Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-21
RECENT BRITISH OUTRAGES.

|
| RECENT BRITISH OUTRAGES.
The numerous complaints which have appeared il
the press, concerning late outrages perpetraed OF
American vessels by British cruisers at last {,
have awakened popular indignation in the right quar-
ter Truly, we area ongsuffering people,n the day
strength not less than in the earlier period of ma
| tonal infancy. From first 10 last, our government
has not failed TO deny totally the assumed right
search claimed by Great Britain yet in no instanc
yet recorded has the violent invasion of the deck
an American vessel by the officials of that government
met with prompt and immediate resistance or repri
sal. We were forced into the war of 1872 only afte
an unexampled forbearance. Hundreds of our vesse
had been searched in quick succession and thousands
of our seamen impressed into the British naval service
before the first efficient movement for national resent
ment. And after war of brilliant victories won BY
our flag, treaty Of peace concluded, which at
tempted no adjustment Of the real cause OF quarrel
BY tacit accord, the two nations apparently agreed
to disagree on the questions of the abstract right Of
search and the right OF naturalization. In the hope
that severe conflict was sufficient to induce tempo
rary forbearance on the part Of Great Britain, our
government trusted to time for more complete vim
dcation of the rights of our citzens.
Great Britain continued to assert the right oil
search, but ceased to exercise it for the purpose
and under the prete1t Of claiming authority over
every British born sailor employed on American
craft But on this claim to the right Of search, Bri
tish iusoence has long since found opportunity and
pretext for renewed aggression. No longer propo'
sing to search American vessels, for the purpose of
impressing our naturslized citizens under the absurd
doctrine Of perpetual allegiance, the English Ministry
have assumed still laughter pretence of claim TO
exercise police supervision over the merchants
vessels of every foreign nation Hitherto the
African coast has furnished the theatre for occa'
sional acts of violence towards American mer
chantmen, afording repeated instances of for
NAL complaint, made through diplomatic and
consular agents to the government c: Washing
ton which has not failed 10 remonstrate-wthout
however securing in single instance, 80 far as our
memory serves US, anything in the shape of repara'
ton. Forbesrance was still the policy, and We are
now reaping the fruit of our excessive charity to-
wards a nation whose foreign policy is provslbiay
unscrupulous and aggressive.
But this policy was not altogether devoid Of wis.
dom. To those who have watched the advances
made by the nations Of the earth in favor Of CONNER
cial freedom during the last thirty years, it will not
seem improbable that International consent might
finally e1tngush the doctrine Of Ne right of search,
without hostile conflict The maritime law of ma
tions is not a liked and complete code. 1t is in its
merest infancy, and ia now dependent for mature
development, on the mutual convenience of nations,
as displayed in the necessities ofincreasng commerce.
Wefind much reason to coincide in the opinion that
these very necessities must eventually prevail to
overthrow doctrine which opens the door to every
species of annoyance and obstruction to the CONNER
cial interests Of the world.
Indeed, the universal enthusiasm csll.t forth by
the late European attempt, at the Congress of Para,
in favor of the rights OF commerce, has furnished to
Great Britain serious warning against the indui
gcnce OF bor fsvorte tendency to aggressive restrc.
ton. We do not believe that the British Govern.
ment would have ventured any ;igns assertion OF
the right of search, in tas absence Of extraordinary
preeIts, under the shadow of which she could hope
win the acquiescence and hstter the preludces OF
her European neighbors. Such pretexts have been
furnished in a manner sufficient for European accept
snce by small number of adventures, and GER
tain class Of politicians 10 our own midst. The unau-
thorised fitting out of hcat.is expeditions against
friendly pows.c the applause which has greeted suc
attempts and the late movements real or pretended, in
favor of the re.opening Of the slave trade, furnish
preteIts which indeed mere pretences; but which
may be made available to justify the late aggressons
Of Great Britain in the sight of the great powers o
Europe. Doubtless we have tc tLaul the rilibusteri
and the advocstes cad dpoigsts Of the African slave
trade for an invasion of commercial rights which may
do much to retard the final international vindcatior
of the JUS; immunities Of lawful commerce-for out
RACES against our citizens and insults to the naona
aag-possibly for an ultimate alternative OF naona
dishonor or ruinous war with powerful nation
But whsteye. nay be the cause the pretext, or the
consequence British aggression has reached poin
which leaves no room for forbearance, or even fol
compromise.
The British government ,aust be held to strlc
account for the grosa outrages perpetrated by it
naval officers. refusal to disavow such acts, ant
| to make proper reparaton, accompanied by any
persistence in authorising or permitting violence to
wards the American flag, We do not hesitate to say
will furnish just and necessary cause Of war.
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