The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-18
THE SLAVE TRADE.

to Perform Her Sflpula l0ns-fho Right OF
vlslt-Eatlsnal Right Of PeDse-The SLAYER
Rufus souIe,
&c., &C.. &e.
MR.. CAss TO Mr.. DALLAS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsnNGrON, FeU. 70, 1862 j
s-Your letters OF Dec 10 and "a hast past, and the
note OF LeYd Mslmesbury TO you, dated the l4th VI
Of The I4,b, also ackno wedgment Of the
ceipt Of the letter. have been some tune before the De-
paImept but the difficulty Of procuring the necessary IN
Tor NATION upon some OF the subjects referred 70 mas pre-
vented me from communicating " you the views OF the
government NJ nm ear lier Gay.
In your note Lord Nalnesbuvy OF December 49,
have justice the desire and the efforts OF the ca
the abolition OF tho slave trade, and also 70
the gret which the sbue of the American flag for tho
purposes OF that traffic has occssioned 10 the government
Tie extent 70 which this reprehensbie practice carried
have not the means Of aacertanmg, nor how many OF
the vessels named the TRANSMITTED by Commodore
Wise 10 the British Admiralty were actually engaged 10
the slave trade, were bona fde American. AS re-
marked heretofore to LORD Napier there just ground 70
believe that nearly not quite eli vessels bearing the
American flag and engaged this trade belong TO foreign
ers and Commodore Wse in his account Of the capture
OF the Rufus Soule discoees the measures which may
metmes be reeored 10 order 10 enable vessel TO
rational character " which she has ceased to
have any lust claim. That officer sta:es that under
the Amer ensign alone the slave trade
Quoted. 1t IS difficult 70 reconcile this opinion with
Of .ne facts ne 1Sa s s1y rate wn Inc
Tor the slave trader, for he reports the capture
Of thirty three vessels which either d not bear tho Anne
flag not protected by from Seizure; ana Of
twenty three other vers. s which escaped capture
appe that eleven Of them ascerned
have sailed under the flag Of this country But however
this may be- the United states subject censure
under any circumstances nnless they justly chargea
bic with nteest o. cu,y IN no, adopting such measures as
such accma'on They have mace tho slave trade CAPT
ts offence and they assign no nconsiderape portion OF
their navy the duty OF s suppression The great slave
OF the ~orld Ia the slaud Of Cuba and thus
closed this traffic wonld be ann,hated. The au
thcry OF Spain firmly established In that leland her
military force there quite sufficient insure the accom-
pkhment Of any measure OF domestic policy decreed and
seriously Sss's ey sne Spanish goTsnIena . known
ptcuniary consideration placed hescf under obligation
10 proven, III introduction Of slaves into her American
object wnu be peaceahy attained ell those dangerous
questions ayoded which cure to present themselves
whatever motive may be assigned for the procee ling Tho
United s,ses have engaged by the A.hburon treaty 10
ami reuonstrances with any aud all Powers within whose
com picns such (cIxve) markets allowed 70 exist
end That they VIII urge upon al ouch Powers the pro-
prety and DUTY OF closing such markets esctally at
once and forever" lord Napier inquired, few days
sipce whether this government now willing to give
Eject TO this stipulation By making the necessary repre-.
sensations and remonsrances TO the government of Spain
assur a his lordshp that there would be hesitation IN
performing this duty whenever there may be reason
TO believe that the expression Of their views By
ne United States would produce any favorable eject upon
the action Of the Spanish government, but that the
ventionA spulatons between Them would give TO the u
terventon Of the latter much probability OF success
than could be anticipated from the representation OF the
United States. In fact, 10 difficult believe that under
existing circumstances the Spa Dsh government would
resist the nIm remonstrancss Of the government Of Great
Britain.
ee why the flag OF tho United States should
be tie only "ensgn OF naooal sovereignty p.oetuted
oy slave dealers, and certainly, as have already
served there is which be justly urged as = re-.
preach against this government The posLsn taken BIZ
the United States respecting the immunity Of their vessels
upon the precisely that assumed by France ana
both ratioDs equally deny the claim OF VISITATION aud
equally object TO It's exercxe save trade adventurer
carrying The French coors subject 10 xam.
nation by British cruHer than be hossei the colors OF
the United States; and in neither case "a 1t the
but the legal character Of the vessel, agreeaby
to the principle state0 my letter to LORD Napier Of
April 10, ls66, ond which was laid down by Mr. Webster
by order Of the President Of the United Staes In le;tr
TO Mr. Everett then Minister in London dated March g.
lord Mamesbury while referring 10 tho report OF Com
mcoore wise depicting the the slave trade con
ders the circumstances OF 60 fragrant nature as to be
calculated TO move the most preudced feangs In regard
to the question of the right Of VISIT and to urge the most
decided measures for the suppression Of
which must be held to be equivalent to the crosses. acts
Of piracy"
Ae TO hesuripg and loss Of life referred TO- they are
everywhere known and condemned The horrors OF the
paeesge can scarcely be described in powerful IAN
guagc than has already been employed in axinS them
known to the woro. But the Question G. e.ctua repres
siccratcr not alone the nature the traffic but there
taken into view
do not understand precisely the bearing OF the remark
OF Lord Namesbury, ths. these revolving crueics are
cacusfeo to move the most preuded feelings in regard
Of whit except, A. LORD stoweI ssi FRO, shs mU
claim Tie forcble visitation Of vessels upon the oran ia
prohibited BY the law Of natiers in time peace and this
Great Britain, and Is believed by all other commercial
Powers. Even IL the exercise Of right Of visit wero
such right should be BY one nsson TO ~ M
states Of the world question for It's owa consideration
involving very serious consequences, but which Is G,,e
likely to encounter any preudced feelings in favor of the
gave trade IN s solution, nor to be Influenced by them
But there just reason to believe that the value OF
risit OF vniteon us means Of putting end to THE
traffic, hes been greatly overrsted The object Of suoh
visitation Is to ascertain the haooa character Of weasel
found 10 ee3:s ~ Tho sane nation ~ the cruiser aking
me welt, aid violating IT. laws she may be seized L
belonging 70 another Dation she must he released IN
whatever employment she may be engaged, uniess n.
decd She may become pirate, In which case she liable
&c be captured by the force of any civzsd Powsr
II the United States maintained that by carry ing Their lag
at her masthead any vessel became thereby entitled TO
tie IN nqnity which belongs 70 American ves.e g. they
might well be reISoached with assuming pcsi,oa which
vruo go far towascs shielding crimes apou m
punishment But they advance no such preiensou, wne
hts ctrcede tact y, ~ the honest eramina,G Of a re.,l
s6Hi"s 10 dT American coo7s but dcoanpds,i Jv sts,v
so'"td surtctoas circumstances nitdke is naee and
), oTrmsted, ad Me conduct Of baardin1 payty Is i
E'tottctte. no oo,eTrment sond b. heiy 10 mali cas,
Hn tacefs'cnd ;" us character subject y ssre -eo.osvu
The secrry against tho abuse OF any such power Ia
70 DC itund III the responsibility Of the nation whose naval
iorss commits an aDlawiu in the right of tho "a,
jured party 70 adopt sneh measures reSress as il may
cue 70 the nature OF tie Injury But TO reverse
ns Relation o. me parties srd 10 confer upon the aggres
tof 'ne rsnt 10 decide when h may exercise this armed
ana mary ur7d,ctcn improvidenty 10 PROSTATE
ono o. 'he barriers Ct national defeoce wisely consructed
oy The public ia~ OF The word Whatever euaros might
proseeo oy conventional spua,ons AZ .nst the arb
exercise OF such an authority ON is very nature
being brought into contact and upo0 every part
o. We oe.ap, "tbese detentiors" In the words Of Mr.
eesAr necessarily lead 20 serous and
nny Besites the pecunisry lcss they OCCASION" he
soes With truth they too feqasntly rr,tass individuals
cause sAra blood and produce nothing but Ill effects on
lnr eTFahe roatiors exeipg between the cyun.res.
Ih 9rrnme chooses to thus pccer OF judgment u
m dtTostd a: TIE tune b deal fairly usl s.cA ,sis
eAs a. may hcr~!y occur, BAT not aisosed {, convert
,ros'ts into legal acts By precious cosrsssoa arnSs.