Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-03-03
rur CREOLE ArEAIR
LETTER OF THE sECRE FAIRY or STATE TO
OUR MINISTER AT The COURrOF ST.
JAMES.

LETTER OF THE SECRETARY or STATE TO d
OUR MINISTER AT TIIE CoURroF ST Il
JAMES. 10
DEPARTMENT OF SrArE. Jan. 29ih. 1912. !
EDWARD EvssErr. E-q. &c. Sc.
STA I regret TO DO Obliged TO scdusint you with a
very serious occurrence. Which recently IoSk place
IN = port Of mo of the Bahama Islands.
IL appears that the brig Creole" Of Richmond,
Virginia. ln-or. master. bound 10 New ORLEANS. sail
ed IRON lIsmptbn Rad. ON the eth of October
last. with = cargp &C mcrchandize. principally Iobic.
30. and saves. (ahOut lbs ia nsmber) th1t ON tho
evening of TN. 7th oI November sDtne Oi the slaves
nOse upon the crew Of the vessel. murdered = pass
cngcr. named Newell. who owned sbRe Of the ~
gtoes. wounded the Captain dangerously. and the
hrst mile and two OF the crow severely; that the
slaves ssOn obtain a Complete POSSESSION Of the
Orts, which under their Jirecir.n was taken into the
put OF Nassau, IN Ihc island OF New Providence.
where she arrived on the IN 'rniny OF the 9th Ofthe
s1ne In nih;ihat ai the request Of the American Com
sui in that place the Governor ordered a guard on
boanl. To prevent the escape OF the mIiinsers. and
with a view 10 an lnve Iisaiion of the eircumsian-
ces ui the cIse; that such investigation was accord
ingiy 'dc 10y two British magistrates. and that M
E examinations also touk place by the Consul; that on
'he report OF the m 'gistraies. nineteen Ufthe slavs.
were imprisoned by The local authorities rs having
beeu concerned u, the unuliny aud murder, AM their
surrender To The Consul. 10 be seni to the United
states f1r irial for these crimes, was re- fused. on the
ground thai the Governor wished first To comm.
nicaio with the Government in England on the sub
Jeci; that through the interference OF the Colonial
%auihoritle and even before the military guard was
removed The greater number Of The rem aiming slaves
were liberated. and encouraged To 60 beyond the
powor OF the master of the vessel. or the American
Consul. Ivy proceedings which neither sC them could
control. rhis ~ the subs ance OF the case. a. STA
ted m two pro'e.is. one made NJ Nassau AMI ono
At New Orleans. aud the Consul's letters. togrihes
with sun1ry dispositions taken by him. copies of all
which papers are herewith transmitted.
The Blush Government cannot bat sec that this
ease. as presented IN these papers. is one calling
loudly Tor redress. The Creole was passing from
one port nj tho United State 10 anoIhcr, ia a ycy.
age perfectly lawful. with merchandise on buanl.
aud also with SIves.Or persons bound tn serN CO. ma
lives Of America. and belonging to American citizens
and which are recognised as property by the Consti
tutor OF the United States ia those States IN which
; slavery exists. In the course Of the voyage .Hme
Of the slaves rose upon the muster anl crew. sub.
ducd them. murdered onc nan. and caused the wee.
; sci to be carried into Nassau. Inc vessel was thus Ia
ken TO a British porL.nsi volunIar ~ by Ia 90 who had
the lawful authority over her. but forcibly and vio.
r lently, against the mlster's will. and with the cun.
J sent OF nobody but the muiinesr. and murieren
inr there Is M evidence that these ouirages were
committed with the concurrence Of any uf the slaves
except those actually engaged in them. Under
s these circumstances. Il would seem % have been the
= plain and obvious duty OF the authorities at Nassau
! To assist the American consal in pnuing az
n end 10 the captivity Of the master and crew. reslor
ing 10 them the control of the vessel. aud enabling
y them a. resume their voyage. and 10 take the mutt
r nrers AMI murderrrs 10 their own country IL answer
Tor their crimes befprO the proper tribunal. o.,
cannot conceive hnw any other course could iusil,
adopted. or how ihs duties imposed by that part =
the cHle relating 10 the inierroTr-e Of friendly State
which - generally called the comfy Of Nation.
: colld nth rwise DO fulfilled. Here was no VtolniiI,
= luf Rrifisk lnkx .ffannfal AR ,nt..J.I -, H.. -.
The muster Of tn" Creole" mr. any Infringement o
The principles Of The law Of n ttIons. Tue vesse
I was lawfully engaged in passing from port H. p,ri
e in the United States. By violence aud crime ia,
d was carried, ng 'insI the masters will. out of he
course into the port Of . friendly Power. All VA
tho result OF force. Certainly. ordinary cnmity an,
no Pi'alIty entitled HIM To such assistance fr an th,
auth rifles Of the place hs should enable him &, r.
: sums and prosecute his voyage and hiring the ulTJn
dcrs 10 justice But. Instead of this. ii The facts D,
Ne reptssene d IN Ines" paPeb. not only did the an
tsorHss give ro aid fnr any suck purpose. hut Tho,
dad actually interfere 10 set free the slaves. and q
enable Them iodhperse IhemSelVes bsyonL the rrarl
of the master Of the vessel or Their owners. A pp
ceeding like this cannot but cause deep feeling il
the United State. IL has been nv purp sc o. writ,
you al length upon the subject in snIer Ibt va,
might lay bef,re the G. ryernmeut Of HsT MIiesi,
FULLY. and. without reserve. the vo vs. enIeralhe,
upon % by III 81 Oi tbs United SIaies.and the gr,und
oL which thos~ views are taken. b At the enrly 70
turn of the packet precludcs The opportunity VI 20
ing thus into The case ia This despatch; and as Lnr
AshbunSn may shortly he expected here. IL may be
hotter 90 enter fallS into IL with hIm. IL hs power
shall he bnUad ,nsugh To embrace u. Same know
= edge OF the case will have rearhed England heE,r
his drPariurc.& very probably his'GUVrmmeni ma
have gwen hun instructions. But I request. never
theleSs. that You l0ss no time in calling Lord Aber
deems attention 10 lI in n general manner and gIvin
HIM n narrative Ofthe Transaction, such rs INV b
framed from the papers now communicated. with
distinct declaration That ifihe fact. turn out u eta
ted. this Government thinks AZ q clear case for n
Identification.
You will see That in his letter of the 7ih Jannu
r' 1897. to Mr. Stevenson. respecting the clain e
compensation in The cases Of the Comet" "Enc,
n MUM and "Enterprise;" Lord Palmersion says tina
i "I Mis Government is Of opinion that the rule h
which these claims should be decided, is,Ihai Ihos
c~laimnnIs must be considersd entitled 10 curnponsa
tIoH who were lawfully in possession Of their slave
within ihe British territory and Who were disturbe,
IN their legal possession of those slaves by fanciiona
rIes Of the Brirhsh Government" This ndmi.slo
. Is broad enough 10 cover the case Of The Creole.
e IT'S circumstances are correctly stated. But il doe
= not extend 10 what we consider the true doctrine
according TO the laws and uslges of nations; and
therefore. cannot be nequiesccd in ns the eIacil
J. cOrreci general role. IL appears 90 this Government
I that not only ~ no unfriendIy interference bV IN
N"eA " " 1--WE DhA NuAN aid an
! sncror should be extended in these as in other ca
{ sos which may nriso affecting the interests Of cit
gems Of friendly SIres.
We know no Sroun q on which il is just 10 "a
that these colored people had come within. am
were within British territory in such sense &C tina
The laws Of England affecting md regulating O
persons could properly act upon them As has beel
alreadysaidIhey were not lhere voluntarily mo Nh
= man qeing belonging TO The vessel was within Bnl
isR territory Of his own accord cacept The NUT
/, neers There being no importation. nnr intent =
Importation. what right had the British authoritie
to InqoreaniS the FARO rs the vessel. or tho condi
ton Of persons On hoard. These persons might b
slaves for lIo they Righi be slaves r.r a team a
i. years. under q system Of apprenticeship; they nigh
be bound TO seyico BY their own Solaniary aciaheV
= might he IN confinement for crimes committed. the,
might be prisoners nf warOfahey might be face
/. How could tho British authorities decide any .
these question: Or.indeed, VIII q duty or power &C
eofding Co the principlrs Of nationaI intcrro,,.L L.,