Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-15


der the authority Of the government Of the
United States, for the purpose OF deliver
ing them up to the officers OF the British
ooyerrment, he therefore ordered the prl-
soners to be Immediately discharged. The
audience expressed their appreciation OF his
decision by three loud and tumultuous huz-
gas and excavations of the TORIES, and car.
RED off the deserters in triumph!
1--WE are requested to add the following
article, from the National lntel1gcncer OF
July 90, 1907.
Much error having appeared in the ac-
counts circulated of what passed between
the government and Mr. .Ertkine, in the case
of the seamen, to obtain whom, the Leo.
pard made the late attack on the Chesapeake,
we are induced to state, that We understand,
on application by Mr.. Efsklne tor their
surrender, he was informed that 1t could
NOT he done and was referred to the written
answers given by the secretary ofstate on
previous application in another case, for the
principle. upon which the surrender of Bri-
tish desertrrs was refused. twas remark
ed to Mr.. Erskine at the same time, both
by the secretary OF the navy and the secre-
t.sry of state, that although Tx government
could not deliver up deserter,, it 7vas so
far firm COUNTENANCING DESER-
TON that general orders haa been issued
to cur nayal commanders not to permit any
British deserters to be recruited tof the f.
me,ican service. They also informed Mr..
E,skIne few days after, that they had sui
6cient reason for believing that the seamen
in question were native citizens OF the y.
States this being the result Of an inquiry
by captain Barron, in pursuance OF orders
from The secretary of 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 government proceeded and it was not
offered, because it appears TO have been his
practice. and to have been held as his duty
also, 10 do no more than to transmit with
out remark, whatever documents or infor-
nation relative to facts, he might Judge
proper to be forwarded to the British adj
msals on differe ct stations. In this case he
accordingly merely stated for the informa-
ton of the British naval commander, that
the result Of the inquiry made by captain
Barron had satisfied our government that
the seamen tor whose surrender he had ap-
Piled were citizens and natives of the L.
States.
This ans,cer 7vas 7v,itten Jan. Z, 1907.
It zvas produced by an aPpAeatian far the
surrender to their allegiance ef certain Bri-
fish seamen left on Joard vessel orderedt to
HalJfds as Prize, brought Ter into TIE Z.
States, ard zoere charged with mutiay, bi
racy, and an attempt to murGer their effcers.
The G'7Szoer stated, that net onky no trero-
satioe far the turt9se in question is vested
in the executive Of the United States, but
that neither Tie lazv ner he practice ef ma
t'ons imposes on them an obligation to pro-
vide far the snrrendtr q .fHgit'ves trom the
Jurisdiction Of other f01reys. Tie obkga-
tion can result ony from special and mutual
stibulctio7ls, (Which do not exist betzueen the
United States and Great Britain, and 7vhich,
indeed, as limited IN the expired articles q
Tie treaty ot 1894, do nat comprehend aay
other oFences than Mose o actual Murder |
and .j5rsery.
------------~rssHs83sHeHz1