Year: 1860

WASHINGTON, August lF--Ihe iolcNluE Il tue reply
Of the State Department TO the note of Lord John Rus
sell, relative to the slave and coolie trade


DEPARTMENT or STATE,


WASHINGTON, August 10, 1860


SIR have the honor TO inform you that the despatch
from Lord John Russell dated the llth Of july which
you read to me- and copy Of which you left at this De-
partmeut has been submitted to the President with its
accompaniment Of printed documents relative 10 the
coolie trade He has given the most careful eonsidera-
ton to the three propositions which you have been in
sructcd make. II is unnecessary TO express IN reply
the perfect agreement between this Government and that
Of Her Britannia esty in their estimate Of the cArac
ter of the African slave trade. The action of the Gov
ernmcnt of the United States upon this subject has been
so long-eontnued consistent and is familiar to the
civilized world, that properly refer 10 t as the
ceareSt and strongest manifestation OF It's opinion, and
am instructed say that the President learns with great
pleasure from Lord John RusseiPs communication that
Her Britannia iesty's Government at length sec
with satisfaction the happy results of its efforts and sac
rces in the Of humanity and that the steady dm-
mutton Of this Illegal traffic is accompanied by cOrre-
ponding development OF honorable and lucrative com
metce on the coast Of Africa, which promises IN the
course of wears TO exnguh the slave trade in the most
ectual manner. lie regrets however that his agree
able prospect has been oyCrclouded by the fact also COM
muncaed that this trade has again increased within the
two last years and hat preparations are being made
in the Island Of Cuba or prosecuting the trade on the
most extensive scale by means Of an association.





President has long entertained the opinion that the Ar
can slave trade will be suppressed whilst the CT
forts for that purpose are confined the pursuit and cap
ure Of avets between the coast OF Africa and the Is
aud Of Cuba To fleet anything positive or permanent
the barracoons on the African coast must be broken up
and the savers prevented from landing their cargoes in
Cuba or if landed the slaves must be followed into the
interior and set free from the purchasers. Whenever
her Meiesys Government shall think proper in its dis
creton to euorce the provisions Of the treaty with Spain


Ii. . LNrUu Ittah fhn kHaF IA
Crown undertook abolish the slave trade and accepted
SUN Of ei0O 900 enable it the more easily to do So
then and not until then in the Presidents opinion, will
the African slave trade with the Island OF Cuba be abol-
hed But with this the Government Of the United States
has no right 10 interfere.


While however holding these general views, the Presi-
dent cannot give his assent to the propositions which
have been submitted TO him. for the following reasons
which proceed to state in the order in which the pro-
positions have been made:


First systematic plan of cruising on the eoas: OF
Cuba by the vessels Of Great Britain Spain and the Uni
ted Sates To accede this proposition would involve
the necessity of treaty with Spain enable the cruisers
Of the United States to enter the waters OF Cuba within
marine league from the shore. The Spanish govern
ment so far from having given any intimstion that
violation of its sovereignty TO this extent would
be permitted, has only recently made the strong
est complaints to this Government against the
cruisers Of the United States upon the alleged ground
that they had captured sayers within the Cuban waters
While therefore Great Britain has already acquired THIS
right by treaty. the United States do not possess it, and
their cruisers would be arrested in the
suit of savers as soon they entered the Spanish u
dctiop whilst the cruisers Of Great Britain and Spain
could not only continue the pursuit until the slaves bad
landed but could follow the slaves into the interior Of
the island It is bu proper however TO say that while
the President does suppose that the Government Of
Spain would enter into arrangement with the United
States similar its treaty with Great Britain, be could
not consen TO any such arrangement for It would vio'
late the well established policy OF his country not 10 in
tefere with the domestic OF foreign nations,
nor to enter into alliance with foreign Governments
This Government has maintained, and will continue to
maintain naval force in the neghbohood Of Cuba, for
the enforcement Of its own laws It will to the utmost
extent of its power put down this abominable traffic,
aud capture all American vessels, aud punish all Amer-
can citizens engaged init


The success which hrs already attended our efforts
near the coasts Of Cuba proves that we have done our
duty in this respect and this at enormous expense
for the support Of the captured Africans for their trans
poration back to Africa and for their liberal mante
nance there during the period of year after their re-
turn


Second Laws OF registration and inspection in the ls
land of Cuba by which the employment otsayes import
ed contrary law must be detected by the Spanish au
thores After what has been said is unnecessary to
state that the Government Of the United States could
not ask SpAin pass such laws Of registration But II
this otherwise it is quite certain that such laws
would have no practical effect.


For if as her Msesty's Government are well aware,
the price Of sugar and the demand for lab afford the
slave trader profits which enable him 10 corrupt the au-