Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-08-10

IWCtD lIG bONCTNiilSHl ana WI. IL .
kline, in the case OF the Seamen, TO cb
tain whom the Leopard made the late
attack on the Chesapeake, we are III
duced to state, that, as we understood
on application by Mr.. Erskine for theii
surrender, he was informed that u
could not be done, and was referred &c
the written answers given by the Secre'
tary of State, on preTious application
III another case, for the principles OIL
which the surrender VI British desert
ers was refused. II was remarked to
MIR Erskine, att t same time, both BY
the Secretary OF the Navy and The Sc
cretary Of State, that though the gov
ernment could not deliver up desertcrs,
il was so far from COuntcnanClng deser-
ton, that general orders had been isau-
ed 10 our naval commanders MOTTO per
NIT any British Geserturs TO be recruit
cd for the American service. They
also informed Mr.. Erskint, few days
after, that they had sufficient reason for
believing that the seamen il question
were native citizens Of the United
States this being the result Of an In
curry made by Capt. Barron, il pursu-
ancc Of orders from The Secretary VI
the Navy.+ On this point Mr.. Erskine
expressed no opinion. This was not
asked because his opinion could form
no part Of the ground on which the gov
eminent proceeded; and it was not Of
fered, because It appears to have been
his practice, and TO have been held as
his duty also, to do no more than to
transmit, without remarks, whatever
documents or Information relative 10
facts, he might Judge proper to be for
warded TO tAeBritishAdmirals on differ-
ent stations. In this case, lie accordingly
merely stated for the information Of the
British naval commander, that the re-
suit OF an inquiry made by capt. Bar
ron had satisfied our government that
the seamen, for whose surrender he
had applied, we're citizens and natives
Of the United States.
This answer was written Jan Z,
1907. Il was pr oduCed by an appEca-
ton for the surrender to their allegiance
Of certain British seamen who, having
united with American seamcn left on
board vessel ordered to Halifax as a
prize, brought her into the United
States and were charged with muIiny,
piracy, and an attempt to murder their
officers. The answer stated that not
only no prerogative for the purpose in
question is vested in the Executive Of
the United States; but that neither the
law nor the practice of nations imposes
on them an obligation to provide Tor the
surrender Of fugitives from the luria-
diCtion Of other powers--The obIiga-
ton can result only from special and
mutual stipulation which 10 not exist
between the United States and Great
Britain and which indeed, as limited
in the expired articles Of the Treaty Of
1894, do not comprehend any other Of
fences than those Of actual murder and
forgery.
The information given BY Capt.
Barron, was, that the names Of the per-
sons demanded were, William Hare,
Daniel Martin, John Straghn, Join Lii
tie, alias Francis ; and Anl6ro8e HATS.
William Ware is native Of Maryland,
was pressed from on board the brig
Neptune, by the Melampus, and had
served 5 months on board He had
before served IS months on board the
Chesapeake frigate. is an Indian
looking man and had a protection
John Straghn, was also born in Mary
land-salled from the United States fol-
Liverpool there shipped on board an
English Gulneaman, was pressed by
the Melampus and afterwards enter
ed, being determined to make his es-
cape the first opportunity. Had pro-
lection when pressed. Daniel Martin,
IS native Of Westport, in Massachu-
sets, was pressed by the Mtlampus.
lie IS man Of color, and says he lost
his protection. John little, alias Fran
els and Ambrose Watts are said to be
known by the above persons 10 be A.
mcricans, also escaped from the Me-
campus, but had not entered on board the
Chesapeake.-These men left the Me-
l4mpus in Hampton Roads took the
Captains gig, and rowed off; were
hailed and fred at from the Melampus,
but escaped to Sewall's point where
they carefully hauled Up the boat Cd the
beach, rolled up the coat, and placed
that and the oars in the boat, gave three
cheers, and moved UP the country The