Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-17

OF the government and the nation had
been impartial, in what light would Ruiz
and Montez have appeared These At
ricans had been torn from their own
country, shipped at Lomboko, against the
laws of Spain. against the laws of the
United States, against the laws OF ma
tions,-as far as the United States, and
Spain, and Great Britain were concerned,
they were in fact and in law on the
continuation of the original voyage. they
were in perishing condition, dropping
dead from day to day, no less than six
teen having died OF the treatment they
received from Ruiz and Montez before
they reached our shores, while during the
last fourteen months not one has died in
an American prison. The moment they
were restored to the absolute wants of
human nature, furnished by the tender
ness of our laws, the mortality ceased, and
they have enjoyed perfect health. At the
great day of accounts, said Mr.. A, who
is to be responsible for the souls Of those
sixteen men that died? Ruiz claims them
as his merchandise. Who, in the closing
hour of his life, would have those sixteen
passing before his eyes and exclaiming.
|. Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow.
Who, then, were the oppressors and rob-
bers from whom this vessel was rescued2
Certainly not Montez and Ruiz.
The Article can not apply to human
beings. It says the ships and merchan-
die shall be restored entire. Is that
treaty made between cannibal nations, and
does it intend to Sstipulatc that when hui
man merchandise is restored, the legs and
arms shall not be cut off, This single
word sentire is sufficient to exclude hu
man beings from the scope of the Article
But it says merchandise, rescued from
robbers. Who are The robbers, and wha
is the merchandise? According to the
construction of the Spanish Minister, the
merchandise is the robbers, and the rob
5ers are the merchandise; the merchan
die was rescued out of its own hand, ant
the robbers were rescued out of the hant
of the merchandise These Africans ART
themselves the robbers out ofwhose hand
they themselves have been rescued. 1
this the meaning of the treaty2
} With regard to Article 10 of the treaty
he showed that if it applied 10 any party
; it was to the Africans, who were in pos
session.of the ship, and who were pursu
ing laaeful voyage, while that OF Rui
: and Montez was clearly unlawful. TIL
treaty says they shall be treated as on
own citizen. Suppose the case bad beer
an. American vessel, Baltimore clipper
, fitted out for the African slave trade, AM
: had performed its voyage, directly or in
f directly. and with fify-four African vic
, tins on board, had been taken possession
/ of by our cruisers. how would our ow
: citizens have been treated2 The captain
j. would have been seized and hang. n
7 appeal before this Court could have save
1 him. Is that the provision of the lot
: Article, which is sought to be applied i
t behalf of Ruiz and Montez! Perhaps
would be nearer reward for their merit
=, than the restoration of these poor negroe
t to their power would be, or any other al
!. enabling them to complete their voyage.
But must pause. You have sma
i specimen OF the manner in which th
b whole three hours were occupied. MOI
8 like it..o:morrow. ]. L.