The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-18
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT bril-
TAIN
Correspondence betneen the British Minister
TO ne United States and the Secretary OF
State of the United States.
Mn. Fox TO Mr.. FoRsYTH.

Washington, January 20, lS4l.
| Sir ] am instructed to represent to you that the
attention of her Majesty Government has been seri-
ously directed the case of certain African negroes
found board the Spanish ship "Amistaa the same
persons whose has been brought before the courts
of law of the United States, and for whom power
ul and humane interest appears o'be felt in this coun-
try as well as in England.
Il is known to her Majesty Government that these
negroes were imported into Cuba direct from the coast
of Africa, in Portuguese slave vessel called the Te
cora, the of 1889 and that, shortly after
their arrival they purchased slaves the Ha
by two Spaniards of the Of Jose Ruiz and
Pedro Montez. Ruiz and Montcz then placed the
negroes on board the schooner Amstad intending TO
convey them 10 another port in Cuba appears that
during the voyage, the negroes with view of recov
erng their liberty seized possession of the vessel put
the master to death, and ordered the remaining whites
to navigate the vessel to the coast of Africa, The
whites, however, directed their towards North
America until they were fallen in with by the United
States brig-oi-war Washington when the Amistad
was finally brought into the port of New London, in
Connecticut. The proceedings which have taken
place subsequently to the arrival Of the negroes in the
United States are sufficiently well known to you.
Now, her Maesty's Government have to observe
that, since the year 1920 it has become unlawful &C
cording to the law of Spain, TO import negroes from
Africa slaves into the Spanish dominions and that
as the negroes here referred to had been newly import
ed from Africa into Cuba, and could not by law be
imported slaves, they in the eye of the law be
considered free persons.
AID Graai Rri,ain is also hound to remember that
the law OF Spain which finally prohibited the slave
trade throughout the Spanish domnions from the date
Of 3Oth Of May, 1890, (the provisions of which law
contained in the King of SPANS Royal Cedula of
the 10Th of December, 1919 passed in compi
with treaty obligation to that effect, by which
the Crown Of Spain had bound itself to he Crown Of
Great Britain and for which valuable compens atom in
return given by Great Britain to Spain, may
be by reference the ID, Sd, and 4th articles Of
public treaty between Great Britain and Spain
the 23d Of September, 1877.
Her Majesty's Government, therefore, moved by
special and peculiar to take interest in the
Fate of these unfortunate Africans who knownto
have been illegally and eoniously reduced TO slavery
| by subjects of Spain
1t is to be observed that Great Britain and the
| United States have mutually engaged themselves o
each other by the 10th article Of the treaty Of Chen
to their best endeavors for the entire abolition the
| African save-tIade And there can be no doubt Of
the firm intention Of both parties religously to fulfil
| the terms of that engagement.
Now the unfortunate Africans whose case is the
subject of the present representation have been thrown
by accidental circumstances into the hands Of the
thorities of the United States; and II may probably de-
pend upon the action Of the United States Govern
men whether these persons shall the freedom
to which they ale entitled or whether they shall be
reduced to slavery, in violation of known laws and
contracts publicly passed, prohibiting the continuance
1 of the African slavc-tradc by Spanish subjects.
1t is under these circumstances that Her Majesty
Government anxiousy hope that the President of the
! United States will find himself empowered to take
such measures in behalf of the aforesaid Africans
shall secure them the possession of their liberty to
/ which, without doubt, they by law entitled.
| avail myself of this occasion to renew TO you the
assurances of my distinguished consideration.
H. S. FOX
! The Hon. JOHN FoRsyTH, &c, &c.