The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-15
OUR RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND
THE CREOLE CASE.


Our readers will observe that, according to the
intelligence brought by the Acadia steamer from
England, debate to had taken place in
tile British House of Lords, in which the af-
fair of the Creole was the subject Of discussion.
1t is probable that the letter of Mr. Webster had
at the time reached London, and that its con-
tents were known to Lord Aberdeen /; but the
members Of the House of Lords, who paltici-
pated in the debate, were not advised of the
views taken by the Secretary of State in refer
ence 10 the affair, and acted in all probability,
solely upon the representations made by the au-
thorities Of New Providence. 1t will be observ-
ed that Lord A. expressed himself very guarded
ly un the occasion, and that his remarks were
founded entirely upon the principle, universally
admitted to have been established by the law of
nations, that in the absence of treaty stipula-
tons TO that effect, no power has a right to de-
mand of another the restitution of criminals fu-
gitive from justice. This is the doctrine which
the Supreme Court Of the United States con-
stantly holds but the truth Of this doctrine does
not dispose of, and, indeed, does not touch, the
case of the Creole. In that case the United
States has made no demand for the restoration
of fugitlves from justice, and consequently,
makes no complaint of the refusal of such de-
mands The complaint is, that an American
vessel in passing from one port of the United
States TO another with slaves on board, was car
red by mutiny into one of the British islands,
and the local authorities of that island, instead
of contenling themselves with the performance
of their plain duty of delivering the Captain
from the confinement to which the mutineers
had subjected him, and then restoring the ship
to his command and control, direc ly lnterfered
or directly encouraged others TO interfere, in foi
chilly freeing the slaves from the authority of
the master and assisting their dispersion. They
retained the nineteen persons engaged in the
mutiny and murder, and now, as was anticipated
in Mr.. Webster's letter, they find they cannot
punish the crime themselves and decline TO send
them to the United States for trial and punish
ment. What then does the whole amount to
but this, to wit: that in clear case of piracy
and murder committed on board of an Amerl-
can vessel upon the high seas, the vessel being
afterwards carried by the criminal parties into
the port Of British island the local authorities
of that island effectively interfered, as well to
protect those offenders from all punishment, as
to set free certain slaves found on board the yes
SELF This is the substance of the case; and
neither Lord Brougham, Lord Lyndhurst, nor
Lord Denman, can prove that such proceed
ing accords with the principles of friendly ma
tional intercourse in modern times.
1t may be fairly inferred, from the tone mani
tested on the part of the House of Lords, that
there exists no very conciliatory disposition in
that body towards the United States, and it be-
hooves us to look to our defences in the event of
hostilities between the two countries. What pro-
lection have we on the Atlantic coast? Meme
or nert to none. What on the Eastern, North
ern Southern, and Western, frontiers None
What numbey of war steamers have we a6oat
Some too dEthree, if the old Fulton be nclud
ed Has the Administration put these matters
before Congress? Yes, orer and orer again.
What has Congress done in regard to them
Nothing, it has been too busy in reduc-
ing the number of its pages. What will the
People, whose lives and property are at stake,
say to this? Let the people speak for them
selves.
DEBT.-A bill to abolish Imprisonment for debt has
no ssed both branche, of the Legislature of Jersey