The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-02

BIasOn and SEIdeII again.
Our international law" correspondent
for thus We must designate him, since, with
a mystery that rivals the Stat nominus
umbra of Junius, he even refuses to favor us
with an anonymous signature-in his first
communication, charged us with placing
Capt. Wilkes in the wrong in arresting Ma
son aud Slidell. We denied the allegation,
insisting, on the contrary, that he did right.
Ia connection, however, we expressed the
opinion that our government ought to, and
must, if il endorsed his act, abandon some
of its previously expressed opinions on the
question Of "visit and search" Our cor
respondent, in the journal of last Thurs-
day, repeats his former charge, basing its
correctness on the ground that our Govern
ment has always acknowledged the right Of
visit and search on the high seas, in time of
war, and only denied the existence of such
right in time of peace. By thus insisting
ihat the act Of Commodore Wilkes must be
IN strict conformity to the past views of our
Government on this vexed question, We fear
1t ia our correspondent who will be found
placing Commodore Wilkes in the wrong,
rather than ourselves. The point of disa-
greement between us and our correspondent
seems narrowed down to one of fact-has
the government Of The United States denied
the right Of belligerent powers to visit and
search its vessels on the high seas2
Il will he remembered that this question
frat came up in this country shortly after
the close of the revolutionary war and dur
ing the deadly struggle between France and
England in which all Europe participated.
America, being q neutral power, was profit
ing largely by The great struggle of her
bolligerent sisters, and her growing COM
mercial prosperity finally aroused the
jealousy Of both France and England, who,
by interfering with and annoying our COM
merce, hoped to compel us to take sides
Various DEGREES against our shipping inter
ests were Illuminated by both powers, yet
our marine prospered in spite of their eff
forts, to the contrary. Among other
claims set up, was the right insisted upon
by French cruisers to visit and search
American vessels for the purpose of Selling
such goods as they alleged we're destined to
give "aid and comfort to their anniversaries
This right was protested against but without
avail, and our vessels were seized on the
most frivolous excuses, carried to France
and their cargoes confscated. For the
purpose Of resisting this, then considered,
odious measure, Congress passed ar .,cu
June 25th, 1903, authorizing merchant
vessels to defend themselves by force against
any search, seizure or restraint on the part
OF any vessel under French colors.n This
act savors somewhat of denying the right of
belligerent power TO visit and search our
vessels in time Of war.
England, unwilling to give France the
monopoly of crippling our growing COM
merce, not only insisted on searching vessels
for goods, but also for men. Owing to their
great success in gradually absorbing tho
carrying trade of the world, our sailing
masters were able TO offer such inducements
TO active sailors, as to persuade not few to
desert from English men-of-w war to secure
berths in our merchant service. How far
these desertions extended, win rever be salts
faetorjIy explained, though it is evident
they never reached any thing like the num-
GERS claimed by England Besides assert
ing the right of searching for deserters.
Great Britain insisted that every British
sailor owed allegiance aud service to his
government, whenever she had need of his
skill, and searched for, arrested, and i'm
pressed all such, wherever she could find
them on American vessels. From searching
private vessels, the controversy finally cul-
minated in The attack on the Chesapeake
THIS outrage on national man-of- war
gosded the already irriiatcd people to mad
ness, end war meetings denoaucing Eng
iaud held all over The country. The
Engiish admiral commanding She Chesa-
peake squadron, aud by whose orders the
irigatc Chesapeake was boarded, Immediate
ly sent a dispatch baat to England with the
drst news of The collision. The British
ministry fortbwitb disavow ed the act, and
rendered reparation for it Admiral Berke-
ley was removed from his command, and
apologies were fully o8ered for the Insult.
We copy ihe historians arronat Of the caus-
es which prevented satisfactory solution
Of that difficulty
Thus far every Thing was prom
siug; bnt the instructions sent from Wash
ngton placed serious Obstacles in the way
OF a speedy settlement. Not only was a
pecuuiary compensation titsnnhdet=far the
families of the killed. aud besides other