Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-08
FfOm the Globe.
THE CASE OF THE BRIG GRE.
OLE.

OLE.
9i We have seen several efforts ht the
North. snd,We are sorry to say even atthe
South, 10 confound and myslily the case
Of the Creole. As we really believe that
q greater outrage was never perpetrat ed {,
even By England, on the rights of the
United States, We deem it proper in very
brief way, to state the principles of the
laws Of nations, according to our under
standing Of them, applicable TO il.
. We suppose it to be indisputable, that
ell nations have an equal right of naviga-
ting the high seas-thst they belong to
ali equally, and that vessel navigating
them is absolutely under the Jurisdiction
and protection Of the nation TO which lie
belongs. Any coatro, thsrefoie exeried
by one power over ship Of another, on
the high seas, contrary 10 the requests
and desires Of its owner or master, is just
as much an aggression on the nation TO
which shs belongs, as invading her soil,
or burning down her cities on land.
3 We lay down another proposition; that
ifa vessel whilst navigating the high
seas, is, BY force, either by mutiny, pira-
.ey, or the violence of tempests, carried
into the port of another nation, it loses
none Of it's attributes Of nationality. Itis
still absolutely the property, and entirely
under the Jurisdiction Of the country
whose flag she bears, as much so as if on
the high seas, or lying within dock Of
her own country or land. And the Tea.
sons for this law amongst nations are OBJ.
yious. Involuntary conduct can give no
rights 10 others. Crimes can alter no
relations belWeen nations. On the con.
tTaFy, It has ever been held to be the du.
ty, as Il b the humane privilege, amongst
all civilized nations, instead Of assaiIing or
interfering injuriously with vessels driven
into their ports by stress Of weather, to
assist them in reiltIng, and completing
their voyages, instead Of screening mur.
derers and pirates on the high seas, when
'bFingiug The objects and victims of their
shines into their waters, they have aided !
IN their arrest, and in recovering their
properly to It's rghtfuI owners. But If
these Offices Of duly and national courte.
SPARE not dispensed, they can interfere in
no other manner. They may ascertain
hsr character and nation, and the circuEn-
stances under which the vessel enters
the port; and when finding them to be as
We suppose, they may decline assistance,
or even order her off; but they have no
right to aggrosS, or allow their citizens TO
agrees upon Ter, because not amenable
20 their laws. On this principle II is,
that . wreck does not belong to the ma. |
ton on whose shores Il Is driven, The
position is clear, that criminal violence,
eF the set Of God, can create no new
rights la the nation whose port is enter,
ed-changes no risdiction--subvert no
sovereign relations, either over persons
or property previously existing between
nations.
There is but one qualification to this
position, and that is, a state OF war. As
the principle Of war is TO annoy and de-
stroy the enemy, il matters not how he
gets within our reach. A nation is at
liberty TO aggrandize itself and beat down
lie foes, BY all the elements Of destruction,
human aud Divine. The local severe ign
~ and local laws may then properly OK.
tend over :he persons and property Of our
enemy, forced by.violencs or the tempess
within our ports But to assert or exer.d
cise, in time Of peace, such power, over
tho citizens Of a friendly nation, UNDER
such circumstances, is applying towards
them The principle of war- is, in fact,
making war. II Il identifies itself with !
mutineers and mufdeTers, il must bO
prepared TO share the fate which the ma
tion, insulled and aggressed on, has c
right 70 in6icton the principals and their .
abettors. II Il avais itself Of tempests
and misfor.unos, TO assail and plunder, il
must take the destiny OF barbarians, whom
ell civilized nations will have a right to
shastiso or destroy.
Now, ifthese positions be correct, how !,
stands the case Of the Creole when ;
squared by ihemR Il Is not case of 1
fugiiiVes from justice. We deny that The !
Creole, when arriving in the port of Mas. :
sat, under the circumstances Of force, !
mutiny, and murder, which carried her +
Into thai port, had lost one particle Of =
her nationality-had in the slightest de- y
7Fee been cast without the sovereignty =
md Jurisdiction Of the United States, or n n
bed impaired over her, to the authorities r
Dfthe Island, enc atom of either. She =,
md her crew we're as completely under =,
he protection and legitimate power of %
he United States, as flying al the wharf /,
! Richmond. No fugitives had escaped. Al
Che criminals were in her possession 4
tanding under her fag--on the pIanks Of 4,
leT deck--as absolutely amenable 10 her n
avs as if manacled in Virginia jail nr
lndeE these circumstances, the British H;
uihOTillss enter the bFig--they seize and r,
arfy cdthe muIineers and murderers- Il,
nd on the ground that their local laws ~, ~
yeEule The laws OF nations, and the laws ~
flhe United States, with respect to their In Inn
syes, their custody and sovereign power. A.,