New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-20
The Slave and Cooiie Trade.
OFFICIAL CORRHsPos DEhCE WITH THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT.

OFFICIAL CORRRsPos DEnCg WITH THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHIkGTOE, Aug TO- 1901 )
SIR; have TIE honor 10 inform you ths; the as
petch from Loru John Russell dated the llth OF July,
1870, which you read me, and copy Of which you ien
at lbB Department, has been submitted TO the fresi-
dent with its accomranimeut of printed docu meiits
relative TO the Coolie trade He has given most care
ful consideration TO the three propositions which you
have been instructed make. It isunDecessry to ex
press in reply the perfect agreement of this Govern
ment and that of her BritaDc Majesty IL their est-
mate of the character of the African slave trade.
The seton of the Government of the United States
rpon this subject has been long continued, 30 con,
sisent ard is familiar to the civilized world, that
can properly refer TO il the elearest and strongest
manifestation Of s opinion, and am instructed TO gay
that the President learns with great pleasure from LORD
John Russelrs communication that her Britannia
Msestys Government can At length see with satisis'-
ton the happy result of its efforts and sacrifices IN the
cause Of humanity and that the steady dimnution Oh
this illegal traffic is accompanied by corresponding
DEVELOPMENT OF honorable and lucrative commerce on
the coast OF Africa which promises IN tne
years to extpRuish the slave trade IN most ehsctnh
manner He regrets, however, that this agreeable
prospect has been overloaded by the fact also COM
municated that this trade has again increased WITHIN
the two last y6ars and that preparations are beng
made in Island of Cuba for the prosecution OF the
trade Gu most extensive scale by means Of GIL asso-
ciat on.
Iris intelligence is believed TO be well founded.
African slave trade viii never be suppressed, VI lille
efforts for that purpose confined to the pursuit and
CAPTURE of slaves between the coast of Africa and the
leland of Cuba. To affect any thing positive or Perrna-
nent the Baraeoons the African coast must be bro
ken ID and the slaves prevented from landiog their
cargoes in Cuba Or if landed, the slaves must be
followed into the interior and set free from the pur
cbasers Whenever her Britannia Majesty's Govern
meut shall think il proper in its discretion TO enforce
the provisions Of the treaty with Spain referred 70 oy
Lord John Russell-by which the Spanish crown IN:
d. rook to abolish the slave trade and accepted sum OF
400 900 TO enable il the lastly to do so-then and
no, uutil then in the PRESIDENT opinion, will the Afr
cen trade with the Island Of Cuba be abolished. But
With this the Government Of the United States has no
right TO interfere.
While. however, holding these general views, the
Preside ut cannot give his assent 70 the propositions
which have been submitted TO him, for the following
reasons which proceed to state in the order in which
the propositions have been made;
First: systematic plan OF cruising on the coast
To this proposition would involve the necessity OF
treaty with Spain to enable the cruisers OF the United
States to enter the waters Of Cuba within marine
league from Shore
The Spanish Government, 30 far from having given
any ntimaton that violation Of its sovereignty 10
this extent has only recently made the strongest COM
plants 10 this Government sgainst the cruisers oil
the United Siates upoD the alleged ground that they
had captured slavers within Cuban waters. While
therefore great Britain has already acqured this rgnt
bv treaty. the United States do not possess it. and their
cruisers would consequently, be arrested In tie pur
gult OF Siayere EOOn dB Jl6y
diotion-whilst the cruisers of Great Britain and Spain
could not OILY continue the pursuit. until the slaves had
landed but could follow them into the interior
Of the Islspd. 1t lie proper, however TO say, that
while the President does not suppose the Government
of Spain would enter into an arrangement Wild the
United State similar TO its treaty with Great Britain,
be could not consent TO any such arrangement for
would violate the well established policy OF this coun'
try not to interfere in the domestic concerns OF foreign
nations nor 10 enter into alliance with foreign govern
ments. This Government has maintained and Will
coptinue to maintain naval force In the neig0orhood
of Cuba for the enforcement OF lts own lave.
II will 10 the utmost extent of its power put down
this abominabe trsfe and capture all American YES
pes and punish all American citizens engaged 10 IT,
The success which LAS already attended our efforts
near the of Cuba prove that we have done our
duty in this respect ana this at enormous expense
for the support of the captured Africans, for their
transportation back 10 Africa, and for their liberal
maintenance there during the period OF year after
their return.
Second. The laws Of registration and inspection in
the Island Of Cuba by which the employment Of slaves
imported contrary to law might be detected by the
Spanish authorities.
After what has been said II is unnecessary to state
that the Government Of the United States could not ask
Spain to pass such lave of registration But II TINS
otherwise it is quite certain that such la Ts would
have no practical effect. For if" Her Majesty Gov
eminent are well aware that the price of sugar and the
demand for labor afford the slavetrade profits which
enable him TO corrupt the authorities whose duty II Is
TO thwart and defeat this criminal enterprise, and
Joint stock panies established at Havana Tor
the purpose Ct prosecuting the African sayerade uil-
der the eve Of the island and with perfect inpunity
would be vain to expect the Registrars throughout the
country would counteract the policy OF their supeIlors
by faithfully performing their duty.
Third: A plan of emigration from Cuba, regulated
by the agents Of European nations IN conjunction Win
tie Chin ese authorities 1t is not probable that LORD
John Russell expected this Government 10 unite 10
forming such plan of emigration from China; for,
he had entertained this idea he would scarcely have
omitted " the agents' of the United States from any
participation in s regulation. Nor the Preside mt
share in the anticipation Of her Britannia Majesty
Government that the COolie trade be put on any
such footing az viii relieve Of those features OF fraud
and violence which render the details Of s prosecution
scarcely less horrible than those Of the middle passages
and he ia Of opinion that it would exert most deets
Ious influence upon every portion OF this country 70
import into il Ciinese Coolies as laborers
IN the States where the institution of domestic
Slavery exists these heather Coolies would demoralze
the peaceful Contented and orderly slaves very many
of whom are sincere Christians aud in the Free
States they would he brought into competition with
our own respectable and industrious laborers, whether
of native or foreign BIRTH who constitute 30 large
portion Of our best citizens.
/ avail myself of this opportunity to renew TO you
Sir the Assure nee Of nv high consideration.
VIM. HENRY TRESCOT, Acting Secretary
To ". DOUGLAS lRvING, esq