The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-22

uD'~i-N
LIVER over the ships of the former went on to say III
PI. only went to the coast OF Africa with the sole
800 81 pyosecuting the slave trade, would not COM
Isin of the treatment which they might receive put
tey 20 thther for other purposes Africa to-day pre-
new market for all nations and this has peeh al
ready taken advantage VI pt ,'AVne inoio ~ - -
meroe than we are. ,,,.
..Tbe British have established great and hourishlng
colonies in the Gulf Of Guinea the French nave done
M same upon the coast of Senegal the Doge lputchl
~ st Portuguese on the coast Of del ORC, and the
limited States at the mouth of the river Niger extending
their powerful from the Cape OF Fornosa TO tho
rive, camarones and many nations, not having colonies
On that vast continent take thher the products OF their
dustry 10 exchange them for those OF that rich soil :
ra sneaker proceeds then, 10 bring to the notice OF
M ores the OF two Spanish merchant vessels by
aims Of the British navy while the former were engaged
n legitimate trade He states that they were taken
orsand miles OFF their track and subjected to most
ust trial and to every species of annoyance and in
yv and although making clear their innocence the
Transaction involved the Spanish ships and their owners
IN ruin no pecuniay recompense having been made nor
was any at all likely to be made
HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE BRIT
ISH AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS ON THIS
SUBJECT
From the New York Times.l
The recent proceedings of British cruisers upon our
coast in arresng and examining vessels carrying the
American flag for the purpose of determining by their
napers their nationality has drawn public attention
s to the position hitherto assumed by the two gov
enments upon this subject 1t is scarcely necessary to
say that the right of search in question Is entirely
different from the right of search which led to the
~ 1872 and that the not be coniounded in any
discussion or consideration Of the subject The former
was the right asserted and exercised by Great Britain OF
boarding American vessels, mastering their crews and
taking away any Brtish-born subjects who might be
found among them 1t mainly in resistance 10 this
nretensionwhch was founded upon the doctrine that
no subject of Great Britain could ALLEVIATE himself free
himself from the duties of that character the war
of 1872 was waged and although nothing was said OF
This right in the Treaty of Peace it has since that
time been practically asserted OF exercised towards any
American vessel. ara.
The right Of search now in controversy is merely the
right of visiting ship and examining her papers, to de-
temine her right to the flag she may carry at her mast
head and grew out of the abolition of the slave trade
The United States it will be remembered, the first
power of Chrsendom to provide for the extinction of
this traffic Subsequently, the movement received the
impulse of British philanthropy. The cry Of abolition be-
came he most popular p tclch the English politician could
enter upon parliamentary canvass AS the cause of const
tional freedom darkened in Europe the entire energy
Of British policy apparently directed to the extin-
gushment Of the negro traffic and her diplomacy was
confined securing treaties with friendly governments
tributary this benevolent object The earliest advance
on the subject made to the government of the United
States occurred during the second term OF President Mon
roe Mr. Rush Minister at the Court of St James
Mr. Canning theaccompshed scholar, wit and orator the
able negotators established prohbitory maritime
police extending not only to the coast of Africa but to
that of America North and South, and embracing mu
a right for the cruisers of either nation to overhaul the
merchantmen of the other and to verify their flag, by
visiting the vessels examining their papers, log and
60 and otherwise exercising what is understood to be
the right of search The treaty approved by Pres
dent Monroe and his Secretary, Mr.. Adams, who sub
mted it to the Senate That body very properly objected
70 so much Of The bargain placed The american uas under
Die supervision Of The cooin fleets but, accepting the rest
it was transmitted to London for the ratification of his
Majesty's government. Mr. Canning, however, express
ed lively dissatisfaction with the American amendment
complained--not comprehending political system
of the Senaes intervention and threw the paper aside
With other Powers, however the negotiation from
time to time successfully prosecuted. Spain, France
Portugal after the other, acquesced in the British
an-save- trade propositions latter signing treaty
the subject us late as 1888.
With the adhesion of Portugal arose a new state of
thipgsone pregnant with trouble for this government
So long Great Britain alone prosecuted the watch the
trader had choice of the French Spanish Portuguese
and American flags beneath which to shelter his traffic
As these powers successfully repented and turned theta
kes the choice Of national ensign narrowed until
in 1885, the flag of the United States alone served the
hagtous purpose Strengthened by the adhesion of the
great maritime powers, and, at the moment, greatly in
ened by the supposed sympathy of people with the
Canadian nsurrecon, the British government allowed
M cruisers to take unwarranted liberties with African
traders and the consequence series of insults to
These events occurred during 1885, 1870 and ls4 Mr.
Andrew Stevenson at the time representative
London He at addressed urgent expostulations
the subject to Lord Palmerston the Foreign Secretary
lie stated the instances Of several legitimate vessels
Of our merchant service which had been overhaued
by the African cruisers; their papers nsoently demand
ed and examined their log books scrutinized to verify
the course they lad travelled their cargoes turned over
and even after this severe pugaton two at least of them
had been detained for several days The Douglass the
Hero, the Iago the Mary, the Tigress, the Seamew
were specified as among the sufferers Mr. Stevenson
took the broad ground that the American flag should be
conclusive to the nationality of the vessel and that
IN the absence of treaty stipulations it was fragrant
nolaton-of international law to go behind that exponent
and demand sight of papers cargo. To support him
in this obvious position, he had the judicial dictum of
the ables English admiralty lawyer that ever sat on the
0encha man who united in himself by universal con-
sent the most profound knowledge of law in all its de-
Prtments, with the most thorough and universal accom-
pishments, the clcarcst understanding, and soundest
Judgment We refer to Sir William Scott Lord Stowel
In deciding the fate of French vessel captured in 1877
as a SLAYER that eminent man declared
lean authority gives right of interruption to the
saton Of e States the high except the
sar war gives to beserens against neutrals No nation
re the right OF visitation and search
ppAed parts the ocean except upon belgerent claim"
And more directly to the point
No nation has the right way to tho liberation of
Ae BY trampng the independence other States
OF an eminent good by that unlawful pres
great principle by breaking through other prnc
p's 'ha' are In the way"
Nor was Mr. Stevenson without contemporary support,
no less influential if less valuable otherwise In their ar
u 70 press measures against the American trade with
we African coast the Melbourne ministry had in 1889
oueht In bill to authorize the search and seizure of
vessels belonging to nations outside of the slave trade
ueaues The Duke of Wellington spoke strongly against
s,ep In the House of Lords, believing he said that
there point more to be avoided than another
10, Tho. Nf.