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18th CONGRESS, (

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

Message from the President of the United States, transmitting additional Documents relative to the Convention with Great Britain for the suppression of the African Slave Trade.

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I communicate to the Senate copies of additional Documents, relating to the Convention for the suppression of the African Slave Trade, which have this day been received at the Department of State.

Washington, 7th May, 1824.

JAMES MONROE.

LIST OF PAPERS.

Letter from Mr. Rush to the Secretary of State, 1st
April, 1824.

Letter from Mr. Huskisson to Mr. Rush, 1st April, 1824.
Letter from the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs to
Mr. Addington; communicated by Mr. Addington.
Act of Parliament, of 31st March, 1824, declaring the
African Slave Trade piracy.

Mr. Rush to Mr. Adams.

LONDON, 1st April, 1824. SIR: I have now the honor to transmit, in the shape in which it has received the royal assent, a copy of the British act of Parliament making the slave trade piracy. It was sent to me to-day by Mr. Huskisson, with a note, of which a copy is enclosed. It passed the House of Lords the day before yesterday, by an unanimous vote. In addition to the explanation which Mr. Huskisson afforded me, of the clause at the end of the act, both himself and Mr. Secretary Canning have since stated to me, that a further reason for it was, that a consolidation of this act with all the other British slave trade laws and regulations, is in contemplation, perhaps in the course of the present session of Parliament, with a view to give the British naval officers one comprehensive code of in structions under them.

I have the honor to be, with very great respect, your obedient servant, RICHARD RUSH,

Hon. J. Q. ADAMS, Secretary of State.

Mr. Huskisson to Mr. Rush.

[Sen. and H. of R.

in the act, but merely its consolidation with all the other slave trade regulations in one general act, which is in tended to be brought in before the close of this session of Parliament, in order that the British officers may be furnished with one comprehensive code of instruction on this subject.

I have the honor to be, &c. &c.

GEORGE CANNING. HENRY UNWIN ADDINGTON, Esq. &c.

AN ACT for the more effectual suppression of the
African Slave Trade.

March 31, 1824.
Whereas it is expedient to make further provision for the
suppression of the African slave trade, by enacting that person
committing the offences hereinafter specified, shalt be deemed
and adjudged to be guilty of piracy: Be it therefore enacted
by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice
and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Co-
mons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the autho
rity of the same, That, if any subject or subjects of his Majesty,
or any person or persons residing or being within any of the do
minions, forts, settlements, factories, or territories, now a
hereafter belonging to his Majesty, or being in his Majesty's
occupation or possession, or under the government of the Us-
ed Company of Merchants of England trading to the East In
dies, shall, except in such cases as are, in and by the laws now
in force, permitted, after the first day of January, one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-five, upon the high seas, or in any
haven, river, creek, or place, where the admiral has jurisdic
tion, knowingly and wilfully carry away, convey, or remove, a
aid or assist in carrying away, conveying or removing, any per
son or persons as a slave or slaves, or for the purpose of his,
her, or their, being imported or brought as a slave or slaves,
into any island, colony, country, territory, or place, whatsoev
er, or for the purpose of his, her, or their, being sold, trans er
red, used, or dealt with as a slave or slaves; or shall, after the
said first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twea
ty-five, except in such cases as are, in and by the laws now a
force, permitted, upon the high seas, or within the jurisdiction
aforesaid, knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, de
tain, or confine, or assist in shipping, embarking, receiving, de
taining, or confining, on board any ship, vessel, or boat, ar
person or persons, for the purpose of his, her, or their, being
carried away, conveyed, or removed, as a slave or slaves, or fr
the purpose of his, her, or their, being imported or brought, s
a slave or slaves, into any island, colony, country, territory, or
place, whatsoever, or for the purpose of his, her, or their, be
tong sold, transferred, used, or dealt with, as a slave or slaves,
then, and in every such case, the person or persons so offend
ing, shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of piracy, felony, and
robbery; and, being convicted thereof, shall suffer death with
out benefit of clergy, and loss of lands, goods, and chattels, as
pirates, felons, and robbers upon the seas, ought to suffer.
II. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted and
declared, That nothing in this act contained, making and de-
claring the aforesaid offences to be piracies, felonies, and robbe
ries, shall be construed to repeal, annul, or alter, the provi
sions and enactments of any other act or acts contained, im-
posing forfeitures and penalties, or either of them, upon the
same offences, or to repeal, annul, or alter, the remedies gives
for the recovery thereof; but that the said provisions and re-
medies shall, in all respects, be deemed and taken to be and
remain in full force, as they existed immediately before the
passing of this act: Provided, also, that nothing herein co-
tained shall be construed to repeal, annul, or alter, any of the
enactments or provisions contained in an act passed in the fifty-
first year of his late Majesty, intituled "An act for rendering
more effectual an act made in the forty-seventh year of his Ma
jesty's reign, entitled 'An act for the abolition of the slave
trade;" except so far as such enactments or provisions are s
tered or varied by this act, but that the said act shall, in ali

Board of Trade, April 1st, 1824. MY DEAR SIR: I have the satisfaction to transmit you three copies of the bill, which received the Royal assent yesterday, for declaring slave-trading to be pi

racy.

These copies are, the bill as printed for the House of Lords, in which shape, as no amendment was made in that House, it received the royal assent; but some few days will elapse before it can be published in the usual form, among the laws of the pr sent session.

I have the honor to be, dear sir, your very faithful

obedient servant,

RICHARD RUSH, &c. &c.

W. HUSKISSON.

Mr. Canning to Mr. Addington.

Foreign Office, April 2, 1824. SIR: I herewith enclose to you several copies of the bill which has now passed into a law, affixing to the crime of carrying on the slave trade by British subjects, the pains and penalties attached to piracy.

You will lose no time in calling on Mr. Adams, and communicating this act of Parliament to him, in proof of the anxiety of his Majesty to carry into early and effec-other respects, remain in full force and effect. tual execution the convention lately concluded on this subject by the United States; and, with reference to that clause in the act which provides for possible alteration in the course of the session, you will explain to the American Minister that this clause has in view no change

III. And be it further enacted and declared, That all so inquired of, either according to the ordinary course of law, an every the offences, hereinbefore specified, shall and may be the provisions of an act passed in the twenty-eighth year of t reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled "An act for Pirates, or according to the provisions of an act passed in the forty-six

18th

2d SESSION.

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, entitled "An act for the more speedy trial of offences committed in distant parts upon the high seas."

IV. And be it further enacted, That this act may be amend ed, altered, or repealed, by any act or acts to be passed in this present session of Parliament.

IN SENATE,

Saturday, May 8, 1824. Mr. Barbour, from the Committee on Foreign Relafions, to whom was referred, on the 30th April, the Mesage of the President of the United States of that date, together with the Convention with Great Britain, reported the same without amendment. The said Convention was read the second time.

Wednesday, May 12, 1824.

The Senate proceeded to consider, as in committee of the whole, the Convention with Great Britain, concluded at London, the 13th March, 1824; and Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Thursday, May 13, 1824.

The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain, and Mr. Barbour proposed the following amendment thereto, which was read:

"Art. XII. This Convention shall continue in force until one of the parties shall have declared its intention to renounce it; which declaration shall be made at least six months beforehand."

Monday, May 17, 1824.

The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the Convention with Great Britain, together with the amendment proposed on the 13th instant; and, on motion, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Wednesday next.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
May 21, 1824.
Message from the President of the United States.

TO THE SENATE OF THE U. STATES:

[Sen. and H. of R.

whole or part, or navigated for, or in behalf of, any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall land from any such ship or vessel, and on any foreign shore seize, any negro or mulatto, not held to service or labor by the laws of either of the states or territories of the United States, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall decoy, or forcibly bring, or carry, or shall receive, such negro or mulatto, on board any such ship or vessel, with intent as aforesaid, such citizen or person shall be adjudged a pirate, and on conviction thereof, before the circuit court of the United States for the district wherein he may be brought or found, shall suffer death.

"Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That, if any citizen of the United States, being of the crew or ship's company of any foreign ship or vessel, engaged in the slave trade, or any person whatever, being of the crew or ship's company of any ship or vessel, owned wholly or in part, or navigated for, or in behalf of, any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall forcibly confine or detain, or aid and abet in forcibly confining or detaining, on board such ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto, not held to service by the laws of either of the States or Territories of the United States, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall, on board any such ship or vessel, offer or attempt to sell, as a slave, any negro or mulatto, not held to service as aforesaid, or shall, on the high seas, or any where on tide water, transfer or deliver over, to any other ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto, not held to service, as aforesaid, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall land, or deliver on shore from on board any such ship or vessel, any such negro or mulatto, with intent to make sale of, or having previously sold, such negro or mulatto as a slave, such citizen or person shall be adjudged a pirate; and, on conviction thereof, before the Circuit Court of the United States for the district wherein he may be brought or found, shall suffer death.”

And on the 28th February, 1823, the House of Repre sentatives, by a majority of 131 to 9, passed a resolution to the following effect:

66 Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to enter upon, and prosecute, from time to time, such negotiations with the several maritime powers of Europe and America, as he may deem expedient, for the effectual abolition of the African slave trade, and its ultimate denunciation as Piracy under the law of nations, by the consent of the civilized world."

Apprehending, from the delay in the decision, that some difficulty exists with the Senate, respecting the ratification of the Convention lately concluded with the British Government for the suppression of the slave trade, by making it piratical, I deem it proper to communicate, for your consideration, such views as appear to me to merit attention. Charged, as the Executive is, By the act of Congress above referred to, whereby and I have long been, with maintaining the political re the most effectual means that could be devised were lations between the United States and other nations, I adopted, for the extirpation of the slave trade, the wish consider it my duty, in submitting for your advice and of the United States was explicitly declared, that all consent, as to the ratification, any treaty or convention nations might concur in a similar policy. It could only which has been agreed on with another power, to ex-be by such concurrence that the great object could be plain, when the occasion requires it, all the reasons which induced the measure. It is by such full and frank explanation, only, that the Senate can be enabled to discharge the high trust reposed in them with advantage to their country. Having the instrument before them, with the views which guided the Executive in forming it, the Senate will possess all the light necessary to a sound decision.

By an act of Congress of 15th May, 1820, the slave trade, as described by that act, was made piratical, and all such of our citizens as might be found engaged in that trade, were subjected, on conviction thereof, by the circuit courts of the United States, to capital punish ment. To communicate more distinctly the import of that act, I refer to its fourth and fifth sections, which are in the following words:

accomplished; and it was by negotiation and treaty, alone, that such concurrence could be obtained, commencing with one power, and extending it to others. The course, therefore, which the Executive, who had concurred in the act, had to pursue, was distinctly marked out for it. Had there, however, been any doubt respecting it, the resolution of the House of Representa tives, the branch which might, with strict propriety, express its opinion, could not fail to have removed it.

By the tenth article of the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, concluded at Ghent, it was stipulated that both parties should use their best endeavors to accomplish the abolition of the African slave trade. This object has been, accordingly, pursued by both Governments, with great earnestness, by separate acts of legislation, and by negotiation, almost unin"Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, if any citi-terrupted, with the purpose of establishing a concert be zen of the United States, being of the crew or ship's tween them, in some measure, which might secure its Company of any foreign ship or vessel, engaged in the accomplishment. slave trade, or any person whatever, being of the crew rship's company of any ship or vessel, owned in the

Great Britain, in her negotiations with other powers, had concluded treaties with Spain, Portugal, and the

18th CONGRESS, 2d SESSION.

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

insincerity, respecting the great result of the final sup pression of the slave trade, and that its first and indi pensable consequence will be, to constrain the Execu tive to suspend all further negotiation with every EG ropean and American power, to which overtures have been made, in compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives, of 28th February, 1823, must be obvious. To invite all nations, with the statute f piracy in our hands, to adopt its principles as the law of nations, and yet to deny to all the common rights search for the pirate, whom it would be impossible thr detect, without entering and searching the vesse would expose us, not simply to the charge of inco sistency.

[Sen. and H. of R. Netherlands, in which, without constituting the crime as | misphere, are subjects of discussion. In a third, our ter piracy or classing it with crimes of that denomination, ritorial, and other rights upon the Northwest Coast, are the parties had conceded to the naval officers of each to be adjusted; while a negotiation on the same inter other, the right of search and capture of the vessels of est is opened with Russia. In a fourth, all the most im either, that might be engaged in the slave trade, and portant controvertible points of maritime law, in time of had instituted courts consisting of judges, subjects of war, are brought under consideration; and, in the fifth, both parties, for the trial of the vessels so captured. the whole system of South American concerns, connect In the negotiations with the United States, Great Bri-ed with a general recognition of South American Inde tain had earnestly and repeatedly pressed on them the pendence, may, again, from hour to hour, become, as it adoption of similar provisions. They had been resisted has already been, an object of concerted operations of by the Executive, on two grounds: one, that the con- the highest interest to both nations, and to the peace of stitution of mixed tribunals was incompatible with their the world. constitution; and the other, that the concession of the It cannot be disguised, that the rejection of this con right of search in time of peace, for an offence not pira-vention could not fail to have a very injurious influence tical, would be repugnant to the feelings of the nation, on the good understanding between the two govern and of dangerous tendency. The right of search is the ments on all these points. That it would place the Ex right of war, of the belligerant towards the neutral. To ecutive administration under embarrassment, and subextend it, in time of peace, to any object whatever,ject it, the Congress, and the nation, to the charge of might establish a precedent which might lead to others with some powers, and which, even if confined to the instance specified, might be subject to great abuse. Animated by an ardent desire to suppress this trade, the United States took stronger ground, by making it, by the act above referred to, piratical; a measure more adequate to the end, and free from many of the objections applicable to the plan which had been proposed to them. It is this alternative which the Executive, under the sanctions and injunctions above stated, offered to the British Government, and which that Government has accepted. By making the crime piracy, the right of search attaches to the crime, and which, when adopted by all nations, will be common to all; and that it will be so adopted, may fairly be presumed, if steadily persevered It must be obvious, that the restriction of search for in by the parties to the present convention. In the mean pirates to the African coast, is incompatible with the time, and with a view to a fair experiment, the obvious idea of crime. It is not doubted, also, if the convention course seems to be, to carry into effect, with every pow-is adopted, that no example of the commission of that er, such treaty as may be made with each in succession. crime, by the citizens or subjects of either power, will In presenting this alternative to the British Govern- ever occur again. It is believed, therefore, that th ment, it was made an indispensable condition, that the right, as applicable to piracy, would not only extirpate trade should be made piratical by act of Parliament, as the trade, but prove altogether innocent in its operation it had been by an act of Congress. This was provided In further illustration of the views of Congress on this for in the convention, and has since been complied with. subject, I transmit the Senate extracts from two resolu In this respect, therefore, the two nations rest on the tions of the House of Representatives, one of the 9th Fe same ground. Suitable provisions have also been adopt-bruary, 1821, the other of 12th April, 1822. I transmit ed to protect each party from the abuse of the power granted to the public ships of the other. Instead of subjecting the persons detected in the slave trade to trial by the courts of the captors, as would be the case if such trade was piracy by the law of nations, it is stipulated, that, until that event, they shall be tried by the courts of their own country only. Hence, there could be no motive for an abuse of the right of search, since such abuse could not fail to terminate to the injury of the captor.

also, a letter from the Charge d'Affaires of the British
Government, which shews the deep interest which that
Government takes in the ratification of the treaty.
JAMES MONROE

Washington, 21st May, 1824.

Extract of a report of the 9th of February, 1821, to the House of Representatives, by the Committee to which had been referred so much of the President's message as relates to the slave trade, and to which were refe red the two messages of the President, transmitting in pursuance of the resolution of the House of Repres sentatives, of the 4th of December, a report of the Secretary of State, and enclosed documents relating to the negotiation for the suppression of the slave trade.

Should this convention be adopted, there is every reason to believe, that it will be the commencement of a system destined to accomplish the entire abolition of the slave trade. Great Britain, by making it her own, confessedly adopted, at the suggestion of the United States, and being pledged to propose and urge its adoption, by other nations, in concert with the United States, will find it for her interest to abandon the less effective system of "The detestable crime of kidnapping the unoffending her previous treaties with Spain, Portugal, and the inhabitants of one country, and chaining them to slavery Netherlands, and to urge on those and other powers in another, is marked with all the atrociousness of pirs their accession to this. The crime will then be univer-cy, and, as such, it is stigmatized and punishable by our sally proscribed as piracy, and the traffic be suppressed own laws. forever. Other considerations of high importance urge the adoption of this convention. We have at this moment pending with Great Britain, sundry other negotiations, intimately connected with the welfare, and even with the peace, of our Union. In one of them, nearly a third part of the territory of the State of Maine is in contestation. In another, the navigation of the St. Lawrence, the admission of consuls into the British islands, and a system of commercial intercourse between the United States and all the British possessions in this he

"To efface this reproachful stain from the character of civilized mankind, would be the proudest triumph that could be achieved in the cause of humanity. On this subject, the United States, having led the way, owe it to themselves to give their influence and cordial co-opera tion to any measure that will accomplish the great and good purpose; but this happy result, experience has de monstrated, cannot be realized by any system, except concession by the maritime powers to each other's ships of war of a qualified right of search.

18th CONGRESS, 2d SESSION.

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

"If this object was generally attained, it is confidently believed that the active exertions of even a few nations, would be sufficient entirely to suppress the slave trade." Extract from a report made April 12, 1822, by the Committee on the Suppression of the Slave Trade, to whom had been referred a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 15th of January preceding, instructing them to inquire whether the laws of the U. States, prohibiting that traffic, have been duly executed; also, into the general operation thereof, and if any defects exist in those laws, to suggest adequate remedies therefor, and to whom many memorials have been referred touching the same subject.

"But the conclusion to which your Committee has arrived, after consulting all the evidence within their reach, is, that the African slave trade now prevails to a great extent, and that its total suppression can never be effected by the separate and disunited efforts of one or more of the states: and, as the resolution to which this report refers, requires the suggestion of some remedy for the defects, if any exist, in the system of laws for the suppression of this traffic, your committee beg leave to call the attention of the House to the report and accompanying documents submitted to the last Congress, by the Committee on the Slave Trade, and to make the same a part of this report. That report proposes, as a remedy for the existing evils of the system, the concurrence of the United States with one or all the maritime powers of Europe, in a modified and reciprocal right of search on the African coast, with a view to the total suppression of the slave trade.

"It is with great delicacy that the committee have approached this subject, because they are aware that the semedy which they have presumed to recommend to the consideration of the House, requires the exercise of a power of another department of this government, and that objections to the exercise of this power, in the mode here proposed, have hitherto existed in that department.

"Your committee are confident, however, that these objections apply rather to a particular proposition for the exchange of the right of search, than to that modification of it which presents itself to your committee. They contemplate the trial and condemnation of such American citizens as may be found engaged in this forbidden trade, not by mixed tribunals, sitting in a foreign coun try, but by existing courts, of competent jurisdiction, in the United States; they propose the same disposition of the captured Africans, now authorized by law, and, least of all, their detention in America.

[Sen. and H. of R.

had the honor of making my first communication to you on the subject of the convention, concluded on the 13th of March last, between the British government and the American Envoy in London.

At that time, in pursuance of instructions conveyed to me from his Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Af fairs, I made known to you the earnest desire of the British government, that no time should be lost by that of the United States in proceeding to the ratification of that instrument, in order that it might be returned to England in time to have it submitted to Parliament prior to its prorogation, which was expected to take place at an early period.

I flattered myself, sir, that the wish, thus anxiously expressed by me on behalf of his Majesty's Government, would meet with a corresponding order on the part of all the authorities to whom it was addressed, especially considering that the project of the convention originated with this Government, at the instigation of the House of Representatives, and that his Majesty's ministers had not hesitated an instant to comply with the preliminary act desired by the President, of procuring the passage of a bill through Parliament, denouncing as piracy by statute, the African slave trade, when exercised by British subjects.

This consideration, sir, necessarily precludes my entertaining a doubt as to the eventual ratification of the convention by this government, and I therefore attribute the delay which has hitherto occurred, to the pressure of other business, which it would have been found in convenient to postpone.

I think it my duty, however, to press once more, and in the most earnest manner, upon your attention, the anxiety of the British government on this subject.

Of this anxiety, a most convincing proof may be found, in the circumstance of an extra packet having been dispatched, by them, for the sole purpose of conveying to this country the act of Parliament declaring the slave trade piracy, immediately after its passage through both Houses, in order that the want of that document might not oppose any obstacle to the sanction of the convention, by this Government.

Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to add, that I now de tain that same packet for the express purpose of reconveying the instrument in question, as soon as ratified, with the utmost possible celerity, to England. I have the honor to be, with distinguished consideration, sir, your most obedient humble servant, H. U. ADDINGTON. Hon. JOHN Q. ADAMS,

Secretary of State.

IN SENATE-FRIDAY, May 21, 1824. Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the Convention with Great Britain, together with the amendment proposed on the 13th instant; and the amendment having been modified, as follows:

"They contemplate an exchange of this right, which shall be, in all respects, reciprocal-an exchange which, deriving its sole authority from treaty, would exclude the pretension, which no nation, however, has presumed to set up, that this right can be derived from the law of nations; and, further, they have limited it in their conception of its application, not only to certain latitudes, and to a certain distance from the coast of Africa, but to a small number of vessels to be employed by each power, and to be previously designated. The visit and search, thus restricted, it is believed, would ensure the co-opera-affirmative, yeas 36, nays 2. tion of one great maritime power in the proposed exchange, and guard it from the danger of abuse.

"Your committee cannot doubt that the people of America have the intelligence to distinguish between the right of searching a neutral on the high seas, in time of war, claimed by some belligerants, and that mutual, restricted, and peaceful concession, by treaty, suggested by your committee, and which is demanded in the name of suffering humanity."

Mr. Adding don to the Secretary of State. WASHINGTON, May 16, 1824. Sin: Nearly three weeks have now elapsed since I

free to either of the parties, at any time, to renounce the said Provided, That an article be added, whereby it shall be convention, giving six months' notice beforehand :

On the question to agree thereto, it was determined in the

Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barbour, Barton, Bell, Benton, Branch, Brown, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Elliott, Findlay, Gaillard, Hayne, Holmes, of Maine, Holmes, of Mississippi, Jackson, Johnson, of Kentucky, Henry Johnson, Josiah S. Johnston, Kelly, King, of Alab. King, of N. Y. Knight, Lloyd, of Mass. Lowrie, Mellvaine, Macon, Mills, Palmer, Parrott, Ruggles, Seymour, Taylor, of Va. Thomas, Van Dyke, Williams.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Chandler and D'Wolf.

And no further amendment having been made, the Convention was reported to the Senate.

On the question to concur in the amendment made in committee of the whole, to wit:

18th CONGRESS, 2D SESSION.

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

Lasert at the end of the resolution for the ratification of the
Convention,
Provided, That an article be added, whereby it shall be
free to either of the parties, at any time, to renounce the said
Convention, giving six months' notice beforehand,

It was determined in the affirmative, yeas 34, nays 2.
Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barbour,
Barton, Bell, Benton, Branch, Brown, Clayton, Eaton, Ed-
wards, Elliott, Findlay, Gaillard, Hayne, Holmes of Maine,
Holmes of Miss, Jackson, Johnson of Ken., Josiah S John-
ston, Kelly, King of Alab. King of NY Knight, Lloyd of Mass.
Lowrie, Mellvaine, Macon, Mills, Parrott, Ruggles, Seymour,
Taylor of Va. Thomas, Van Dyke, and Williams.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Chandler and
D'Wolf.

Ordered, That the Convention pass to a third reading.
SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1824.

The Convention with Great Britain was read the third time; whereupon, Mr. Barbour submitted the following motion for consideration, which was read:

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[Sen. and H. of R.

vaine, Mills, Noble, Parrott, Ruggies, Seymour, Taylor of Ind. Taylor of Va. Van Dyke, and Williams.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Bell, Brown, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, J. S. Johnston, King of Alab. Lowrie, Macon, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren, and Vare.

On motion, to strike out of the 7th article the following words:

Resolved, Two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein, That the Senate do advise and consent to the ratification of the Convention made and concluded at London, the thirteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, between the United States of America and the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: Provided, That an article be added, whereby it shall be free to either of the parties, at any time, to renounce the said Convention, giving six months' notice beforehand. On motion, by Mr. Macon, to postpone the further consider-Taylor, of Va. Van Dyke, and Williams. ation of the Convention to the first Monday in December next, it was determined in the negative, yeas 16, nays 26. and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Sena

"And it is further agreed, that any individual, being a citizen or subject of either of the two contracting parties, who shall be found on board any vessel, not carrying the flag of the other party, nor belonging to the subjects or citizens of either, but engaged in the illicit traffic of slaves, and seized or condemned on that account, by the cruisers of the other party, under circumstances which, by involving such individual in the guilt of slave trading, would subject him to the penalties of piracy, he shall be sent for trial before the competent court in the country to which he belongs, and the reasonable expens es of any witnesses belonging to the captured vessel, in proceeding to the place of trial, during their detection there, and for vice, shall, in every such case, be allowed by the court, and their return to their own country, or to their station in its serdefrayed by the country in which the trial takes place:" On the question, "Shall these words stand as part of the article ?" it was determined in the negative, yeas 22, nays 21. Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barton, Benton, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Findlay, Hayne, Holmes of Miss Jackson, Johnson of Ken. Henry Johnson, Kelly, King of N. Y. Knight, M'Ilvaine, Mills, Noble, Parrott, Seymour,

The yeas tors present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Bell, Brown, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Knight, Lowrie, Macon, Ruggles, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren, and Ware.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Barbour, Barton, Benton, Branch, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Findlay, Hayne, Holmes of Miss. Jackson, Johnson of Ken. Henry Johnson, Josiah S. Johnston, Kelly, King of N. Y. Lloyd of Mass. McIlvaine, Mills, Noble, Parrott, Seymour, Taylor of Ind. Taylor of Va. Van Dyke, and Williams.

On motion by Mr. Josiah S. Johnston, to strike out of the Convention, art. 1, line 4, the words "of America"-On the question "Shall these words stand as part of the article?" it was determined in the negative, yeas 23, nays 20.

Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barbour, Barton, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Findlay, Hayne, Holines of Miss. Jackson, Johnson of Ken. Henry Johnson, Kelly, King of N. Y. Lloyd of Mass. McIlvaine, Mills, Noble, Parrott, Seymour, Taylor of Ind. Taylor of Va. Van Dyke, and Williams.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Bell, Benton, Branch, Brown, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott. Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Josiah S. Johnston, King of Alabama, Knight, Lowrie, Macon, Ruggles, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren,

and Ware.

On motion of Mr. Josiah S. Johnston, to strike out, art.1,line 5, the words " and of the West Indies"

Thote who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Barbour. Bell, Branch, Brown, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Josiah S. Johnston, King of Alab Lloyd of Mass. Lowrie, Macon, Ruggles, Smith, Taylor of Ind. Thomas, Van Buren, and ware.

On the question to agree to the resolution, amended accordingly, for the ratification of the Convention,

It was determined in the affirmative, yeas 29, nays 13.
Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs Barbour,
Barton, Benton, Branch, Brown, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards,
Findlay, Hayne, Holmes of Miss. Jackson, Johnson of Ken.
Henry Johnson, Josiah S. Johnston, Kelly, King of Alab. King
of N. Y. Knight, Lloyd of Mass. Lowrie, Mellvaine, Mills,
Parrott, Seymour, Taylor of Ind. Taylor of Va. Van Dyke,

and Williams.

Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Bell, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine Macon Ruggles, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren, and Ware.

So it was resolved, two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein, That the Senate do advise and consent to the ratification of the Convention made and concluded at London, the 13th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twen ty-four, between the United States of America and the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with the article; with the exception of the second article; and of the exception of the words "of America," in line four, of the first following words in the seventh article: "And it is further agreed, that any individual, being a citizen or subject of either of the two contracting parties, who shall be found on board any vessel, not carrying the flag of the other party, nor belonging to the subjects or citizens of either, but engaged in the illicit traffic of slaves, and seized or condemned on that account, by On the question "Shall these words stand as part of the ar- the cruisers of the other party, under circumstances which, by ticle?" it was determined in the affirmative, yeas 29, nays 14. involving such individual in the guilt of slave trading, would Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barbour, subject him to the penalties of piracy, he shall be sent for trial Barton, Benton, Brown, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Findlay, before the competent court in the country to which he belongs Hayne, Holmes of Miss. Jackson, Johnson of Ken. Henry John- and the reasonable expenses of any witnesses, belonging to the son, Kelly, King of N. Y. Knight, Lloyd of Mass Lowrie, Mc-captu ing vessel, in proceeding to the place of trial, during their Ilvaine, Macon, Mills, Noble, Parrott, Ruggles, Seymour, Taylor, of Ind. Taylor of Va. Van Dyke, and Williams. Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Bell, Branch, Chandler, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Josiah S. Johnston, King of Alab. Smith, Thomas, Va. Buren, and Ware.

A motion was made by Mr. Josiah S. Johnston, to strike out the second article; and, on the question "Will the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of this article?" it was determined in the negative, yeas 27, nays 16.

Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barbour, Barton, Benton, Branch, Clayton, Eaton, Edwards, Findlay, Hayne, Holmes of Miss. Jackson, Johnson of Ken. Henry Johnson, Kelly, King of N. Y. Knight, Lloyd of Mass. Men

detention there, and for their return to their own country, or to their station in its service, shall, in every such case, be allowed by the court, and defrayed by the country in which the trial takes place:" Provided, That an article be added, where by it shall be free to either of the parties, at any time, to renounce the said Convention, giving six months' notice beforehand.

Mr. Adams to Mr. Rush.

DEPARTMENT of State, Washington, 29th May, 1824.

SLR: The convention between the United States and

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