Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23
ficcadiiy.l In this speech his LoFdSh'p

~ ficcady.l In this sPeee" ~"
distance decared- ,s - he nm.
"iu a - master not of his own choice, anu Ion,
p's"s - enter into contract, the basis OF m. -
pr, Al liberty to alter or REJECT ina, ~ r,n,
vas what these apprenticed negroes oieieu ., III.
=. Enrsh laborer who was unoer eo";, !, yos voun
tE 11be answer was, that IN one case - VIC 49,
mis'' ,hs other not In the one the Iaoolel "au ''e
's'y; " his labor in the other only triuine p!oPo'
"n' That what the advantages were, "i'." - mas
t0,ssd would arise from this apprenticeship VI Tue
sHPFss he did not know, but tins he mah'a'nea-
ner' s,<tr of apprenticeship ,cas nofhtng more or
"a @a c continuance Of the .chote system Of starery
L,t,rfr it raS IN mans .,or f,,a n,a,,her of
',ssent Parament) sand: "lhat ne ooyec'ea s,'ons
ne pres ,Lsms Of apprenticeshp. 1t was slarery
7" me name. and he trusted the clause respect.
una" annren,iceship would be completely changed;
~ Jus 'rp,her member declared, "That the scheme
VA,' nrolong slavery for years under the spec,ous
N II apprentieeship and was mere mocSery ahu sl'
s.g tlansards. -, rarl.ameh'a'y Ds"1''''
re- chs the system, thus avowed at the Tune OF i,s
j. ~, h. the Ministers of the Grown and the frenos
'e' yyernment, not to be one OF immediate aooi'-
:" ~, continued bondage; system denounced oy
ron, 'u' AZ nancipaton as one Of continued ana
ae III I,rerv which is now proclaimed on the pat'
N,,ss,y's Government as one OF total anu un-
Of ne. sssdom. and intended to place the negro ap-
s.s II the West Indies upon the ioo,"s o. NV NV
a,nrer and apprentice Vi
ise h;ch !, is asserted in his lordship ho'e, s"eS
sye' .".sr and that for limited time over tne ap'
'o - once his slave) only the same rights, winch
20, IN England has by the laws over nus 'huen.."
1san,ce or free laborer, The answer TO ,heSe iue
f,s 10 be found i'll the historical aetaiis a'.e1uy
H' !, the provisions of the act itself IL Is 10 .nese
% ,a undersigned looks for the Justification Of 'i'e
~ .:n here,ofore EXPRESSED and now repeated, 3s "
T ,,,, character of The system CT appreh.eeSp
w. ,b ac, of 1888 and if he has erred as ms iotus'f
las supposed, in regarding that system q" o no
,,l though qualified slavery, instead OF ent'e avo
'o he has the satisfaction al least OF knowing ''a
-, Ls dome 40 not only with the Government "ho
,s.sd The law but with all the distinguished advocates
md opposers Of it, who it IS fair to presume, unue,
stood what was intended by II, ana "hoSe ot"'
srch subject are entitled to respect. ,
sue' 49, a.. undersigned concur in the correctness
:. IN. opinion expressed by his Iordship as 10 ,ne
.,bts Of these negro apprentices when of0us"l ah
,hs Tinted Kingdom. In this last no'e, ms io'u.n,p
'nder.tood TO maintain that the law OF tne mothef
nt-v was now IN all respects the law OF the Coiones'
~, negro apprentices brought under any circum-
s,ocss, into the United Kingdom, would not on! ou
so,.,sd 10 their freedom but 10 damages agahs. al'
hose who might attempt TO restrain tne. " W 90 The
., - restore them to their former masters Sen .n's
-! l. Il moi, on the contrary, directly other"ise'
,,d : onnren,ces during the period OF their apPteh-
,cssbc, we're 10 be brought within The I hi'e" h'nS
sop ,rihot the express consent ~ Mftr masters wou
c mi be liable TO be seized and restored TO their mas
o. Re the 3rd section of the West India Act, 1t is
y.,es.y declared" That all sares lrho may, at any
,c from e passing Of this iet hare been Drought 'eM
n, consent al their posstssors ana al apPTeseea 'aoo
s ,cto inau hereafter nth Ike consent, DC or'nsn 'o
ann par, Of the United Kingdom Of Great brttan ana
Ieaad shalt from the passing q Tic fct, DC "oSo'"teg
and sufirey free all intents and purposes chaSoee
Here the express provision OF The act makes 'he
h,nping with the actual knO,ciedsc and consent ~ he
o1s;sr The only foundation OF the clam TO iteeoom "
ms oopren,ces and before such freedom could be es'a
bLsbed N the United Kingdom, the consent ana pr
yiy OF the owner must first be clearly ana cohcusNey
established. 1t is not perceived Them upon "nat au-
thorty it can be affirmed, that the laws OF the hotne
Country are in all repects those of tie Colonies or now
negro apprentices or slaves coming within the United
KINGDOM without the consent of their masters OF pos
SCISSORS las in of shpwreck or disreSs) can NC
sad to be free or placed beyond the control OF their
owners. The grounds then upon when lhe ,eJec''oh
Of The claim in the case of The "Enerprize has been
placed totally fall and upon the principles admitted to
govern the decision in the of the "Comet and
SEncomum, the claimants of the "Enterprlze are
entitled to demand the like indemnity from Her MaJes-
tvs Government.
ioon the subject Of the laws Of her Maesys Govern
men, for the ameora,ion or abolition of slavery within
The British Dominions, IL does not belong to the under
syaed here to speak With all such laws Foreign TO-
eranents can have nothing 20 do, when not affecting
their own rights of sovereignty. Humane and enlght
ened as such laws may be regarded by her Majesty s
Government or subjects, they cannot be permitted TO
seek their qualification the expense of the rights OF
other Nations the conhscation OF the property OF
their citizens or subjects. If the property for which
indemnity now asked had been lost by the accidents
OF commercial enterprise, the act of God, the loss
would have been borne by the claimants without epin
ing But as the injuries of which they complain have
been perpetraed under the authority of her Majesty
Colonial Government in defiance of the clearest right
and all those principles which have heretofore been held
slcred in the intercourse between Nations, It becomes
the duty Of the Government of the United States to
interpose and seek redress
The Undersigned, must therefore again repeat the
declaration contained in his note of the 18th of May,
that this decision of her Majesty's Government, and
the doctrines by which it is defended, alike incon-
ss,ent with the principles of the public law, with the
rights of sovereignty of friendly nation, and with
that high sense OF justice which belongs to the British
nation, and to Lord Palmerson, in the most re-
spectful though frank manner, that whilst the claims
Tor repaa,on for these injuries cannot be relinqushed
BY the Governme mt of the United States il yet to be
hoped that reparation will not always he withheld
The undersigned avails himself Of this OCCASION, to
renew to Lord Palmerston the assurances of his high
consideration
[Signed,l A. STEVENSON.
No. % Portland Place.
Be0uktts Of HE Richmond Uhi0'