Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-16

coming to that state under the penalties of
bring imprisoned. corporal, punished, and
made Slaves "I. Being AN officer in his Ma
Jesty's navy, | hU, knnwn III. value Of our
seamru, aud could not help demonstrating
against this most oppressive law ias, mon;h
when was IN Charleston, where / carried |
part ora crew, fun IN number, of these un- |
fortunate people. in the ship Alarmion from
this port; but my "Reminiscences were of
little o. no avail nor could the British Con
sui after repeated application To him by every
master in that port, brionsing to British YES
sells, Obtain any alteration, Or qualification al
the law. The MarmiUn was not well moor
ed at the wharf, befOre the officers, who were
| appointed Ia put this law in execution, came
On board, and forcibiy carried one Of the four
OF these men To Jail, where he remained dur
ing my stay in Charleston the three Others
l had previously conveyed on hoard Of a
packet on the eve of sailing to New York,
| where they were likely to obtain "a passage
more readily to Eogland but on board this
vessel they were apprehended by men who
seemed anxious only TO get their fees, aod
| thrown into prison. drpriving them of the OPP
portuniiy to comply with the Laws, which they
would have done in a few hours The release
of these unfortunate men from jaol, fees and
loss OF their services, put me to considerable
expense.
You will, no doubt Sir, be better able to
Judge of the justice of such laws, enacted
against great portion of the subjects of this
country, especially Uf seamen out Of this port,
than | can, better knowing the commercial
relationship between the two countries.
am, Sir, Ssr. &c.
Signed, PETER PETRIE.
Copy
DIR. Arlington to the President Of the United States.
Washington, April 9th, pa.
SiR-lt will he in your recollection that
! His Majrsty's Envoy 10 this Country, and my
self, have both had occasion, within the last
twelve months, to address representations to
you ON the subject of = law enacted in tn.
State of South Carolina in December, 1899
prohibiting, under severe penalties, the en-
trance into that State of free persons of CO.
lour. Against this law His Mairsty's Minis
ter protested generally az being in manifest
contraventioD of treaties existing between
Great Britain and the United States aud
,tstifecis were more particularly pointed out
ny me IN August last, as having operated prac
t'caliy In manner highly prtjudicial to the
coinnerc and oppressive 10 the subjects
Of Great Britain.
10 His Nlajesiy's Envoy, Sir, you gave a
written, and 10 me verbal, assurances that
every effort should be made ON the part OF
the Executive Government TO remedy the
grievances complained Of, and prevent re-
currence nf them.
lament to say, that those efforts, in what
ever way applied, have hilhesto not been at
tended with the good effects which might
nave been expected to result from them
The evil still continues in undminished vigoi,
and II becomes my duty, in pursuance of in
s'ructlons which l have recently received
from His Majesty's Secretary Of State, To
| H..
ous consideration, and To demand redress and
rcparalion for H. uries inflicted ON subject of
Ills Majesty who has had the misfortune To
TALL under the oppressive weight of the sta
tute in question.
The complainant, Mr.. Petrie, of Liverpool.
as will mere particularly appear by his own
letter, addressed to The President of His Ma
Jesty's Board of Trade, of which have the
honor herewith to enclose a copy, having
occasion IN prosecution of his commercial pur-
suits, to touch at the port of Charleston, in a
vessel called the Marnon, in the month of
December of last year, had scarcely entered
that port, when one Of his crew, man of
colour, was seized by the police officers, and
iorcibly carried of to Jail, where he remained
'ncarcerated during the stay Of the complain.
ant at Charleston. Three others of his crew
whom he had placed ON board packet for
Tue purpose Of having them conveyed. vi,
New York, to England, We're also appreh.nd
ed on board that vessel in the sam. forcible
manner, aud imprisoned All the remon.
s'rances OF Mr.. Petrie against this violent and
unJustiiIabie act, whether made personal
~, or through His Majesiy's Consul AT
charleston, were Of no avail. During hr sta Y
| at Charleston the men remained in prisoo
aoo Tue Tees attending their ultimate release,
together with the loss of their services nm,
the complainant to considerable expense.
| feel persuaded, Sir, that the bar. rec;.
tai OF the outrage above recorded will si,ffc.
without any further commentary on INV uar,
10 induce you, agreeabIy TO the assurances
ALREADY gwen by you, To use every effort in
your power, not only to procure for Mr. Pc
tire, that redress 10 which be seems To be an
Justly entitled but TO ioduce the authorities Of
oouth Carolina to repeal the obnoxious law,
or al least 80 to modify il, as that il shall no
| longer operate Ia the detriDent of nations
trading to the United States. on the faith 81
conventions, OF which il is direct and un-
qualified violation.
have the houor to be, with distinguished
consideration.
Or, your most obedient humble servant
''s"ea' H. U. ADDIYGTON.
(corY.)
| Mr. Tht TO Mr.. .qd,ms.
| Office Of the Attorney General of The y. 50
, ,,, Nay g. 1924.
SlR-Tbe Sd section of the Legislative AZ,
Of South Carolina, entitled, An act for the
better regulation and government of free me-
groes and persons of color, and for other mr..
poses" which you submit for my opinion ia
in the following words
| Here follows the section as already rec;ted I,
The question which you PROFOUND for INV
opinion on this section, IL " whether il is
compatible with the rights of nations in smitv
with The United States, or with the national
constitution ?"