New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-10

Complaints have recently been made By Amerl'
csn vessels arriving from Cuba OF Gordon oil
British gup.boats srd other cruisers surrounding
tia. island, which, beside SEEING vessels sanng
from Cuban ports on shaving tHpedinors' nave
b,ouOht 10 and bosrded number Of American ves'
sells suspected of being engaged IN that business
This new policy on the part of the British and the
change of scene of their efforts for the suppression
Of tie slave trade from the coast If Africa to the
coast of Cubs, would seem, if not due to the sug-
eesions Of Mr. Secretary Cas-, at least to have his
approval. Among other official papers lately commu-
ncsted by the President to the Senate on the subject
of the suppression of the African slave trade IL along
letter from Mr. Cass to Lord Napier, covering, as Ihs
National Inttlligtncer says fifty manuscript pages
apparently in reply to complaints as TO the extent
TO which American vessels are employed in this IN
famous business, and asking the opinion OF our
Government az to the best means OF putting stop
to il. In this letter after lament ug that the joint
blockade of the African coast, under our existing
treaty with Great Britain, has produced no result
at all in proportion to the expenditure OF life aud
money which it involves Mr.. Cass suggests that the
rue remedy is TO close the ports Cuba-the last re-
naming mart of the slave trade-to the entry aud
departure of slavers To prove that this can DC ei'
ctu, y DONE he cites the cases OF the United states
AID Brazil. 1t is true that in this recommendation
Mr. Cas-. looks ultimately to the action of the local
authorities of Cuba but as means Of putting those
authorities in action, he refers to the treaty oolgs
tons under which Spain has come to England, II
not TO France, to suppress the save-trade. The
reference in the same connection to Brazil Is sgnit'
cant. Brczi, it is perfectly well Known after
opQ setting at nsught her treaty obligations TOR the
suppre sson of the slave trade was at last brought
to their fulfillment by blockade OF her coast oy
British cruisers, and similar experiment seems
now about to be tried with Cuba.
1t must be confessed, however, that were the
British cruisers to conform to the principles laid
down BY Mr. Cas- in this same letter their cruising
whether on the c,ast of Cuba or the coast Of
Africa, would be of little avail. Nothing more
wonld be needed to enable any adventurer in the
slayipg business to set s interference at defiance,
excep of merely to hoist the American flag. Mr. Cass
protests against the statement by Lord Napier that
though the American flag exOnerates from search
it does not prevent visit. Mr.. Cass thinks that
the distinction here taken between the right
"of visitation and the right of search, can
:" not justly be maintained on aay recognized
principle Of the right of nations He objects to
the assumption by Lord Palmerston, in cores
pondence on the subject with the American Minis
ter at London, that to enjoy the benefit of the
American flag vessel must be nMigated according
to law. To pass judgment on the question whether
the American flag is rightly assumed or not is,
according to Mr.. Cass, exclusively an American
prerogaiiye, with which cruisers of other nations
have nothing whatever to do. But surely, foreign
cruisers, liable to be imposed upon by the false as
sumption of our flag, have right to employ the
necessary means for asceItaining whether or not
such fraud is attempted upon them. If Mr.. Cass
means to carry out the principles laid down in this
letter, what is now almost daily occurring on the
coast of Cuba will furnish him with ample &C.
easiOn