The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-24

!
ration
DANIEL WEBSTER
Lord AsHBURToN, &C., &c. &c,
Lord .3shJupion 10 Mr.. Webster
WAsHNcroN, August 6, 1912
SIR iou may be well assured that am duly son.
sibe OF the great importance of the subject TO who.
you call my attention in the note which YOU did M.
The honor OF addressing the lst instant in wbic,
you inform me that the President had been Meas,
10 express his regret that was no, empowered
my Government TO enter into a formal sipua.
for the better security of vessels Of the United STATE
when meeting with disasters in passing between Nh
United States and the Bahama islands, and driver 81,
such disasters into Br lsh ports.
1t Is, believe, unnecessary that should tell ,..
that the case of the Creole was known in London
few days only before my departure. No comrIart
had at that time been made by Mr. Everett Tho
subject was not therefore among those which i, a.,
the immediate object Of my mission to discuss p.,
at the same time must admit that from the nome,
Twas acquainted with the facts of this case ".
sensible of all its importance and should moi lh,t
myself without power to consider of some adilD.
ment OF, and remedy Tor, great acknoa ledged lf
Guilty, II could see my way clearly to any sstjsl,c
tory course, and if had not arrived at the copc.
SION, after very anxious consideration that Cor
reasons which VIII state this question had bette, he
treated III London, where it will have a much ~
creased chance of settlement, on terms likely +, t
lsiy the interests of the United States
The immediate case of the Creole would bf,oa.l,
disposed Of; bus involves a class and dcscri,tio, f
cases which, for the purpose of afordipp tb9t .er
rty you seek for the trade of America thr,,nr, tl.
Bahama channel, brings into consideration ,,e.ti.
oil law, both national and International Of the highest
Importance and, TO increase the delicacy and ann
Guilty OF the subject, public feeling is ,en,t,,cly
alive TO every thing connected with it, Thee err
cumstances bring me TO the conviction that anno,.h
at mel Ia,
WISHES OF your Government, the means of dom 81,
would be best considered in London, where INN d .
ate reference may be had 10 the highest authuril,
on every point OF delieacy aud difficulty that ma, ar
Whatever might attempt would be more o. less l..
der the disadvantage of being etered by ann eh,..
sons OF responsibility, and might thereby be ken.
within limits which my Governments at home m,
disregard In other words, believe YOU would bs q,
better chance IN this settlement with them II ,
with ne. state this after some impe feet etd,.
vors by correspondence to come IT satisfactory ~
plantations. Ii were in this instance treating Of on.
dihary material interests, should proceed wh ,1,r,
confidence but anxious as | unfeguedly am that ,i
questions likely to disturb the future good rnd,
standing between US should be avcr.ed | strongly IA.
commend TINS question OF the security of the Bifa.
ma channel being referred for discussion in London
ms oplnl l. more decidedly confirmed by ,o.-
very elaborate and impo tant argument on the am H.
cation Of tie general principles Of the law of nai
TO these subjects an argument TO hch Your aulI.
rIly necessarily gives great weight but IN wlIc. /
would not presume to follow you with my own inc
Periect means. Great britain and the United State,
covering ali the seas OF the world with their CON.
merce have the greatest possible interest in n aI-.
ialning SOUND and pure principles Of information
law, as wen as The practice OF reciprocal and and
good offices IN ali their arbors and possrs.ior.
Win respect to the latter, it is satisfactory TO know
'ha' 'he disposition OF The respective Gosernmyur
and p ople leaves little to be desired with the ,u,
exception OF those very delicate and perpexing g,,
lions Whlch have recently arisen from the state u.
slavery, ana even these seem confined and like, o.
continue to be confined, TO the narrow passage Of
the Banana Channel. AT no other rart Of the Brit
ish possessions are American vessels with slaves i
likely TO touch, nor are they likely 10 touch thee
otherwise than from the pressure of " r, urgcu ne.
cessity. he dhculty, therefore, az well a, the de-
SIRED remedy is apparently confined within narrow
limits
Upon The great general principles affecting tui,
case, we 90 NOT dl1er You admit that if slaves, tn
property OF American citizens, escape into Briti>
territories, 1t is not expected that they will be re-
stored and you may be well assured that there is n
wish on our part that they should reach our shore.
or that British possessions should be used as deco,
Tor The vioators of the laws Of friendly neighbor
When these slaves do reach US by what, y,-
means, there is no alternative. The present state o
British law is In this respect too well known 10 lc
quire repetition, nor need remind you that it is c,.
actiy the same with the laws of every part Of the
United States where state of slavery is not reco,.
Missed; and that the slave put on shore at Nassau
would be dealt with exactly would foreign slave
landed, under any circumstances whatever at Bos.
ton.
But what constitutes the being within Biitrt
dominion, from which these consequences are a
follow is vessel passing through { e B,ha.
ma channel, and forced inyountariy, either from
storm or nutiny, into British waters to be So
Considered; What power have the authorize, Of
Isl ar1a ia ,al, Of d
property in such vessels These are qutsllo''
which you, sir. have discussed at great lens 4..
with evident ability. Although you have adgJu.e.
some propositions which rather surprise and ,t.r
me do not pretend 10 judge them; but what j, 'to
clear is that great principles involved in .,
cussion which il would i'll become me lightly to cn',r
upon; and am confirmed by this considerat!rn i'
wishing that the subject be REFERRED to where ii v
be perfectly weighed and examined.
III behooyes the authorities of our two Cover
ments well TO guard themselves against establish
by their diplomatic intercourse false preoedcHls a1
principles, and that they do not, for the purpJ,'
meeting passing difficulty, set examples which may
hereafter mislead the world.
II is not intended on this occasion TO consider 90
detail The particular instances which have given r'
to these discussions They have already been s'aici
and explained. Our object Is rather to look o. ia'
means Of future prevention Of such occurrence
That this may be obtained have little doubt. al
though we may not be able Immediately TO agree n1
the precise stlpnlaiions Of treaty. On the p1r, ID"
Great Britain there arc certain great prnuplc' 20!
deeply rooted In the consccnces aud symPathirN gu
the people for any minister TO be abb 10 oyer.o.h
and any engagement ! might make IN opposition 10
them would be instantly disayowed but, at le same
time that we maintain our own laws within our own
territories, are bound TO respect those OF our
neghbors, and to listen 10 every possible suggestion
Of means ayerting from them every ammo! aD's