Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-06-04
From the Washington Union.
Arpressions by British Cruisers.

man of the Committee on Foreign Relations in regard
to the late aggressions which have been committed by
British cruisers against American vessels IN the Gul Oh
Mexico The Report it will be perceived takes strong,
and need not say able, ground against the admssl
bty of the pretension which 1t Is supposed these
proceedings have been authorized by the British Gov
ernmen and contests the right OF search or visit as
having no foundation in the law OF nations and as IN
volvng derogation of the sovereignty of the United
States The historical relations and national impor-
lance of the subject combine to command for the docu
that attentive perusal to which it is entitled no
less for its ability than for the immediate interest awaken
ed in the question by recent events
REPORT.
The document accompanying the Message of the Presi
the United States in the of Mexico and the West
India Islands by the naval forces of Great Britain of
character marked and extraordinary as to have fixed the
attention of the country.
American vessels pursuing the paths of lawful
domestic port another under the flag of their
try have pursued fired into and compelled to stop
by the public force of foreign Power; questioned as to
their destination their CARGO and the character of their
required to submit to examination of their
papers, searching into the objects and purposes of
another instance American vessels anchored in the
harbor of friendly Power at the port of Sagua La Grande
the Island of Cuba have been subjected to public in
QUESTION by the foreign Power and in like
their destination of their absence from home and
the number and character of their crews
would appear from the letter OF the Consul of the Uni
ted States at Havana "a document accompanying the
sag that less than fifteen American vessels lying in the
!
go this humatng system Of espionage whilst six vessels
the high SEAS the Gulf of Mexico bearing their
force endangerng instances the lives of those
board compelled to stop and submit to detention until
boarding officer satisfied in regard to such questions
as it his pleasure to PROFOUND.
Besides the instances above cited officially communicated
ate each successive arrival from the infested quarter brings
intelligence and additional aggressons of like char
committed by the Power vessels bearing the
| flag of the United States.
has occasionally happened heretofore, under circm
of misrepresentation misconstucton of orders
other and like causes that vessels of the United States
have been subjected by the armed force of foreign Power
visitation and search i'll violation of international law and
in derogaon of the independence of flag and in s0a
the honor of the country may have been sufficient
y indicated by disclaimer of intended wrong or by rebuke
of the officer oendng but the continuous and perseverng
character of the aggresons brought to the notice Of
peace, and almost within sight of shores, suff
cent to the just indignation of the people, andto call
in the opinion of the committee for the most prompt and
efficient once, and end, xedly and
forever the commission of like indignities to our flag
The documents accompanying the message disclose the
fact that these acts of visitation and examination of Amer
vessels sought to be justified under the plea of
cesy for the suppress of the slave trade supposed to
be or actually carried on between Africa and the Island OF
Cuba.
The committee will not go into any inquiry in reference
such alleged necessity 1t is sufficient for them to know
that the assent of the United States although often invoked
has been yielded to such system of police the
They rest on the position not to be controvered
that by principle Of international law vessel, under
in peace by any foreign Power under any pre-
text for purpose whatever without the consent of
those whom the flag
Without going at large into the questions heretofore in
voved to the right of independent nations, that com
ertheless deem this fit occasion declare the principles
always maintained by the United States regulating the
which are derived rights to the people of the United States
admitting OF no restraint or qualification and to be main
tanned at whatever cost.
There is no right visitation far less of search to be
exercised in time OF peace by any nation on the ships
men of the civilized world touching the freedom of the
is respected by civilized men, Such claim, there
FORE having foundation in law in the comfy of nations
be tolerated by Power but in der
Ogaton of her sovereignty Neither there any distinction
by the a'ued vessels of foreign Power when unat
tended by examination search such vstaons when
N the Uisaton without regard to its purpose when claim
ed as right against the will of the party subjected to it
relative right to arrest and deain the vessel until the vista
ton is effected.
by the opinions and the decisions of the most eminent judi
cia authorities both in this country and Great Britain
of the United States reported in II Wheaton page and
in England the of LIE Louis" decided by Lord
Stowel in 1917 and reported in Dodsons Admiralty Re-
ports, vol q page 2lO) They founded two simple
elementary principles of pucc law First the equality
of all independent States and second, the use by
all recognised States of the open highway i'll time
of pc ce.
ting the which have been 1agrany violated and out
ragged by armed vessels of foreign power in time of pro-
shores Indignant the American people and
ought be at the character and persistent repetition
portuney supply the occasion to end and forever all
future question this right Of visitation at between
mittee refrain only from recommending such add
tonal legislation would be most efectual to protect the
commerce of the country from aggressions of the char
thus brought to the notice of the Senate from the
that the President Gas shown by the letter of the Secretary
Navy accompanying the messag has already ordered
all the disposabe the country into the nfes
ed quarter with orders to protect all vessels of the United
States the high from search detention by the
sells of war any other nation These are preventive meas
ures only and temporary in Their character but in the
judgment ofthe committee the full extent of the power
of the Executive in the absence of legislative provisions
1t is believed however, that they will for the present.
further like offences in the quarter whence they have
ceeded
of the relations between the United States and Great
Britain which must arise from this aggressive conduct of her
armed vessels has already been brought to the notice of that
Power by communications from the Secretary of State,
dressed to the British Minister here and to the Minister
the United States at London cannot be known until the
result of these communications laid before Congress- how
far the question will be avowed disavowed by the
held Responsible 1T Is the earnest nope OF the
character to satisfy the just demands of this Government
and at the same time to furnish guarantee against the
ton of the offence Nothing short of this in the opinion
OF the committee will be compatible with peaceful relations
: between the two countries.
In the present posture of the affair." therefore, the COM
mttee forbear from any additional legislation
to enable the President to protect American vessels the
will orbear the declaration that legislation must be
promptly supplied should the result show that needed
to afford constant and full immunity to vessels engaged
in lawful commerce the high from all arrest molesa-
ton detention under any preence from any quarter
In conclusion the committee recommend the adoption
the following resolutions:
Resolved, As the Judgment of the Senate that American
vessels on the high seas in time of peace bearing the
American ag remain under the jurisdiction of the country
to which they belong and therefore, any visitation mo.
lesaton detention of such vessels by force or bv the
derOgaton OF the sovereignty of the United States
Resoc That the recent and repeated violation of this
immunity committed OF war belonging navy
Of Great Britain in the Gulf of Mexico and the adjacent
and otherwise fOrciby OBTAINING them their voyage re-