Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-03-11

| tad, The slaves were forced in openly by
United States officer. Yet in the Danisi
case, Mr.. Writ, then Attorney General o
the United States, used this strong Ian
euage:
"Denmark does not tolerate slavery il
St. Croix; and any attempt OIL the par
of The United States, or the individual cit
izens thereof, under the sanction and pro
lection Of their Government, to Interfere
with the Danish regulations in this respect
would be an invasion of the sovereignty
of Denmark, and, if avowcd and unre'
dressed OH our part, just cause OF war
To take away the slaves from the posses
sion Of their owners, whether by seduction
invitation. connivance, or ignorance ana
mistake, affected or real to bring them to
the United States, aud to refuse to return
them TO their owners, on the call Of their
Government, would be such violation ol
private property, such a lawless infrac-
ton of the rights and sovereignty, as 10
expose US to The just resentment Of tina,
nation, and the merited reproach Of all
The civilized world. We have, in my
opinion, just as much right to order our
national ships to unlurl the banner of free
dom among the slaves of all The West In
dia Islands, and proclaim insurrecton and
liberty among lhem, as we have to detain
this single slave. Pub. Doc. II. r. No.
1919, pages CT and GS.
Besides, the Spanish minister, in the
name of his Government. and as its ac-
credited representative, has formally de-
manded these negroes as the properly of
Spanish citizens. The presumption ought
TO be, that he understood the laws of his
own country, and that he had recognized
tic usually accredited evidences of title.
lie claimed That they should be delivered
undcrrIe treaty Of 1895. The portions of
iIla, treaty bearing upon the point, and
the obligations ol' which were renewed by
subsequent treaty bearing upon the fol-
lowing words, viz:
"ARTICLE s. In case the subjects and
inhabitants of either party, with their ship
ping, whether public and Of war, or pri-
vale and Of merchants, he forced, through
stress ofweathcr, pursni, Of pirates or ene-
mics, or any other urgent necessity, for
seeking Of shelter and harbor, to retreat
and enter into any oltle rivers, bays. roads
or ports, belonging 10 the other party, they
shall be received and treated with all hu-
manity, and enjoy all favor, protection
and help, and they shall be permitted 10
refresh aud provide themselves, al reason.
able rates, with vctuaIs and all things
ncedrul for The subsistence of their per-
sons, or reparation of their ships, and pros
cculion Of their voyage; and they shall no
ways be hndered from returning out Of
the said ports or roads, but may remove
aud depart when and where they please,
without any let or hindrance.
"ARrIcLE Q. All ships and merchan-
disc Of wha, nature socver, which shall be
rescued out Of the hands of any pirales or
on The high seas, shall he brought
into some port Of either Stale, and shall be
delivered 10 the custody of The officers of
that port, in order to be taken care of, and
restored entire to the true proprietor, as
soon as due and sufficient proof shall be
made concerning the property thereof.
ARTICLE 10. When any vessel of OF
thcr party shall ho wrecked, fOunuered or
otherwise damaged, on the coasts or with
in the dominion Of the other, their respec-
tive subjects or citizens shall receive, as
well for themselves as for their vessels and
effects, The same assistance which would
be due TO the inhabitants Of the country
where the damage happens, and shall pay
The SINE charges and dues only as the said
inhabitants would be subject to pay in a
like case; and if the operations of repair
should require that the whole or any part
of the cargo be unladcn, they shall pay no
duties, charges, or fees, Oh the part which
they shall reladc and carry away"
All these portions Of the treaty with
Spain show that the spirit and true ia,en.
ton was, that the citizens Of either coun-
try should be undsturbed in the territory
of the other, when they were forced there
by the causes above enumerated; and that
as to all their rights and property, they
should be reinstaled in the same position
they were in when under The flag aud in
The territory of their own country. As
these provisions were intended TO preserve
The harmony and free Intercourse of the
two nations, the treaty ought 10 be liberal
Iy construed, with view to promote that
object. There were more Of great nation
al objects in it than private, or for the adj
jus,meut of private interests and rights. 1t
look the intercourse of the two countries
ont of the general Law of nations. and at
tempted to bring us closer together by trca-
iy slipulalions.
The language of the Slh Article is, '.All
ships and merchandise, of 'chat nature 80.
ercr," shall be restored enlire," &c. This
treaty was made in 1906, when slaves
were not only merchandise" i'll Spain,
but in almost every State in this Union /;
when even the slave trade from the coast
of Africa Was carried on openly by both
countries. and in The profits which, the
people Of Connecticut themselves partook
largely. Under these circumstances, it is
moi to he supposed that either nation in
tended, in 1895, to exclude slaves from
being merchandise" And The language
is. "ships and merchandise of ,chat nature
Scorer" The construction as to the true
meaning of the treaty at the time il was
made, cannot for ii moment be doubted
As TO whether the slaves are TO be consider.
ed as :. merchandise or uol, we have au.
,boritv u.hirh nvnn the sick ly can, oc Rrit.