The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-01

into the cargo of the vessel, or the con-
dition of persons on board! These per-
sons might be slaves for life; they might
be slaves for a term Of years, under sys-
TEN of apprenticeship; they might be
bound TO serve by their own voluntary
act, they might be in confinement for
crimes committed; they might be Prison
ers of war; or they might be free. How
could the British authorities look into and
decide all these questions! Or indeed,
what duty or power according to the pin
ciples of national intercourse, had they to
enquire at all! If indeed, without I'M
friendly intercourse, and Notwithstanding
the fullilment of all their duties as comfy
and assistance, by these authorities, the
master of the vessel could not retain the
persons, nor prevent their escape, then il
would he different question altogether,
whether resort could be had to British tri-
bunals, or the power of Government in
any of its branches, to compel their APP
prchcnson and restoration. No one COM
plains that English law shall decide the
condition of all persons actually incorpo-
rated with British population, unless there
be treaty siipulalions making other pro-
vision for special cases. Bat in the case
of the Creole, the coIored persons were
still on board an American vessel, that
vessel having been fOrcibly put out Of the
course of her voyage by mutiny; the mas
ter desiring still to resume it, and calling
uDon the Consul Of his Government, res
dent at the place, and upon the local au-
th0tilies to enable him so to do, by free
ing him from the Imprisonment to which
mutiny and murder had subjected him,
and furnishing him with such necessary
aid and assistance as are usual in ordna-
nv cases of disaster at sea. These per-
sons then cannot be regarded as being
mixed with the British people, or as hav-
ING changed their character at all, either
in regard to country or personal condition.
1t was no more than Just to consider the
vessel as still on her voyage, and entitled
to the sJccor due TO othercases Of distress,
whether arising from accident or outrage.
And that no other view Of the subject can
be true is evident from the very awkward
position in which the local authorities
have placed their government in respect
to the mutineers still held in imprison-
mcnt. What is to be done with them!-
How are they to be punished! The Eng
lsh Government will probably not under
take their trial Or punishment; and Of
what use would it be to send them to the
United States, separated from their ship,
and at a period SO late as that, if they
should be sent before proceedings could
be instituted against them, the witnesses
might be scattered over half the globe
One of the highest offences known to hu-
man law is thus likely to go altogether
UNPUBLISHED.
In the note of Lord Palmerston to Mr..
Stephenson, above referred to, his lord
ship said "slavery being now abolished
throughout the British Empire, there can
be no well founded claim for compensa-
ton in respect of slaves who, under any
circumstances, may come into the British
colonies, any more than there would be
in respect to slaves who might be brought
into the kingdom" have only to re-
mark upon this, that the Government OF
the United States sees no ground for any
distinction founded on an alteration of
British laws in the colonies. We do not
consider that the question depends at all
on the state of British law. It's not that
in such cases the entire agency of British
law is invoked and refused it is, that UNI
friendly interference is deprecated, and
those good Offices and friendly assistance
expected which government usually at-
ford5 to a citizen of a friendly power when
instances occur of disaster and distress.
All that the United States require, in such
cases, they would expect in the ports Of
England, as well as in those Of her colo
MICS. Surely, the influence of local law
cannot effect the relations of nations in
any such matter as this. Suppose an A.
merican vessel, with slaves lawfully on
board, were to be captured by a British
cruiser, as belIigerent, while the United
States were at peace; suppose such prize
carried into England, and the neutrality
of the vessel fully made out in the procec'
dings in admiralty, and restoration con
sequently decreed-in such case, mus
not the slaves be restored exactly in tho
condition in which they were when tn,
capture was was made! Would any one
contend that the fact of their having beet
carried into England by force set then
free !
No alteration Of her own local laws cal
either increase or diminish, or any wa,
affect, the duty Of the English Govern
| ment and its colonial authorities in sucI