The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-03
RIGHT OF sEARCH-REP0RT IN THE SEN
ATE-THE SLAVE TRADE.

In another column may be found the repor
of the Committee ON Foreign Affairs of tn,
Senate, in relation to the outrages lately com
mitted on American Commerce by British
cruisers. 1t is calm, but decided. 1t takes tn,
position, not to be controverted, that by NJ
principle of international law can vessel I'M
der the flag of its country be visited or detain
ed on the high seas, in time of peace, by any
foreign power, under any pretext, or for any
purpose whatever, without the consent of those
over whom the flag waves" 1t speaks with
just indignation of the extraordinary outrages
on our vessels, and insists that now is the time
to settle, once for all, this question of search,
which has been 80 often cause of controversy
with Great Britain. 1t fully approves of the
position taken by the Executive, and of its &C.
ton in ordering all our disposable naval force
to the Gulf, to protect the vessels of the United
States from search or detention by the vessels
of war of any other nation, but forbears at pres.
ent to recommend any additional legislation,
although it announces that, should it become me-
cessary, such legislation will be supplied in aid
of the Executive Power as shall be required.
We like the report and its determined tone.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is under
the control of men not likely to commit them
selves or their country to the maintenance of
untenable or extravagant positions in an emer
gency like this.
Recently, as we learn, proposition was in
trodueed in the Committee, in favor of reso-
luton, recommending the abrogation of go
much of the Ashburton Treaty as requires
naval force of eighty guns to be maintained BY
this Government on the African coast for the
suppression of the Slave trade, but it was
postponed. The Committee is constituted az
follows: Messrs. Mason, Douglas Polk, SHdell.
Crittenden, Seward, and Foot.
Judging from the character and peculiar DO.
sitions of these gentlemen, we must infer that
on Question seriously affecting our relations
with Great Britain, their joint action would be
determined, not by impulse or mere resent.
ment, but the gravest consideration of what the
honor and welfare of the country demand.
Messrs. Mason, Slidell, and Seward, repre-.
sent States most deeply interested in any con.
troversy threatening the interests of Commerce.
and Messrs. Seward, Crittenden, and Foot,
have always been conspicuous for their pacific
counsels. When such men unite in such a re.
port, the English Government would do we'll to
consider whether it be wise to proceed in a
coarse which can result in nothing else than
war-whether a miserable pretenson, which
has never been urged without provoking the
deepest Indignation and most determined spirit
of resistance in this country, and which can
never be tolerated, unless we intend to surren.
der our Independence, ought not once for all to
be renowned. 1t is vain to talk of substantial
friendship between England and the United
States, until this pretension be given up.
We are among those who, in nearly all the
controversies in which England has been en-
gagged in the Old World, have sympathized
with her triumphs and regretted her defeats
who have steadily discountensnced all attempts
to poison the public mind with suspicion and
prejudice against that great nation; who have
honored her for strenuous exertions to suppress
the slave trade, and to discountenance, wherever
she could legitimately, the practice of Slavery;
Wv SAAAS "AAS6ohs PioScheion Vi the right Cf
visitation, which is nothing less than claim
to the absolute police of the seas, has always
been in the way of the friends of peace, and
for one we never could endure it for a moment.
1t is associated in the American mind with ali
that is hateful and huniliatin
We detest Slavery and the slave trade as
much as our cotemporaries of the press in New
York city, and have given evidence enough of
this; but We oppose the establishment of
policy, which, ostensibly, and perhaps honestly,
aimed at the subversion of an infamous traffic,
will, if allowed, subject all commerce to the
espionage and police of gigantic commercial
Power, not at all distinguished by its forbear'
ance or lack of devotion to its own aggrandize-
ment. better way must be found to sup |
press unlawful commerce, than by enslaving |
lawful commerce. Africa may be saved from
pirates without sacrificing the independence of
America.
"No nation" says the celebrated Lord Stow
ell, a jurist second in authority to no English
Judge but Lord Mansfield, "can exercise a
right of visitation and search, upon the COM
mon and unappropriated parts of the ocean,
except from the belligerent claim. No nation
has the right to force its way to the liberia
ton of Africa, by trampling upon the indie.
pendence of other States on the pretence of gu