Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-23
The "Rtght" or Search.

A telegraphic despatch from Washington,
says
"Despatches have been received from Mr..
Dallas, at the State Department. covering the
response of the British government to the
letters OF Secretary Cass upon the recent
searches of American vessels in tie Gulf
The pith of these dispatches is, that, while
England disavows all authority for any otfen-
sive acts that may have been committed, and
while standing ready to make all reparation
that may be required, she is not, ct the same
time, willing to abandon the right of visiting
all vessels that may lie suspected Of being
engaged 10 the traffic of slaves. Ia other
words, the most effective measures will stu
be used for its suppression. l; is, however,
the desire Of the British government that
these visits may be made in the most accept
able manner; and to secure this, the British
Minister for Foreign Affairs would be pleas
cd TO reserve such suggestions rs tic Caoinc'
of the United States may be disposed to
make. The tenor Of these dispatches being
entirely unlocked for, has created no little
feeling ON the part of the President, who, It
is confidently predicted, will insist at once
upon the abandonment Of the position winch
England asserts her Intention of adterlDs
to. In other words, the right Of visit will
no, be conceded by Mr.. Buchanan in any
shape Whatever" This dispatch Is to be
taken, subject to future correction.
On the contrary, she Union, in publishing
the explanations in the British Parliament,
and the comments OF the British press, on
the subject of the right of search, says;
I'VE give today what will be regarded AS
a full presentation of tho search question liz
Eagland. We see in these papers the fullest
justification Of our position upon the rights
of merchant vessels upon the nigh seas; aud
an endorsements, more than forty years alter
the close of the war of 1872, OF the prnci-
pie which guided the American people IN
that memorable struggle. Free trade aud
sailors rights" was the signal that reused
us to defence and although we closed the
war without gaining what we ought to haze
bad-tbe disavowal of the pretensfor Of visi-
tation-we have never since failed, when an
occasion offered, to warn the British govern
ment against its exercise over our interest.
We trust now, on the exhibit which we pre-
sent to the reader, that at on early day we
shall be able to announce the final settlement
of controversy which has done nobody any
good, and has served only as perpetual
source of irritation and alarm"
We have an important article from the or
gan of Lord Palmerston--th London Post
on the subject of the recent British outrages
and the principle Of the right of search. 1t
is there admitted that England, except by
treaty, would not, more than the United
States, permit the belligerent right of vista
ton and search to be exercised in the time
of peace" and it urges that this rule Of
public law be consistently acted upon by the
governments of the two countries. 1t might
be inferred from Lord Malmesbury's remarks
that be seeks TO retain modified right OF
ch under some sort Of agreement, and on
the pretext that the American flag is used by
dishonest traders; and that he will make the
consent of the American government to this
agreement sort Of. condition precedent to
granting US the required satisfaction for the
past, aud the necessary guarantees Tor Tue
future. We want no right" OF search in
any share. We should be fully competent
to be our own policemen on the seas as well
as on land. With regard to the conduct OF
the United States in reference to the slave
trade, there is no nation in the world more
free from just reprosch. That few un;
scrupulous traders should use the United
States flag to protect their illegal trains with
the Cubans, is no reprcach to the American
nation. and 90 Sufficient reason why right
should be conceded to foreign government
10 search our vessels unfortunately. we
ought to have an unconditional surrender OF
this uujustfcble ptior-practcaiiy' al
all events, if not theoretically.