Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-21

creole, II It's circumstances are correctly stated.
But it docs not extend to what we consider the
true doctrine, according to the laws and usages of
nations; and, therefore, cannot be acquiesced IN
as the exactly correct general rule. ii appears 10
this government that not only is no uDfrendly in
reference by the local authorities 10 be allowed,
but that aid aud succor should be extended in lhose
as in other cases which may arise, affecting the
interests OF citizens of friendly states.
We know no ground on which it is just to say
that these coored people Ind come within, md
wero within, British territory, in such sense as
that the laws affecting and regulating the condi-
lions of persons could properly act upon them
AS has been already said, they were not there vol
unfairly no human being belonging 10 the vessel
was within British territory of his own accord,
except the mu.neers There being no imporla-
ton, nor intent OF imporIaiOn what right had the
British authorities TO inquire into The Fargo OF the
vessel, or the condition OF the persons on board
These persons might be slaves for life ; they might
he slaves for term Of years, under a system of
apprenticeship; they might be bound TO service
by their own voluntary act they nigh he in con-
finement for crimes commilted; they might he
prisoners of war or they might he free. How
could The British authorities look into and decide
any of these questions? Or, indeed, what duty
or power, nccordiug to the principles of national
intercourse, hnd they TO inquire at all II, indeed
without unfriendly interference, and notwithsond.
ing the fulfmcnt Of all their duties of comfy and
assistance by these authorities the muster of the
vessel could not retain The persons, nor prevent
their escape, then il would he different question
altogether, whether resort could he had to British
tribunals or the power of the Government in any
OF its branches, TO compel their apprehension and
restoration. No one complains that English law
shall decide the condition Of all persons actually
incorporated with British population, unless there
be treaty stipulation making other provision for
special cases.
But in the cnse of the Creole" the colored per-
81.
vessel having been forcbly put out of the course
of her voyage by mutiny the master still desiring
to resume il, and calling upon the consul of his
government, resident at The place, and upon the
local authorizes, to cnnbe him to do 10y freeing
him from the imprisonment 10 which mutiny and
murder had subjected him, and furnishing him
with such necessary aid aud assistance usu.
al in ordinary cases OF disaster at sea. These per-
sons, then, cannot he regarded as being mixed with
the British people, or as having changed their
character at all either in regard 10 country per-
sona condition. 1t no more than just to
slider the vessel still her voyage and entitled
TO the succor due TO other Of Distress wheth-
er arising from accident or outrage. And that no
other view of the subjec can be lrue is evident,
from the very awkward position in which the 10
cal authorities have placed their government in
respect to the mutineers still held in Imprisonment.
What is to be done with them? How are they to
be punished ? The English government will prob
of what use would il be to send them 10 the Uni
ted States, separated from their ship and at Pc
riod so late as that, if they should be sent before
proceedings could I've instituted against them the
witnesses might be scattered over half the globe.
One of the highest offences known to human law
is thus likely to go altogether unpunished.
! In the note of Lord Palmerston to MIR. Steven
son, above referred to, his lordshp said that sla
very being now abolished throughout the British
empire, there can be no well grounded claim for
compensation in respect to slaves who, under any
circumstances may come into the British colonies,
any more than there would be with respect to
slaves who might be brought into the Kingdom
| | have only 10 remark upon this, that the govern
ment of the United States no ground for any
distinction founded on alterations OF British law in
| the colonies We do not consider tina! the qnes-
ton depends at all on the state of the British law.
| Ii is not that in such cases the active agency oil
British law is invoked and refused; ii is, that I'M
friendly interference is deprecated, and those good
offices and friendly assisances expected which a
government usually affords to citizens OF friend
| ly power when instances occur of disaster and
distress. All that the United States require, in
these cases, they would expect in the ports of Eng
land, as well as in those of her colonies. Surely
the influence of local law cannot affect the rela
tons of nations in any such matter as this Sup
pose an American vessel, with slaves lawfully on
board, were to be captured by British cruiser,
belonging to some belligeren while The United
! States were at peace; suppose such prize carried
into England, and the neutrality of the vessel full
ly made out in the proceedings in Admiralty, ant
a restoration consequently decreed-in such case
must not the slaves he restored exactly in the con
dition in which they were when the capture wa
NADER Would any one contend that the fact o
, their having been curried into England by fore
set them free?
, No alteration of her own local laws can eirhe
increase or diminish, or any way affect, the dut
OF the English Government and its colonial an
thuriles in such cases, such duty exists accor
ding 10 the law, the comfy and usnges oil nation:
' The persons on board the Creole" could hay
only been regarded as Americans passing from on
part of the United States to another, within tn
S reach of British authority only for the momen
and this only by force and violence To seek t
f give either TO persons or property thus brougf
( within reach an English character, or to imparl
either English privileges, or to SUBJECT either I
English burdens or liabilities cannot, in the opn
ion of the government of the United States he jus
C tilted. Suppose that by the law OF England a
the blacks were slaves, and incapable OF any ollIe
condition if persons of that color, Tree in the
, nted States, should, in attempting TO pass from on
D port TO another in their own country, be throw
e by stress of weather within British jurisdiction
s aud there detained tor an hour or day, would
, lie reasonable that British authority should be mad
n TO url upon their condition, aud TO mako Ihei
o slaves Or suppose that an article of merchar
e disc, opium for instarce, should be declared b
o the lnws Of the United States to be nuisance,
: poison. n Thing in which no property could law
fully exist or be asserted but suppose that Eng
lish ship with such cargo on board, bound iror
D one English port TO another, should be driven b
a stress OF weather, or by muliny of the crew, inl
the ports Of the United States, would it be just an
4 reasonable that such n cargo should receive il
e character from American law, and be throw
e overheard and destroyed by the American author
i I, 70 in, win tIatn INV MI nj made
+; answer these suggestions by appealing 10 generi
4 principles ofhumanity. There is point in regar
b 10 which nations must be permitted to act upo
= different views, if they entertain different view
o under their actually existing condition, and "
y hold commercial intercourse with one another, {
j. not hold any such intercourse al all. lt may l
Il added, that all attempts by the government OF an
u nation to force the influence Of its laws on that
l. another, for any object whatever, generally deie
u their own pnrposes by nroducing dissatisfaction