Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-03-23

nations, the jurisdiction of Stale applies
but, on the high seas, and even in the
harbor of nation that does not acknowl-
edge slavery!
| Under such circumstances, ii is not on
Iy right, but deep and present interest,
for every citizen of the United States to
look we'll into 1.-THE peculiar institution
and to take care, while violating in no jot
or title his clear obligations under the
Constitution, to recognize slavery as, and
where it existed when the Constitution
was formed, that he do not step beyond
the strict requirements of that charter, and
make himself a party to the extension of
this bighting curse and shame.
The question raised by this despatch,
if its claims be adhered to, is none other
than Peace or War for the extension
and security of the domestic slave trade"
In @he solution of this question, every
citizen in the United States is Interested
and has right, ESQ he choose, to raise
his voice in discussing it. We propose.
Therefore, an Hmine, against the usue! a2
}peals and menaces from the South, when
the North touches the topic CT slavery.
1t is now brought home to our business
and bosoms, to our fre-sides and bed-sldes
for we express, without hesitation, the
opinion, that no ministry could stand
moment in Eng gland, who should consent
to regard the self-emancipated slaves Of
the Creole as murderers and mutineers-
and venture to deliver up the leaders to
death, or make compensation for those
VINO, by the acts Of those leaders, gained
their freedom. If war on our part be the
settled alternative, then, in our Judgment
is Uar 9neritaNe; and the united senti-
ment of all Christendom would be vith
our adversary, and against US, in such an
unhalIoWed conest-a contest repugnant
alike to human honor and divine JUS
tice. Il
We speak these things gravely and de-
IiberateIy; and we ask for them, consid-
Grafton alike grave and deliberate.
Nr. Webster's first ground is. that the
Creole having been carried into the Brit
? ish port of Nassau, against the consent OF
those having lawful authority over her,
and by the force exerted by "mutineers
and murderers,'' the authority of that
E friendly power were bound by the "comi
q ty of nations" not only to " assist the A.
v merican Consul in putting an end to the
g captivity of the master and crew, and en-
. able them to resume their voyage''-
0 which they did but' adds Mr. Web
f. ster, "to take the mutineers and murder
e ers 10 their own country, to answer fol
their crimes before the proper tribunal "
, Can it be, indeed, true, that the " conf
ty of nations" requires or justifies such an
+ act? We answer the question by an il.
e Illustration. Suppose French vessel from
e Martinique, where slavery prevails, while
in the act of conveying slaves to some 9th
) err French colony, were, like the Creole
+ taken possession of by the revolted slaves,
h the master or supercargo killed, and
o the vessel brought into the port Of New
York, by. or under orders of what the de-
n spatches calls "mutineers and murderers'
n lis there any power in the Slate or fed
l. eral government, by which these men, be
r. come free by their own act-coud elthe
Il be delivered up to France, or paid for
1t Is there comfy of nations" that, over
: riding our free institutions, and contemn
n ing the security which our laws throw
Il ton. would snatch them from the powe
'r of our courts. and the Hgis of our nation
e. alitv-and deliver them up 70 torture or t
70 death? If the answer be, as it must, i
the negative, how can this governmer
l0 appeal to comfy which, for it does NJ
ly exist, and by it, within It's own limit
ch could not be enforced?
III But again; what was the decision
u the case of the Amistad SO similar,
ca many respects, TO that Of the Creole
e. Those revoIted Spanish slaves, after 'mu
shores. Were they demanded by Spai
under the comfy of nations? No; b
o. under an express treaty stipulation betwee
d. the United States and Spain - and it WI
". because they could not be legally broug
:. within this stipulation, that the claim W
Is dismissed. Yet they, loo, were, in Il
language of the despatch, 'mutineers al
tic. murderers' - but the comfy OF nation
as reached them not.
But there is no such comfy of nation
III even in cases of clear and unquestlon
1T; crime, and where neither the color i
compatible with freedom nor the anon
Ious institution of slavery, interteres WI
right judgment.
1t was by stipulation in Mr.. Jay
. treaty, and only in virtue of that st'Put
/. lion, that the United States and Gre
Britain, for time, did agree to a mutu
his surrender of murderers and felons, (e
of cept for political offences y but the slip
the lation was for limited term of years, a.
elf was suffered by both parties 10 expI
is without renewal. Since that, IN maj
nc instances, demands have been made up
as this government by the British authorti
fl uoo1ar IF .Eo1one and alua