New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-05
NrwyoRK DAILY TRIBUNE s7aTRIpLE SHEET

mach contempt the high seas and that by nations
as contemplate in character weak In absolute f0rcn
As eary as the year l7Sj American vessels follow
ing their peaceajy the ocean were boarded
by ships fitted out by the hlgeFDes, the occupying M
Independent position on the Mediterranean coast Inc
vessels were plundrrci, aud the crew. numbering II
American f-een taken 20 Alzcrs and sold for slaves
Instead Of pote.tation and remonstrancp and htTng
out vessels OF ret0rt upon this insoenL pirate
what did W. rst do What but TO pray the assistance
and Intervention OF such feeble power Us S"uen 70
help out Of distress and money was TO be ohered
not merely to TIE slaves. hut to bride the par
baran not do again. or course, he went 70 W"h
mo re vigorously tnan before and his demands became
more tmpegiOus and exac.ing The patience OF 'he
great Powers OF Europe, whom he treated Win h't'
more dclcrence only furnishes one more example O' INC
ease with which audacy may for a tlme secure
advantages which will be gained Ivy fair deaiinS
aud good will. To American OF to-day, 1t II mex
prssiby notifying to review the legislation OF inc
country on hs matter that time. u appears that so
early tn 70 l. President Washington m the thid
year OF hs service, IN bis speech to Congress nrst ce
thc attention ~ that body 70 the subject On the loth OF
December she Senate referred the matter 10 committee
which In due Of time reported resolution 10 this
effect:
R,sred That the Senate advise and consent that the
President take slcn measures he may think necessary
redemption Of the citizens Of ne United 9taies
nJN ia captivity at Agicrs, prov ld,d-Mlnd yohJ-tfO-
yfied the expense shall rot exceed $4,000.
Congress aid not hnk OF looking at the Declaration OF
Independence. but they passed the Resolution hnd
what the natural consequence The consular oheef
established by the United States in Alsers ON learn NJ
the result approved it, but added this significant sen
teuce:
take ~. liberty observe that thcir Is no doing
any hasle- o Importance N this country Without p'-
ing tie ministry
The logic Of ali this was that the best way to keep our
ak,if he
Try 10 make them slaves
The natural consequence was mat the cost OF these
orerat 1s ultimately exceeded Sl,000,OOO and The eN-
ample had kindred Barb1ry powers IN an agony
for share OF the plumber I'm February lsO2, the gross
amount OF expenditure to pacy these pirates and man.
.tealers Rad risen e. ~ 800 600 sum large enough II
properly expended naval force to have cleared the
out at a stroke.
No wonder then that President Jefferson Should pres
emily beu 10 his draft Of the Declaration o. in-
dependcucc Though never very friendly 10 the navy,
he sa that freedom stake, that In his annual
message Of 1903 ne suggested fitting ont small force
for the Mediterranean, order 70 restrain the Trpone
cruisers aud added that the uncertain tenure OF peace
With several other OF the BaTbary powers might eVentu-
ally require . reinforcement
20 said 10 Ferson 20 Congres.-but HIS words not
responded With pronpness, 80 tho evil went on in
creasng The insolence all the petty BsrbaTy states
Only fattened by what it FED on until the freedom of
American scamcn in the Mediterranean measured
only by the SUMS that could be paid for their ran
som. There ia more ignonnious part OF our history
than tlds.
Driven at last TO conviction OF the ir policy OF this
course President dison ha7ng succeeGed 10 the chair
on the 23d cf February sent a message 10 Congress
accommodating 4 declaration OF war The two Houses
had become at sinccd that voted Ia that
end go further to freedom than any Offers OF ram
sorn and therefore, responded promptly to the call
val expedition sent out. and Oh the 9Th ct Deem
ber 0iue months his first adoption OF the new pol
cY he had "A noble opportunity OF reporting to the
ood, triumphant Justification Of his The gal
liant had restored the Law Of freedom IN this
On r1er forever.
NJ. Madison tells the story in these words:
ILave IT, satisfaction 90 communicate to You the 'c-
on tat service under COumodor Decatur IOst not mo-
met after is arrival In che Mediterranean in seeing
and SUI ed capturng two OF ms ships fne high
character f 'he American conImander was brilliantly
sustained ie OCCASION. who brought MS own snip INTO
co.s i%n WIN th' or ~ American KIN
rad prowass FASTENED the port OF Al1ifrs where
IL tsrns stiv' led the right ard honor Of the UnIed
- ,c. we're parcuiry con suited by perpetual relin
punishment by the ley OF all prctense OF tribute rom
theu.
The Dew subsequently, betrayed his inclination to break
the treaty ami ycnred to demand renewal Of the an
nu tribute which lad been weakly yielded but the
aour had passed for listening to feeble counses The
dna al Jver declaration that the United states
prefer 4 war tbute aud freedom to slavery. They
there ore insisted uon the observation Of the treaty
which abolished forever the Ight 10 tlDuln or 10 TIE en-
fayiug Of American citizens
There never has been since question about tie right
to gate Mediterranean free from all danger Of
the ss of personal freedom It Is due the Govern
mel OF Great Britain 10 add that following up tina ex
apple Lord E,mOuth with his feet put hnaI stop to all
further preenscs Of these barbarans to annoy the uayi
sat,o, OF that sea France since occupied me king
dom az Agiers and the abolition OF slavery there was
one Of - early Thus has happened tbe LIBERIA
ton Of that superb region OF tho world tho hnrsry OF
more %. It's civilization than any other fron ali further
Danger ~ reapsiug INTO barhsrism. And America may
fair claim the credit Of having initiated In modern
rfrs the policy OF freedom the surface OF its clas