The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-01
The French Slave Trade-The Trouble with
Portugal.
TFrom tLe Inndon T,mes October ne I

From the London Times, October Is
Whatever be the result Of the difference which has
arisen between France aud Portugal there in il many
things which the mind Of a well wsher to the general
peace Europe 10 the great interests of humanity at
large, must rest with little satisfaction The cirCum.
Stances 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 Mozambique on part Of the coast nterdctcd TO the
approach Of foreigners because approach that
particular pon, regarded by the Portuguese govern
ment as almost conclusive evidence of attempt
q carry the slave trade. On board the ship
were one hundred aud ten negroes aud delegate
of the French government The delegate and cap
tain stated TO the Portuguese authorities that the
men were there by their own free consent, having
engaged themselves TO as laborers 10 the island OF
Reunon that the negroes had regular passports from the
authorities Mozambique, and that the vessel was lying
of the portion the for the purpose of
obtaining a surgeon. To this IL was ans wcred by the
Portuguese, that surgeon 10 be found at Mozam.
bque and was not to be found that part OF the
The negroes examined and declared and all that
they were carried OF against their will and not In virtue
OF any agreement ana the passports spoken OF turned
out 70 be documents furnished by native chief, who
probably was the person from whom the negroes were
obtained. Under these circumstances the vessel was
seized a. SLAYER and sent to Lisbon for ADJUDICATION
On hearing OF this the French government have
~ 10 the Tagus 10 wake with the thunder their
guns the echoes Of the Rock Of Lisbon have pcremptory
demanded the surrender Of the Charles ct Georges within
foryhi hours have given orders 81 the feet Toulon
o. hold Itself readiness 10 sail and verbally re
the offer OF the Portuguese government 10 submit,
The matter 70 the arbitration Of third Power The latest
accounts hold out hope indeed, that friendly arrange
mcni may be expected but matters still In
Il und stood 10 rely that the presence Of French dele
gate board the ship necessarily implied such absolute
Innocence OF design Of slave trading that the Portu.
fucse government was bound 10 be satisfied with at
once and ~ inquire further and that compared with
THIS conclusive proof all matters Of suspicion rrcgu
afiy become absolutely insignificant, and ought ~ be
thrown ASIDE a. Of no account whatever.
To " the mere merits q this controversy, assuming
Tie facts % be correctly stated above. appear present
no dftcuty whatever. We know not what proof can be
required u an offence Of this kind II the facts which
have us alleged are not TO be held sufficient The vessel
Nas ~ "a he fv on
board her aud they stated when examined that they
There not by their own free WILL but under the compul
toh superior force. II Il be said that the captain and
delegate deceived the matter, aud believed these
Ieoe % have board voluntarily pursuance Of
~ agreement 70 labor IN the colony OF Reunion which
ihey irly W. crsiood. " may ask why the ship was
taken q unusual ard ncrdcted station why al utter
absurd reason W. gwen Tor her going there, and
WY tslse statements were made with regard g.
Ia-spofts from The Portuguese authorities al
Mozambique These things showed no, only tha,
The French captain and delegate doing wrong bot
tlni they knew IT, and coupled with The ths they
bad hundred and Tn negroes on board, made out
c1nplet case a. thc nature N The transaction could pa
sby simt T. al tbs the French lad nothing oppose
Cxcert conclusive presumption invented by themselves
fLat absolutely mposs Die for delegate 0f the French
government 90 lend himself toa slave trading transaction.
nnd uAi therefore. such transaction must BIZ assumed
a. " mues Die whatever evidence there be 10 the
tfafy We are MT that the law u nations
N.Y. as oue q = principles the absolute impoccabilhy
aud nforfNfthiy ~ the agent Of foreign government
az considers That government ~ be entitled by placing
delegate 90 heard ship bearing Us Tag. % give that
Sbip license q violate with impuniiy the oil "a.
tons q treaties aud the police regulations of friendly
STATE We therefore feel no difficulty IN concluding that
the merits u The question the great Power 4 entirely n
Tue wrong ard the little entirely In the right THIS
however y bot very small part q the matter LIT us
assume france % have been clearly right she was
fnarcsty wrong Surely n order 81 enforce that right
the should have uttered no mcnaccs and cmpoyed no
measures which she would not have used Russia 10
England, 10 the United states ~ America II France
a. eved herself 10 be- N the right IN what respect could
Yer guuy suffer nstead a the ntoerab,c preanson
o. b. ude L. her own cause she bad shown herself ready
u abide ny The impartial dee sion - neutral Power II
fhe knew she wrong doubt the course adopted T.
rtcahc enough. but il rot the les invasion 81 that
equality which The publr law % modern Europe attributes
T. a. sovereign states and nfracton % that decara
bon Il the Paris Congress which binds the great Powers 10
sc recourse 81 the Intervention q an impartial arbitrator
~ dount u exceedingly convenient for nations AZ
Neu - vduas, a. decide their own causes in their
W. tavot ogt The time viii often come when The
yea~nel ~ ms oncsided method u adjudication is made
msnies even v those Who are most inclined 10 have re-
,3.tse " y NE doeuue That justice s only FOR equals
De regulated Wy their reiatre r5v.ers ,ino 0rds 10y az
tcptance ~ TIE code q modem Furopo and ,ny Power
ns so.oeeos ~ N'Ioaacug vii have shaken 10 their
touhaAtons W'sc aottfines upon VIII eh alone general
peace can be permanently ma ntaIucd We rsrno, ~,
regard as unfortunate that mitact ous real az spn
posed, n The international law of Fnrou. ,,b r.s.it
90 the slave trade, should frequently 'f,yr, a. -.
zion Of differences 70 whrh France Is nartv W. s,,
have hoped that nation which cha ms not spr,
foremost place M directing the march 81 cvOga,,a
would n she had been subjected 10 A slight sr,,
AZ unmered annoyance aud vexaon by The honest efr
p other countries ~ PIT complete end 10 The savet
have considered the excellent end ID view as compls,a
for any rregularty The taken ~ attain
and would have always been satisfied with preset that the
dispute from cndcavOrs made good faith ~ nut
this abomuabie traffic Unhsppily the exact con
trary a. be The case and nothing The inde
nation Of The department which Count Walewk pre-
pds much bOnesi and unsesh attempt % avert
tie hdc0us cruelty that the thirst 0 gam Itself
ever prompted ~ defended.
Markets.
fovpos wosrY gAaakl, SATURDAY evening. Ovt ii -