Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-03-23
VOL. XIV. NO. 81

! would have been too happy 10 send hack
to just punishment, but whom even such as
| they were, we could not, without law
Surrender.
We have thus shown that the United
States government does not acknowledge
the comfy Of nations, TO which the de-
spatch appeals; and have thence inferred
that, as of general obligation, no such
comfy exists; aud that, at any rate, it
belongs not to US 10 invoke its application
Tor our benefit, when we refuse it to others.
We have also shown, by the example of
the Martinique SLAYER, that the fact of the
alleged telons being revolted slaves, would.
IN the port OF free State, make no diff.
! ference; and having shown thus much,
we might almost rest the case here. upon
the principle that we can only rightfully
ask others to do unto US as we do unto
them.
But stress is laid in the despatch upon
the fact as reported i'll the Ca pains pro-
test, aud by the Consul at Nassau, that
the authorities Of the island did actually
Interfere to set free the slaves, and 20 ena-
bic them to dispense themselves beyond
the reach of the master of the vessel. or
their owners and this is urged as PROM
inenl among the reasons that, in the iudg
mert Of the American government, con-
sttute this, a clear case for indemnifca
! ton
Assuming the facts to be as set forth in
this matter, we might be quite ready 10
agree that such proceeding on the part
OF official persons is neither discreet nor
friendly, and should subject those con-
cerned in it 10 animadversion and punish
ment by their own government; but can
it alter the relation in which these revcltcd
slaves stood TO the laws of the colony?
4 Can it impair their rights, or in any man
ner impose responsibility upon them, or
take away their remedies? That Great
Britain would express regret, that any of
her magistrates had interfered officially to
induce these co'ored persons Of the Creole
: to leave the vessel, and seek safety and
freedom beneath the British flag, may be
confedntly anticipated, because of the Tn
kind feeling that such interference could
) not fail 10 occasion in the United States
but is it TO be supposed, thai, without such
: Interference, the slaves would have re-
. manned on board the Creole. and gone
e voluntarily into the hopeless bondage of
: Louisiana sugar plantations?
= Is it probable that, on an island where
= there are multiudes of free colored per
: sons, vessel arriving under such circum-
Stances as the Creole, would not have
enlisted all their sympathies and efforts for
: the Liberation and safety of those of their
\ | -
there ready 10 sue out writ of habeus
1 corpus 10 behalf of each one of those col
: ored persons, whom the captain of the
= vessel, re-instated in his command, might
;, seek to detain? And this brings US to
another point made in the despatch, that
the authorities of Nassau ought to have
: aided the officers Of the Creole in reclaim
= ing the slaves, and carrying them on to
> their ultimate destination.
. Suppose the military guard, which, for
: tine, held the vessel, had compelled the
+ slaves to submit, and that, when all was
? ready for departure, the vessel should be
: boarded by an officer of court with a
+ process addressed alike 10 the British mil
v itary officer, and the American captain,
= commanding them TO produce before the
r said court, each and all of these coiored
l. persons, TO the end that inquiry might be
o made in the course of law, whether they
n were acting of their own accord or under
Mt what circumstances they were Detained
OF must not that process have been obeyed
IS, and, once within the authority of the court
every one of these people that desired t
10 remain in Nassau, must have been declar
IN ed entitled to do so?
2? But the despatch asserts, that because 0
r the violence by which the vessel had beer
ar interrupted IN her voyage, and carried in
~ to Nassau, she was not properly within
ut British jurisdiction, and should still hay,
Ell been considered as on her voyage, "anc
as not subject 10 any inquiries bv the Brilisl
ut authorities as to what was her cargo o
as what the condition of persons on board"
he Such, however, is not, we apprehend
nd the usage ofany country. If a vessel Q
IS any nation should put in here tomorrow
either from stress of weather or seized b
IS, nutineers, the custom house would SEN
ed its officers on board, and report must b
n made of her cargo, destination, &c
Ia Ii, too, while in our harbor any offenc
lth or crime were committed, such as SNUG
SlIHS' VI I1uIdCf, SDS "OuIu NC HSlQ SUI
rs ject, we imagine, to inquiries by our au
"a thorilies, and the condition OF persons o
eat board would assuredIy be verified.
Id Once within port, the laws of III
x country 10 which it belongs attach, how
~ ever the vessel may have reached there.
no How otherwise can The mutineers ofth
nc Texas vessel OF war, who recently mur
ny dered their lieutenant in the port of New
on Orleans, and some of whom have been a
go rested. be punished The murder wa