New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-02-25
TIE CREOLE CASE.


- f,,,d Fzereu Esq. oc. 81.
SIN: regret to be obliged acquaint you with
ayery serious occurrence winch recently took place
in a por, Of one of the Bahama Islands.
I, appear tia, the brig Creole, OF Richtnond
Virginia, lnsor, master,=bound TO Ncw-Orlcan>
saicd from Hampton Roads Oh the .!7t!l of October
last, with cargo Of merchandise, principally TO-
bncco, and slaves. (;lbout !; 81 nnumJeir;) that
the evening OF the 1th of November, some Of the
slaves rose upou the cresgsof the vessel, murdered
a passenger named Hewcll who owned some OF
the negroes, wounded theca plain dangerously, and
the FIRST mate and two ct the cr,w sevcreiytilat
the savcs soon obtaiucd complete possession OF
the btig, which undel thc direction. was taken
into the ,u,.i of Nassau, IN the Island Of Ncw
Providence where she arrived on the morning OF
the 9th Of Tn" ,-irc months that at the request OF
American Cou-ti il that place, tie=fovcynor
ordered IA euai.l on bplsd to prevent the escape Of
the muuec!< and with F., gicly Ia an Investigation
Of the circumstances Of the ,hlt such invc--
,igl,ion was accordingly made by two Blitsll=mn-
qi,tIu,c5, and that examination ;t-o took place
BIZ tic Consul. that "a the rcportzo III" magi,-
,rs,s,. nineteen of the -ly.,szwerc imprisoned by
- the local authorities I1ving been concerned III
the mutiny and mlndi,, and tlcirsurlrnd.r tie
Consul to be sent L, tire Emitted Stats ior trial for
these crimes refused, on the ground ,lat the
Governor wished frs, to communicates wi;h the
II Government III England tl" subject that
through tie interference OF the Colonial aulihur-
Ties. and even before thc=liiiilary guard WIS re-
novcd. the create. number al The remaining slaves
wore liberated. and encouraged to 20 bcyond the
mower OF the master of the vessel. Or the Amcri-
can Consul by proceedings Which neither of them
could control. HIS Is the substance OF the c,>c.
9, stated in protests, made Nassau and
e,e at Ncw-Orle;tns. and the Consul letters,
gcther with aundry dispositions taken by linn
copies OF all which palcrs are herewith tr,ns
rtted
The British Governn,rn' cannot but see t!iat this
cast as presented in tlcsc= papcrs is one calling
loaJy Tor redress lie Creole was passing
from one port OF I'll. United States to another, in
a VOYAGE perfectly lawful, with merchandise on
board, aud also with slaves, or persons bound
10 service. natives of America, AID bcon.ing to
American citizens, and which arc recognised as
property by the Constitution u" the United St,tcs
in those States in which slavery exists. In
the course Of the voyage some Of the slaves
rose upon the master aud crew, sIibdued them.
murdered one man. and caused the vessel to
E be carried into Nassau. he vessel was thus
taken 10 British port, not voluntarily, BY
these who had the lawful authority over her, but
forcibly and violently. against the masters will
and with tn, consent OF nobody but the mutinccrs
and muldercrs: for there is evidence that these
ou,rages we're copmittcd with the concurrence Of
any of the slaves except those actual engaged in
them. Under these circumstances, 1t would seem
to have been the plain and obvious duty OF the
authorities at Nassau, the port ut Il friendly Power
assist the American Consul III putting an cnd to
the captivity of the master and crcw,=lcStorins to
them the control of the vessel and enabling them
to resume their voyage and TO take thu rnutiilccrs
md own country To answer
their crimes before the proper tribunal. One
cannot conceive how any other course could ustiy
be adopted. or how the duties imposed by that
part of the code regulating the intercourse OF
iiicndlv States, which is generally called the
comfy Of Nations. could otherwise DC fulfilled.
Here was no violation of British law attempted OF
intended on the part of the OF the Creole,
nor any infringement OF the principles OF the law
of nations. The vessel was lawfully engaged III
passing from pert to port III the United States
By violence and crime She carried, against
the master will. out ot her course, into the port
of friendly Power. All was the result OF force
Certainly ordinary comfy and hospitality entitled
him to such assistance from the authorities OF the
place us should anabc linn to resume and prose
cute his VOYAGE and bring the offender, To justice
Bat, instead of this the facts be aS represented
in these papers not only did the authorities give
aid for any such purpose. but they did actually
interfere TO set free the slaves. aud enable them II
dSperse themselves bevoud the reach Of the master
of the vessel or their proceeding like tins
cannot but cause deep feeling in the Cnitcd States
1t has been my purpoSc='o write YOU atiensth upon
this subject in order that you might lay before the
Government of Her Majesty fully and without re-
serve. the views entertained upon 1t by that OF the
United States. and the grounds on which those
views ule taken. Bur the early return of the
packet prcclodcs the opportunity OF gong thus
into the case in this despatch; and as Lord Ash
burton NAV shortly be expected here. 1t may DC
better TO enter fully into IL with hum. II his powers
shall be broad enough to embrace IT. Some
knowledge of the case will have reuchcd England
before his departure, and very probably his Govern
men, NAV have given him instructions But l re-
quest nevertheless that YOU lose no time III calling
Lord Aberdeen attention To it III general man
nci, and giving him a NARRATIVES OF the transaction,
such as MAY be framed from the papers now#com-
rlunicated with distinct declaration that II tue
facts turn out as stated this Government thinks II
d clear case Tor lndemnlhcation,
You vii! sec ,lat in his lcttc. OF the eth january,
s37. to Mr.. Stevenson. respecting the claim for
compensation IN the cases OF the Comet. Encom!-
UNI, and Enterprise. Lord Palmerston says thu,
=" Her Majesty Government Is OF opinion that the
rule By winch these claims should DC decided, Is,
thar those claimants must be considered entitled
10 compensation who were lawfully in possession
o their slaves within the British territory and who
were disturbed i'll ,hcir Legal possession OF those
slaves bv tunc ;onarics OF The British Govcramcnt
This admission is bread enough cover the case
of the Creole If it> circumstances arc correctly
stated. Blu, it does not extend 70 wla, We con
slider the true doctrine. according 10 the laws and
usaccS of ,iutionS and therefore, cannot be acqui-
csced in as the exactly cor,cc, general rule. |,
appears 10 this Government that not only Is no un-