Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-03-02
Mr. For to M. Forsyth,
WASHINGTON. Jan. 90. L

EIS: 1 am instructed 10 represent w
you that the attention Of her Maiesly's
Government has been seriously directed
10 The case Of certain African negroes
found ON board the Spanish ship Ga mis-
FAC, - the same persons whose cause has
been brought before the courts Of law ~
the United Safes, aud for whom a pow
ei(ul and humane in crest appears to BE-
felt in this country as w"ll as in England
1t is known to her NJ jesly's Govern
ment that Ihese negr0es were INN ,rIed
into Cuba direct from The cnYsi of Ar,cl.
-ila Portuguese slave vessel called the
Tacora, in the summer of $50, and that.
shortly after tfer arrival, they were pur.
chased as slaves at tho IIlvtnl by Two
Spahiards % the npmas Of Jose Ruiz anil
Pedro Monez Rn z and Mnnlez then
placed tho negroes on bplrd lhs schpon.
cr Amsial, intending to convey them to
another port in Cuba. 1t appears lhIi
during the voylge, The negroes, with t.
view 0i recovering their liberty, seized
possession nf The vessel, put tho muster
to death. and ordered tho rom lining
whites 10 navigate The vessel to he cIasl
Of Africa. Tho whites, however, direc
ted their curse towards Nprh America,
until they were fallen in with by tho Uni
ted States brig Of w,r Washington, when
the Am'siud WIS finally brought into The
port Of New London, in Connecticut
The proceedings which have taken place
subsequently 10 The arrival of the ne
groes in the United States are sufficient.
ly well known to yOu.
Now, her Mriesty's Government have
10 observe, that, since the year 1920. il
has become unlawful, according 10 the
law Of Spain, to import negfoes from AFR.
CT as slaves into the Spanish dom mons.
and that, as he negroes here referred
10 had been lewly imported from A'rcl
into Cnh', .aal could not by law be i'm.
ported as slaves, they must in the eye oI
the law be considered rs free parsons.
And Great Britain is also bound to r..
member that the law Of Spain which f.
-nally prohibited the slave trade through.
out The Splnish dominions. from the tlato
Of the 30th of My, 1920, ('hs progis ms
of which law are contained in the KiJg
of Spain's Royal Cedula Of the l0,h Of
Deccmber, 1917 WIS passed in compli.
ance with treaty obligation TO that rf.
feet, by which the crown of Spain had
bound iiseflO the crown Of Great Britain,
and for which valuable compensation.
in return, was given by Great Britain
TO Spain. as may be seen by reference TO
ihs 20, Sd. and 4th articles Of n public
treaty concluded between, Great Britain
and Spain on tho 23d Of September,
1877. a...
Her MajsstJ'S Government, therefore,
ere moved by special apd peculiar rea,
S0ns 10 take an interest in the fate Of
these unfortunate Africans, who are
known to have been illegally and felOn.
ieasly reduced to slavery by subjects Of
Spain.
g, It is next 10 ba observed TINT Great
Britain and The United States have mulu
ally engaged themselves to each other,
by the l0.h article of tho treaty 0f Chen,
q Use their best endeavors for The en-.
tire abolition Of the A(rcn slave trade.
Aud there can he no doubt Of tho fnn
intention Of both parties reIi.iOusIy 10 ful.
81 the terms Of that engagement.
Now the unfortunate Aiicans whose
case is the subject Of ihs present repre-
sentaiion, Lave been thrown BY acciden
ial circumstances into the hands Of the
authorities of the United States; aud it
nIAy probably depend upon tho action Of
the Uniled States Government, whether
these persons shall recover the ltepdnm
10 which they are entitled. ar whether
{ ey shall be reduced IL slavery, in yio.
lalion Of known laws and con rnc,s pub
licIy pissed, prohibiting tho continuance
Ofthe African slave trade by Spanish sub.
isets.
It's under these circumstances that
Her Miasiy's Government anx onslv
hope that the President of the United
States will fad himself empowered To
take such measures in behalfor The arura.
said Africans as shall secure To them The
Possession of thpir liberty, 10 which.
without doubt, they are by llw entitled.
avail myself Of this occ lsiOn 10 renew
e yon the assurance Ofny distinguished
consideration.
II. s. FOX.
TlelInn. JOHS FpRsYrn, sc. &c. &..
-~-s.r .bG 4
Tr FOrsytato Mr. For.
.f HRAgTHEST OF srArB,