg or papers" taken by
British cruisers. And observe in the list or
vessels reported by your lordship to have been
captured, that some OF them are stated to have
| had no papers The papers were no doubt IN
some instances disposed Of in the way and With
1 the view described by Commodore COnoYeT.
/ The following extract from his report will ex-
/ plain as well the abuses as the dangers of this
armed interfeIence BY foreign cruisers with
American vessels; and it shows also, that
sometimes the condemnation Of the vessel is a
nearer object than the punishment Of the crew.
I After reporting the capture Of the Bremea,
/ bearing the American flag, Commodore Como
| yer says that
80 This seizure appears to me only an instance
| Of the method usually adopted by Her British
I Maiesty's cruisers on this coast 10 secure as
prizes American slavsrs, and MAJ serve to eS-
I plain what before seemed very strange, that so
/ many vessels should be rspdSted by the British
/ commanders as having been captured without
/ dag or papers,
Commodore CoBovsr also enclosed the report
OF Commander McBlair, commanding United
I States sloop-of-wsr the Dale, who bad sent two
I Of his officers, Lieuts. PelOt and Davidson, to
/ Commodore Wise. IN command Of the PesEUius,
Z by which vessel the BrcHsR bad been captured,
! il order TO ascertain the true circumstances OF
the case. Commander MeBlair reported that
I Commander Wise said to Lieut.. Pelot, that
whes the VssuUius neaTed the Bremen, this
| latter vessel hoisted American colors and hove
10. Com Wise boarded her in person, and hav-
/ inc reason 10 suppose that the vessel Wss eii-
/ gagged 10 he slave trade, informed her CON
| mander, who appeared TO be a POrtugess, that
it was his intention TO take the vessel, and that
be- aid not wish 70 see her papers, at the same
time giving him his choice whether to be taken
under The American lag or otherwise Tue
Captain made som, uuInteligible expression
about being taken AZ pirate and toe mate
hauled down the colors Immediately. The pa
pers were then thrown overheard, and the ves-
sci was seized as prize " without eolors or
papers,"
- The officers Of the vessel, with the exeep-
tion Of the cook, were landed on the nearest
part Of the coast, and she was sent to Sierra
Leone"
Commander McBlsir also reported that
Lieut.. Davidson asked Com. Wise whether, il
the event Of his meeting with an American
/ SLAYER under American coloIs, and bearing
I genuine papers (whieh Of course she wouiC
have obtained when she cleared for other pur
poses than slaving,) be would use means TO in
! duce the captain to throw his colors and paper
z overheard. lie replied: " Well, | nigh
: stretch point and tell the captain the DIL
! was lust near at hand" Com. COnOver i'm
medistely addressed letter 10 Rear Admira
: Sir. +. ". GRAY, the British commanding on
y Ger upon the station, protesting against thi
; action Of Com. Wise as an interference VIII
u the rights Of Americans to take and bring t
i merited punishment those who, while thew bea
r The flag OF the United States, offend against it
e laws. and protesting against it also for othe
3 lust reasons which he urges, growing out o
p this assumption Of power. do not doubt bu
3 that this subject will engage the attention o
u yo.r Government with view to the eOrreetio
Z Of the evil. have already informed ysu
: Iordship hat have not the means Of verify
D inc tbs Isis Of the vessels which you kav
" transmitted, nor ef ascertaining whether tn
% rights Of the United States may have been VIC
= lated by the capture OF condemnation of an
!, OF them.
Bat tie circumstances reported in your LEI
: ter of 18th January 1858, respecting the YES
! sci the louis McLGns, are sufficiently grav
: TO call for an investigation. You state tha
his vessel. sailing under the American hsE
= was CAPTURED by her Britsnic Majesty
|, cruiser, the .flsctO, and that her papers wer
ID - of a character so fraudulent OF linPerIeet
= 10 constitute no evidence Of American natter
! slity.D It is not shown what was the natul
Of the papsrs nor in what the fraud or lmpel
> fection consisted. am at loss, Therefore
10 understand the ground Of justification for 70
rapture of this vessel, more especially as Sd
= sailed with regular papers furnished by %
- Collector Of New Orleans; and can pereeh
no motive the captain could have had to n
> place these ty fraudulent or imperfect paper
- while still claiming American nationaht
- When | received your loTdship's letter cal
ing nv attenlioI to this case, communicate
- a copy 70 the Collector, requesting from hi
: the necessary explanation. he Informed n
- in answer that, having reason 70 suspect q
- illegal destination oi the L0ais MeLdne,
y caused her 70 he watched; out not being ab
!. to procure the necessary proof for her CO
y demnation, be granted her a regular elearanC
- and at the same time, agreeaoiy 70 previous a
=, rargsmeuts, be telsgrsphed to the captain
- the revenue cutter stationed at the mouth
~ the Mississippi, instTUcting bin t oVerna
I. the louis NcLaae and TO examine her the
"a oughIy, and, TO adopt the words Of the !
Is port