Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23

We understand, there are spurious notes OF the de-
nomination of $50 the office OF the Exchange Bank
at Clarksyile in circulation They are 10 be distn
ruished from the genuine by having coloring de-
| vice on the back of the notes We authorized 10
caution the public on this subject by one who IS well
| informed in relation to IT.
CASE OF THE CREOLE.
| ARGUMENT OF ANDREW STEVENSON, ESQ. j,
Late Minister Of the United Suites, in London, IN the
Case Of The Shares Mrona cihom The consent Of their
onncrS, upon The Colonial Territory Of Great Brifain
To Lord Paiuerston: December 3d. 1897.
| The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plcnpotentary from the United States, has the honor
10 acknowledge the receipt OF the note addressed to
him by Lord Palmerston, her Majcstys principal Sc
cretary Of State for Foreign Affairs, of the 18th instant
in 10 the note Of the undersigned, OF the l2th of
Nav last relative the claims OF the owners OF the
slaves shipwrecked in the American vessels the
"Comet," the "Encomium," and the "Entefprise, :
near the Bahamas, and liberated by the authorities OF
those islands.
1t is with deep regret, that the undersigned now
learns from the note OF his Lordshp, that IT IL the IN
tie ton of her Maestys Government 10 adhere 10 lis
determinations of not only refusing all compensation to
the owners Of the slaves board the enterprise,
but for any other slaves belonging TO citizens of the
United States, who may hereafter under any cIrcum-
stances whatever be brought within the domnons and
jurisdiction Of the British Crown
That the Government OF the Y. States, led as well
by Justice citizens, by respect for its rights
Of sovereignty will regard this repeated decision OF
Her Majestys Government, and the principles re-as-
serted in Lord Palmerstons note, with increased SEN
sbility and as affordng additional grounds for painful
dissatisfaction and complaint, the undersigned cannot
doubt. He will, however, take an early opportunity
of transmitting the note ofhs Lnrdshp 10 his Govern
ment, from whom II will doubtless receive the attention
''s s' a,...., ,sgmca deems proper to
submit 10 Lord Palmerstons consideration, some obser-
yatons which his Lordships note has rendered neces.
sary, and which the undersigned feels il his duty to
make
Having in his previous communications exhibited
fully the grounds upon which these claims rest and
discussed the important principles involved in them,
the undersigned would now abstain from any comment
on his Lordshps note, but that il might be inferred
from his silence, that the principles which have again
been re.nsserted by her Majestys Government the
basis Of IFS decision, could either be admitted
quesced in by that Of the U. States
This too becomes the more necessary, in
sequence of the nlisapprehensons under which his
ordship labours, TO Of the opinions and princ
Piles supposed have been advanced by the undersgn
ed in the previous correspondence, and which It is due
as well to himself his Government, TO take early
opportunity Of correcting.
Lord Pamerston in his note is pleased TO say, that
the grounds upon which the claim for indemnity the
Of the enterprise, has been placed nadmis
sbe, inasmuch they founded on the assumption
that, by the laws Of nations Independent State 10
not entitled 10 enact law declaring that the cond
ton of Slavery shall, under circumstances, CONT
nue. TO exist within lis dominions Now, with due sub
mission, the undersigned begs TO say that this assump
ton By his ordship entirely unjust, and springs from
total msnerpreiaton of The doctrines asserted BY
the Government of the United States, in support Of
these claims Of its citizens.
The Government of the u. States have not main.
tanned, has the Undersigned for it, that by the
laws of Nations indepe nden State had The right
of abolishing by its laws slavery within its dominions
does any such consequence flow from the grounds
upon which the present claim On the contrary,
as an abstract and general proposition, the right Of
passing such laws has never been denied by the U. S.
The right freely admitted as undenable in the last
note which The Undersigned had the honor Of address
ing 10 Lord Palmerson, as was the principle asserted
by his Lordshp, that the municipal laws Of indie
pendent State might rghttully control the persons
property of the citizens subjects of other States who
by voluntarily coming within the limits of such State,
placed themselves under its jurisdictions provided they
did not violate any Of the principles of the public law
the rights Of any other State. II also admitted
that municipal laws either aboshng, or permitting
slavery, in conformity with the Law Of Nations
The Government of the U. S., therefore, could have
had pretext of right 10 object 10 any law of her Ma
esys Government the subject of Slavery, opera
ting within it's domnions, and not in violation of the
Rights Of other Nations So far therefore, from main.
tanning the principle supposed by His Lordshp, the
the fact.
The question then, is not whether Great Britain lad
the right Of abollshng Slavery by her laws, but whe.
Their the present case was one to which those laws
could rghtully be extended, consistently with Public
by Lord Palmerston, that whenever questions as to
previously existing contracts arise between persons
who may be on board foreign vessels entering Bri-
tlsh ports, they TO be decided according 10 the
laws Of The country TO which such parties may belong,
and not according TO the British laws and that in con-
formity with this principle, her Majestys Government
would give effect within her domnions TO any contract
entered into in any foreign country, being bound 10
construe the contract according TO the laws the
try in which il made but his Lordship goes on 10
say, that the present claim did not of
tract between the parties concerned, namely the for.
master and slave, but out Of the assertion which
man makes of right of property in his fellow man
such right cannot be admitted nasmuch the laws Of
pery shall be recognized enforced within any part
of the British dominlons 1t must also be borne in
mind, that His Lordshp at the time admits thai,
if vessel driven BY shipwreck distress into Bri
tish port containing irrational animals or inanimae
things, the owner will not justly be deprived of his
property under the operation of municipal law 10
which he had not voluntarily submitted himself
The whole controversy, them turns upon the prin.
cple thus broadly asserted by her Maiestys Govern.
meni that persons cannot be made subjects Of property
and that slavery has ceased 10 exist in every form
within her Nlujestys dominons, all slaves brough,
therein, under any circumstances TO be regarded
free; and that in seizng and beraling them her Ma.
Jestys Government perpetra,es wrong and conse.
quentiy, can mske no compensation Upon the sound.
of this principle and the fact of the total abolition
OF slavery in the West Indies her Maesiy's Govern
men rests It's decision and in addition 10 the arpu
which the undersigned had the honor heretofore
OF presenting TO his Lordshps consideration on these
two points, he will now add some others OF a general
| character
And first 10 the question Of pYopsrty Fran