Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/318

 to the consular representative of the American government, and offered some friendly suggestions, such as an appeal to the captain-general, or the introvention of an American sloop of war then lying in Havana. By bringing the culprits to punishment, the American people and government would have been exculpated from all countenance to the disgraceful abuse which had thus been made of the American flag. Mr. Trist, the consul, however, saw the matter in a different light. He had once before b,een appealed to on the occasion of a similar abuse of his country's flag. The only notice he took of the communication was to return it. On this second occasion he pursued a different course. An answer was returned, in which the former communication is spoken of as an "insult" and an "outrage;" and he informed them that he "could not recognize the right of any agent of any foreign government to interfere in any possible mode or degree in the discharge of his duties."

In afterwards remarking upon this communication, Lord Palmerston desired the commissioners to observe to Mr. Trist, "that the two governments having, by the tenth article of the treaty of Ghent, mutually engaged to each other that they would "use their utmost endeavors to promote the entire abolition of the slave-trade." it seems to be perfectly consistent with the respect which the agents of each country must feel for the other country, that they should not only themselves act in strict accordance with the spirit of the engagement which their own government has contracted, but that they should furnish to the agents of the other government any information which may be calculated to enable that other government more effectually to accomplish the common purpose." Mr. Trist also alluded, in his letter, to the manufacture of goods in Great Britain expressly designed for the African trade. Lord Palmerston directed the commissioners to state to that gentleman that "if he can at any time furnish her majesty's government, through them, with any information which may directly or indirectly enable the government to enforce the penalties of the law against British subjects who may be concerned in the slave-trade, her majesty's government will feel most sincerely obliged to him."

Not long after, a similar case occurred with regard to a French vessel, Le Havre, which having sailed from Havana under French colors, and with several French citizens on board, for the coast of Africa, had reentered the port, after having landed 500 negroes on the shores of the island. The owner was a Frenchman, and his partners were Englishmen. A communication was addressed to the French consul, who applied immediately to the Prince de Joinville, who was then with his ship at Havana. The prince forthwith dispatched a French vessel to capture the slaver, which had put to sea. The cruise was unsuccessful, however, as the Havre was wrecked, as the most efficacious way of silencing further inquiries.

The object of the slavers in hoisting the American flag, is that it protects them from the right of search conceded by other nations to the cruisers engaged in supporting the trade. The laws of the Union declares the slave-trade piracy — the flag of the Union protects the miscreants engaged in it. In order to obtain the protection of the American flag, a practice arose of