The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-03

o. were in your possession at the tine % the rstcsti-
on q the treaty peace b. the President OF the Uni
ted states The construction put upon this article by
US ~ that sil private property, and all slaves Your
possession, whether On land WATER the ratic-
ton Oh the treaty oi peace, ca he restored. We
place this construction upon the first article Of the
treaty, because 1t appears to have originated in the
inost amicahle dispositions OF both the American and
British commissioners Admissible on the part of the
American commissioners in demanding what might be
restored without Inconvenience Amicsb!e on the
partoi the British commissioners in promising
tore all that could he restored without great incouven-
ehee. For We cannot persuade ourselves, that the
restoration O private property slavesis be limited
To the siaves property originally sken in the forts
or places you occupied for 1t must he obvious to you
SIR, and It must be obvious to all that there are no
slaves and tha, ;hereis but little private property
Vcr taken ia forts. The limitation that appears to ex-
Isl m The Lrs part Ol the first article the treaty
such property as msy remain ~ the forts and places IN
your possession, IS obviously eoniined artillery and
other pGlie property taken ia such forts aud places,
and which, nOuce removed, would have required
much uoohle aud much eNpence 10 restore. And
,h's cOrcitson IS the ObVeus from noticing that
IA the following part OF the same article, archeves
records deeds, aad papers. which objects Oi
tran port, promised 10 be restored, into whosoever
hands uey l.ey have fallen, whereoever they may
have been transferred
Begging that may have answer epon this sab
ect, deeply interesting the Inhabitants OF Geor-
sa, as soon possible, remain, sir respectfully
your very osedeGt servant. &c.
Which after having read, he promised to
answer the morning follow ing. And here it
is proper to observe, that at this meeting and
at the very many that followed it, admiral
Cock6urn VS. calm and his manner courteous
i'll high degree. During the evening of this
day. we understood admiral Sir Alexander
Cochrane had arrived, and consequently we
should not receive an answer to our note until
there was a conference between admiral
Cuckburn and himself. At this delay we felt
no regret, as we hoped from him, from many
causes not necessary 10 state, a mere liberal
construction OF the treaty: the weather was
80 bad that 1t was the 10th before this
communication took place, Immediately after
which admiral CoCkburn transmitted us the
following note, in answer to the one we had
addressed 10 him.
Head Quarters, Cumberland Island,
the 7M March, 1915.
ihave had the honor TO receive the
documents which you state yourselves authorized to as
sure me is true copy of the treaty of peace that has
oecn concluded between our respective governments
AID which sI,5i been instructed TO ay before me Nv
Gems. PIucsncy and Floyd. Accompanying this do
cusient am likewise honored with your note of this
day. informing of year being authorized to receive
from me any public or private property slaves to be
restored by under the LIST article Of the. aforesaid
treaty, and explaining the construction YOU are
pleased To pat upon that article but only find in the
certified copy you have laid before me- that AL terri
toy to places possessions AIKEN during the war or a
ter the signing of the treaty (excepng ONLY as therein
except d. shall be restored without delay g. without
sing any destruction carrying away 'any of the ar
uery or other public proper y originally captured in
the said forts or places, ami which shall remain there
in upon the exchange OF the notifications of this treaty
or any slaves or other private property"
tbecomes, therefore, alone necessary foi. me IN
state to yeu that Cumberland Island being The only
;sea possession, taken from America IA this neigh
borhood, which retained by me at the dat. uf 1ha
Ratification alluded to, shall quickly as possible e.
,aetiae 1t without causing any desbuetion and shall
leave on 1t, ordever TO YOU whatever private properly
or slaves (orsiiaGy c0pteG here) detained upon the
island at the date Of the ratification
have not the ss htcst reason or inclination to Joht
the ameabe disposition state to have actuaed The
BrHishand American Commissioners in forming this
treaty appears however, clear TO me, by the ex-
prcssiOns they have thought fiji to ado0t in it, tina,
am only required and authorized make the resti-
luton hs We above stated, and must beg to decline
venturny ava opinion to whether the treaty is Dro-
perry worjed according to the intentions of the com
TnIssloners, but apprehend had they wished 10 i'm
ply (asyon cencegc) that all private property and
slaves IN my Possession Tgietier ON land or 1yafe,.
were to be restored, 1t might have been so specified
without difficulty and although you observe there
are 40 slaves, and bit little private property taken
an orts yet the continuation of the words or MA
ces," may perhaps do away the difficulty which pre.
sented itself to you that point therefore gentle
men, in giving up this place, in conformity with the
treaty you have done me the honor to lay before me
must beg TO be excused from entering into discus
Sons relative to captures made ee7cLee on L,rd or
water, and which have been removed from the places
where captured, prior the exchange of the rat6ca
lion of the treaty.
have the honor to be, with much confederation
gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant
E COCKBURN, Rear .aos1liraL
APPROVED,
A. COCHRAN.
Sea Fetci5es, and Thomas SbaLhrg ESQ.
Gge'its on Me part The United Sfqtes fo7