The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-30
From the NJ Y Commercial advertiser.
nnIIIN On INlAI II q lIN


THE CREOLE CASE.
We claim the readers special attention TO the ioi
lowing essay, from able and clear-mnded lurist
on the subject of the late instructions oil the SER
tary of State to the American Minister IN Lohuun
touching the Creole case. IL is the misfortune Vi 'ne
Secretary of State that he has present ensnos, wne
have so industrously msrepresentsu '' -
To create a widely Disseminated elronoous op.'l,ou
both as To its doctrines and its claims An impression
ia very generally entertained that MIR Webster has
demanded a surrender of the slaves, mutinous and
otherwise who were on board the Creole but ~ l.
moi 40 Nv a careful study of that document and
,er,sal of the exegess of our correspondent II will
be seen that the Secretary has only demanded ndem
,niGcation on the principle laid down by Lord Aber
deem himself, u, full Investigation Of the case q
shall appear that they liberated by The direct aud I'M
proper inierposition Of The British authorities.
THE CASE OF THE CREOLE.
To the Editors Of The Commercial .1drertiser;
| believe il to be the undoubted right Of every
American citizen TO discuss iearlessy and freely the
measures OF those who as agents OF the people, adj
minister the Government of his country, but hold il
the duty of every citizen who canvasses those
sures with a view to the approval condemnation
of their authors, TO understand first what the mea-
spres really are ! have been led To make this remark
from the many observations have heard and read M
the newspapers upon the instructions OF MIR. Webster
to Mr. Everett in the case Of the Creole. When
those instructions were published in the Commercial
read them with that sort of attention which man
at the close of very busy day, weared and requir
ing retirement and rest is apt to bestow upon long
newspaper article | laid them aside without more
attentive study Of them, knowing that / should b,
likely to understand fully the precise merits of the
question when the topics of the letter should become
matter of discussion between our Government ant
that Of Great Britain But | have heard SO many
opprobrous epithets, and such severe ccnsure cas-
upon the Secretary of Stae--a man for whose judg
ment ability, patriotism, and love of liberty, had
long entertained high regard-for writing these in
structons, that, having little leisure on my hands,
I.t.r ...,AIe a.. her nnraf Ult ylax n
ascertain really and truly what they contain. have
executed that determination, and now sit down to
give you the results Of deliberate per,isal.
First, then, have to say that of the intelligent
Wings who have given their opinions very freely upon
these Instructions heaping with lavish hand censure
upon MIR. Webster not one in twenty at this mo-
ment tell what they contain--they cannot give
curate outline of their contents they cannot state
what the facts of the Creole doubt whether
in ten of the newspaper editors throughout the
country can do have of course, no other foun-
dation for these assertions than comparison between
the instructions now lying before me, and the re-
marks and observations which | have read and
heard
sis it possible" says one that Mr.. Webster has
demanded that the slaves who killed their master on
board the Creole should be given up for execution to
the authorities of this Government" "No, has be ~
says the person questioned Yes" is the reply,
"and if they not surrendered must go to war
with England to protect the institution of slavery
Oh horrible Who would have thought it of Mr.
Webster Great he is he has fallcn--sold him
self to the South O o. on
Now Messrs Editors, it is utterly untrue that MIR.
Webster demands, the surrender Of the slaves who
killed their MASTER or who killed ON board the
Creole-whether he was the owner of the slaves who
killed him does not appear from the dispatch. But
what does the Secretary of State instruct Mr. Everett
to demand The following sentence contains the
instructions IS; But request, nevertheless, that yo
lose time in calling Lord iberdens attention 10 il
the case in general manner and giping him
rare Of the transaction such may be framed from the
papers communicated cih distinct declaration,
I FACTS TURN OUT AS STATED, this Gorei1i-
,nent thinks ii CLEAR CASE FOR INDEMNIFIc ALTON"
What the "facts as stated 7" The Creole"
was bound from Richmond Va, to New Orleans ha-
wing one hundred and thrty-f five slaves on board
nineteen Of the slaves, the others not participating,
upon the Of the vessel, murdered passen-
ger named Hewell, who owned some Of the negroes,
wounded the captain dangerously, and the first mate
and two of the crew severely the slaves obtained
complete possession of the brig, which, under their d.
rection taken into Nassau British colonial port
On the arrival Of the brig Nassau at the request of
the American Consul, the Governor ordered guard
on board to prevent the escape Of the mutneers and
with view TO investigation OF the circumstances OF
the case; such investigation was accordingly made
by two British magistrates, and examination also
took place by the Consul report of the magistrates
nineteen of the slaves were imprisoned by the local
authorities having been concerned in the mutiny
and murder The surrender Of these nineteen persons
TO the American Consul refused the g1ound
that the Government wished first with
the Government in England on the subject Thorough
the interference Of The colonial authorities The greater
ber of the remaining sapes liberated and encouraged
10 go beyond The pOcer Of the master Of The reSse the
american Consu by proceedings chch neither Of Them
could control.
This, then Is not the Of a slave going on shore
and escaping from the claims of master, or obtain
ing a writ OF habeas corpus, and thus awaiting HIM
self of the laws of the country where he actually
was-but the local government interfered to set him
at liberty and put him beyond the reach of his
ter The rule lax Gown by LJrd fanerslon HIM
SELF is stated in the despatch to be TINS those claim
ants must be entitled 10 compensation oho lar
fully in possession Of thar stanes HiHn The British
territory and ioto disturbed in their legal pos
session Of those sidres by functiondries Of The Bril-
tish Government" "Thls admission it Is contend.
ell by Mr. Webster, sis broad enough to cover the
case of the Creole, if its circumstances correct
ly stated. Ii is, however, cpntendel by Mr.. w ebser
that the rule should be laid down broader than this
and he goes on in seres of remarks to show what
in his judgment Is the true rule. A review of these
remarks shall not take, but be it rene hbered
that under the actual circumstances attending the
of the Creole and these circumstances clear
ly stated, aud constantly referred To hroug bout the
despatch, there is claim for surrender of the
slaves but for remuneration, and the claim as to The
under review is made to rest upon the fact that
the British authorities interfered to Set them at Iiber
~, and pu them beyond the reach Of the captain If
the brig.
Have the Wing newspapers, eager TO find accusa-
ton against Mr.. Webster, because he could no
why the members OF President Tylers Cab-
net should voluntarily surrender their posts informed
their readers OF these facts : Wal they No.
AN AMERICAN.
From HE Boston Daily Times
{, A Il T., l., fsn NJ