The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-02
THE FRENCH SLAVE TRADE-THE TROUBLE
A

THE FRENCH SLAVE TRADE-THE TROUBLE |
WITH PORTUGAL.
From the London Times, Oct IS
Whatever be the result of the difference which |
has arisen between France and Portugal, there are
in it many things on which the mind OF well
wisher to the general peace Of Europe, and to the
great interests of humanity at large must rest with
little satisfaction. The circumstances appear very
simple, and, indeed the facts there is very little
dispute. A French vessel, the Charles ct Georges,
is found by the Portuguese authorities of Mozam-
bique on part of the coast interdieted to the ap
proach of foreigners, because an approach to it in
that particular point is regarded by the Portuguese
government as almost conclusive evidence of an at
tempt to carry the slave trade On board the ship
were one hundred and ten negroes, and delegate
of the French government. The delegate and cap
tain stated to the Portuguese authorities that the
men were there by their free consent having
engaged themselves to go aborers to the island of
Reunion; that the negroes had regular passports
from the authorities at Mozambique, and that the
vessel was lying off the interdicted portion Of the
coast for the purpose of obtaining surgeon. To
this it answered by the Portuguese, that sur
geon was to be found at Mozambique, and not
to be found on that part of the coast The negroes
were examined, and declared one all that they
carried off against their will and not in virtue
of any agreementand the passports spoken off turn
ed out to be documents furnished by native chief,
who probably the person from whom the ne
groes obtained. Under these circumstances
the vessel seized SLAYER and sent to Lisbon
for adjudication.
sent two of war to the Tagus to wake with the
thunder of their guns the echoes of the Rock OF
Lisbon. have peremptorily demanded the surrender
of the Charles ct Georges within torty-eight hours,
have given orders to the feet at Toulon to hold it
self in readiness to SAIL and twice verbally refused
the offer of the Portuguese government to sbmt the
matter to the arbitration of a third Power. The
latest accounts hold out a hope, indeed, that
friendly arrangement may be expected, but matters
are still in an uncertain state The ground on
| which the French government is understood to
rely is that the presence of French delegate on
board the ship necessarily implied such absolute in
nocence of any design of slave trading that the
| Portuguese government bound to be satisfied
with it at once, and to inquire no further, and that
compared with this conclusive proof of all matters
of suspicion or rregularity become absolutely in
significant and ought to be thrown aside of no
| account whatever.
To us the mere merits of this controversy, as
Stunning the facts to be correctly stated above, ap
| pear to present no difficulty whatever. We know
not what proof can be required of offence Of
this kind, if the facts which we have Just al
legged are not to be held sufficient. The vessel
found in fragrant delict, with the negroes actually
on board her, aud they stated when examined, that
said that the captain and delegate were deceived il
the matter, and believed these people to have gone
on board voluntarily, in pursuance of an agree
mcnt to labor in the colony of Reunion which they
fully understood may ask why the ship wa
taken to an unusual and interdicted station VIII,
an utterly absurd reason given for her going
there and why false statements were made witt
regard to passports from the Portuguese, authorize
at Mozambique? These things showed not only tina
the French captain and delegate were doing wrong
but that they knew it, and coupled with the fac
that they had hundred and ten negroes on board
made out as complete rs the nature of thu
transaction could possibly admit. To all this the
French had nothing to oppose except a conclusive
presumption invented by themselves, that it is alb
soutey impossible for a delegate of the Frencl
government to lend himself to slave trading trans
action; and that, therefore, such transaction mus
be assumed to be impossible. whatever evidence
there be to the contrary. We are not awar
that the law of nations recognizes of its prin
ciples the absolute impeccability and ncorruptibili
ty of the agent of a foreign government or consid
ers that government to be entitled, by placing dele
gate on board ship bearing its flag, to give that sh
license to violate with impunity the obligations o
treaties and the police regulations of friendly State
We, therefore, feel difficulty in concluding that
the merits of the question the great power is en-
IN T nv iorS, anu the IiIte one is entIrely
.fe Lisnt. MS; however, Is puC very small par
VI liio lIit'el 1eV US assume france 10 nave Dee
do ce"li "s she was hahLesty wrong. sure
~, III 3ruer 10 enforce that flght, she should hav
L;t GU Nv iiToes anu e"PIoyGd no measure
I ne n tt .o' tte useu 70 huSsla, 10 Eng
I; W " s' - .'t'es VI america II franc
Id b dii+ " pT - tnG IN nat TespsG
pretension to be Judge in her own cause. she hat
shown herself ready to abide by the impartial decis
ion of neutral Power? If she knew she was wrong
no doubt the course adopted is applicable enough
but 1t is not the less an invasion of that equalit
which the public law of modern Europe attribute
M nnhn IrNfrn .4,, e 4