The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-03


may save them. That is all
BritAsh Coacsssaens-Ansthsr Clayton-Bulvvsr
Imbroeiio.
We republish elsewhere in our columns to-day
an extract from our editorial comments upon
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, published in the
New YORK HERALD of April "a, 1860, some time
before the text of the treaty had been promul-
gated, and long before it became q matter of
history.
These words, which now read like prophecy,
will throw reflected light upon the true position
of our relations with England in regard to the
right of search. 1t was claimed that General
Taylor, Mr.. Clayton and Sir Henry Bulwer had
made treaty which settled all our. questions
with England in regard to Central America, an
nulled the Mosquito protectorate and triumph.
antly established the Monroe doctrine. Subse-
quently the treaty was published, and it was
found that its passage through the Senate had
been resisted by some of the strict construction
men on account of its ambiguous phrases, and
they we're only allayed by note from Sir Henry
Bulwer, which was attached as sort of inter-
preting appendage to it. Then came the cele-
brated Chatfeld letter, written by Mr.. Bulwer
stating that the administration was weak one
and he could do anything with it. Afterwardsit
was found that the two parties construed the
treaty in opposing senses, and MIR. Clayton
went into the Senate to make periodical
speeches in defence of it. But the treaty was
too much for him, and II carried him to his
oh ots e<o Il. L. Al
land, Notwithstanding the conviction of every
thinking man in the country that it is hum
bug and ought to be abrogated.
Something similar to this Clayton ulwer
imbroglio, we have not the slightest doubt, is
the despatch said to have been sent by Lord
Malmesbury to Lord Napier on the right of
search. Ambiguous phrases, capable of the
most contradictory construction, have been
used to overlay the true issue for the time,
until the present political emergencies in Eu-
rope shall have passed by. The letter of Gen.
Cas- Of the 10th Of April, is referred to, not in
its broad sense and taken as whole, but cir
cumscribed to one or two particular passages
upon which bubbles will be hung for long years
to come. 1t may be that Lord Napier is at this
moment chuckling in some letter to new Chat
field over the easy victory he has attained for
England on this great issue. Perhaps the fate
of Mr.. Clayton awaits Gen. Cass upon this
question, though we trust it will not carry him.
as the treaty did Mr.. Clayton, to his grave We
hope yet to see him for long years defending
the rights Of our flag and the freedom of
the seas as calamity as be did of yore.
But we trust Mr.. Buchanan and his Cabinet will
not be deceived into a present solution of the
right of search question, which shall have in
its bosom the seeds of a contest like that we
have yet to 60 through on the Clayton Bulwer
treaty. Nothing but the publication of Lord
Malmesbury's despatch will satisfy the country
that this is not what has been done.
For long series Of years England has used
every means to obtain the consent of other 90
vernments to the ENGRAVING upon the law of ma
tions of an invidious and odious principle,
that shall give her navy the right of exer-
cising power over the vessels of every other
country. She always has a pretence for this
claim; and no sooner does one pass away with
the mutation Of things, than she brings up
another. Once IL was the necessity of recsptur-
ing her own runaway subjects, and our ships
we're boarded on every sea and rifed Of their
crews. II q sailor was found to say "paasv in
stead of "peas' it constituted "just grounds of
suspicion" and be was hustled over the side and
sent to serve for years in the British navy.
After that the fisheries founded her right to
search. If the British deep sea line found only
a certain number Of fathoms Of water in the
ocean, no one but British subject could fish
there. That pretence was taken away; and now
II Is the necessity Of every ones going
10 heaven by the Exeter Hall cut. The African
slave trade mnst be put down by searching
every American vessel that sails the ocean
There is some fear thNt the slave trade will be
stopped before this rigin. OF search can be OBJ.
tanned, and go the new grou.7d Is already being
prepared Id England. II is n.'thing more nor
less than that every American vessel must be
searched, because she may be pirase.
Nothing can be more sallacious than the idea
hat the slave trade or piracv can be put down
BY giving 10 the British cruisers power to
'earcb every vessel at sea. All history tcls US
his. The history of the slave trade and the
impotence of British cruisers to stop II prove Il.
FOR years the Mediterranean was the haunt "
he Algerine pirates Every man of war there /
'ractised the right Of search, and every ship |
hat sailed in Il carried, besides It's other pa /
'ers, Mediterranean sea letter 10 save Il from
uspicion. Yet those piracios we're not broken
N until AlUiers and Tunis yxarn bornha rJ,d |
nd obliged to enforce proper laws upon the
Ind. SO in the West Indies. Piracy could
OF be broken up there till our Mosquito feet.
iirty years ago, landed and burnt their haunts
! Cuba. Before this Spain never enforced
err laws there. Havana was The great Quitting
lace Of the pirates, as IL is now Of the slavers.
hen she found she had 10 enforce her
We, and did IL, piracy ceased. SO Il is with
e slave trade As long as the slave traders |