most
vigorous efforts to suppress the trade." _House Journal_, 27 Cong. 1
sess. pp. 31, 184.

~1841, Dec. 7. President Tyler's Message.~

Though the United States is desirous to suppress the slave-trade, she
will not submit to interpolations into the maritime code at will by
other nations. This government has expressed its repugnance to the trade
by several laws. It is a matter for deliberation whether we will enter
upon treaties containing mutual stipulations upon the subject with other
governments. The United States will demand indemnity for all
depredations by Great Britain.

"I invite your attention to existing laws for the suppression of the
African slave trade, and recommend all such alterations as may give to
them greater force and efficacy. That the American flag is grossly
abused by the abandoned and profligate of other nations is but too
probable. Congress has, not long since, had this subject under its
consideration, and its importance well justifies renewed and anxious
attention." _House Journal_, 27 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 14-5, 86, 113.

~1841, Dec. 20. [Great Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and France:
Quintuple Treaty.]~ _British and Foreign State Papers_, 1841-2, p. 269
ff.

~1842, Feb. 15. Right of Search: Cass's Protest.~

Cass writes to Webster, that, considering the fact that the signing of
the Quintuple Treaty would oblige the participants to exercise the Right
of Search denied by the United States, or to make a change in the
hitherto recognized law of nations, he, on his own responsibility,
addressed the following protest to the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs, M. Guizot:--

"LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
"PARIS, FEBRUARY 13, 1842.

"SIR: The recent signature of a treaty, having for its object
the suppression of the African slave trade, by five of the powers of
Europe, and to which France is a party, is a fact of such general
notoriety that it may be assumed as the basis of any diplomatic
representations which the subject may fairly require."

The United States is no party to this treaty. She denies the Right of
Visitation which England asserts. [Quotes from the presidential message
of Dec. 7, 1841.] This principle is asserted by the treaty.

" ... The moral effect which such a union of five great powers, two of
which are eminently maritime, but three of which have perhaps never had
a vessel eng