Africa and the American FlagFoote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull)
History
Africa and the American Flag
Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull)
Africa, West -- Description and travel; Liberia -- History -- 1847-1944; Slave trade -- Africa, West
He added, that as it was probable that he might not meet the John
Adams previous to the Perry’s leaving the coast for Porto Praya,
the commander of the Perry would oblige him, by forwarding a copy
of that letter to his senior officer, for the information of the
commander-in-chief of the American squadron, as it would be his duty to
lay it before the British commander-in-chief, in the sincere hope that
some arrangement would be made by those officers to put a stop to that
nefarious system on the southwest coast of Africa.
A boat had been dispatched from the Perry to Loanda, which found the
Louisa Beaton, still offering no cause of suspicion, lying in that port.
On the 17th of April, the commander of the Perry informed the British
commanding officer that he had received and forwarded the above letter,
agreeably to his request; intimating at the same time that he had
boarded the Louisa Beaton at sea, several days before her arrival,
and found her to be a legal American trader--a character which she
sustained while at anchor with the several men-of-war at Ambriz; and
that he had no reason, after an absence of three days, to suppose
that she could, in the mean time, have fitted for a slave cargo; and
therefore did not consider it to be his duty again to board her; that
he was happy to inform him that the report of the Louisa Beaton’s
having taken slaves at Ambriz, was untrue; and that she was then at St.
Paul de Loanda.
In relation to the British commander “not taking it for granted, that
the flag displayed by any vessel is a sufficient evidence of her
nationality,” the commander of the Perry remarked that the flag which a
vessel wears is _primâ facie_, although it is not conclusive proof of
nationality. It is a mere emblem, which loses its true character when
it is worn by those who have no right to it. On the other hand, those
who lawfully display the flag of the United States, will have all the
protection which it supplies. Therefore, when a foreign cruiser boards
a vessel under this flag, she will do it upon her own responsibility.
On the 19th of April, the British commander acknowledged the receipt of
the communication of the 17th instant, in reply to his of the 15th, in
which he expressed himself glad to learn that the report of the Louisa
Beaton’s having shipped a cargo of slaves at Ambriz, was incorrect; but
as vessels were disposed to change their nationality, and escape with
slaves, “in so very short a period of time as a few hours,” he would
respectfully suggest the necessity of keeping a strict watch over the
movements of the Louisa Beaton, should she appear again on that part of
the coast.
Two armed boats were at this time frequently dispatched from the Perry
a long distance in chase of vessels, when the winds were too light to
enable her to overhaul them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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