Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-01
DEPARTMENT. or STATE.

Washington, 18th Dec 1925
ihe secretary OF state, TO whom has been refer
red the resolution Of the ii. of r., oc the 9Th inst
requesting the president "to inform that house
whether, by virtue of resolution passed on the
10th day OF May last, he has entered into any, and
II any, what, negotiation with the British govern
rnent relative TO the surrender Of fugitive slaves
who may have taken refuge within the Cana dian
provinces belonging TO said government" has the
honor to report TO the president that presuming i,
VIII be satisfactory TO the house TO be informed OF
the instructions which were given to the late min
lister Of the U. s. at the court of ST. James, on the
subject matter OF the resolution and of the result
OF the negotiation which was opened in conse-
.auence OF them, extracts are herewith, submitted
from instructions given TO Mr.. Gaatin on the Ig,h
on June, 1926, and the 2iih OF Feb. 1927, and a
copy OF letter addressed to him on the 9th o..
May, 1927, together with extracts frcr. The de-.
patches OF Mr. Gallatin. under date Of she 2lst of
December, 1926, the 9th Of July, 1927 and the
26sh OF Sept. 1927.
The secretary Of state has, also the honor 10 re.
port, that, in pursuance OF the resolution OF the
house representatives of the 10th of May hast,
an instruction was given on the 18th of June last
10 Mr.. Barbour copy Of which is now laid be.
fore the president together with copy of the on.
~ communication which has been vet received
ON him OH that subject, H CLAY
E.rfr6ct from instructions 81 lie department OF
state, to Mr.. GGHdfip, enjoy erfraordinarv
and ninisteJ pleuipotentiary 10 great Britain.
dated, June 10, 1926.
'You are, accordingly authorized and instruct.
ed to propose stipulation
lst For the mutual surrender Of deserters from
the military and naval service, and from the ner-
chant service OF the two countries. Persons who
have been naturaiized by the laws OF either par
~, must be excepted from the operation of the
article. The sixth article OF our convention with
france, of1S22, will furnished suggestions for the
preparation OF all article on this subject.
And secondly-A mutual surrender Of all per.
sans held 10 service labor under the laws Of one
party who escape into the territories of the other
Our object ia this stipulation is, 10 provide for a
growing evil which has produced some. and, if il
De not shortly checked, IL likely 10 produce much
more irritation. Persons Of the above dissertation
escape, principally from Virginia and Kentucky,
info Upper Canada, whittier they are pursued. bv
those who are lawfully entitled TO their labor and
as there is no existing regulation by which they
can be surrendered, the attempt TO recapture them,
leads TO disagreeablc collisions. In proportion as
they are sHccessful in their retreat 10 Canada viii
the number OF fugitives increase, and the causes
of collision multiply.
They are, generally, the mos! worthless 0. their
lass and far, therefore. from being an acquisition
which the British government can be anxious TO
make, the sooner, we should tbink, they got
len rid of,the better for Canada. II may be asked,
why, IL they are so worthless are we desirous Of
getting them back! The motive is 20 be found in
the particular interest which those have who are
entitled to their service, and the desire which is
generally felt 10 prevent the example of the lugi.
tipes becoming contagious. III il be urged that
posed stipulation, concession without an euujva.
lent there being no corresponding class of persons
ga her North American con,ine plal dorninions YOU
WIZ reply:
Ist Thatfhere is similar class in the British
&esf Indies; and, although the instances are not
numerous, some have occurred OF their escape
or being brought, contrary to law into the United
states.
2diy. That Great Britain would probably Obisin
Mn advantage over us in the reciprocal restora.
lion Of military and maritime descriers, which
v7onld compensate any that we might secure over
Der in The practical operation Of article for the
mutual delivery OF fugiiiyes from labor; and
3dly AT all events, the disposition 10 cultivate good
peighborhood, which such an Article would imply
could not fail 20 find compensation in that, or in
acme other way, VI te already immense aad still
Increasing intercourse between the two countries
The staes Of Virginia & Kentucky are particularly
anxious on this subject The general assembly Of
the latter has repeatedly invoked the interposiJjop
Of The government Of the s. with g. Britain -
{on will, therefore, press the matter whilst there
exists any prospect Of your obtaining satisfactory
Enlargement OF IL. Perhasi the British govern
saent, whilst they refuse TO come under any obi
cation by treaty, might be- at the same time, vii
Eng = I'VE fisertions 20 hs colonial authorities q