Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-03-22

ton 10 it in general manner, and giving
him a narrative of the transaction, such
as may be framed from the papers now
communicated, with distinct declaration
that ifthe facts turn out as stated, this
government thinks it a clear case for in
Identification.
You will see that in his letter Of the 7th
Jan. 1887, TO Mr.. Stevenson, respecting
the claim for compensation, in the case
OF the "Comet," "Encomium," and "En.
tsrprise," Lord Palmerston says that III
Ms government is of opinion that the rule
BY which these claims should be decided
is that those claimants must be consider
ed entitled to compensation who were
lawfully in possession Of their slaves with.
in the British territory, and who were dis
turbed in their legal possession of those
slaves by functionaTies Of the British gov
eminent" This admission is broad enough
to cover the case Of the Creole, fits Cit
cumstanOeS are correctly stated. But It
does 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 TO this govern.
ment that not Only is no unfriendly inter"
ference by the local authorities 10 be al.
lowed, but that aid and succOr should be
extended in these, as in other cases which
may arise, affecting the Interests Of citi.
zeaS Of friendly states.
We know no ground on which it is Just
to say that these cOlOred people had come
within, and were within, British territory,
in such sense as that the laws of Eng.
land affecting aud regulating the cODdi-
tiOns Of persons could properly act upon
them. As has been already said, they
woro not there voluntarily; no human bS
ing belonging to the vessel was within
British territory Of his own accord, except
the mutineers. There being no importa-
tiOn, nor intent ofimpOrtatiOn, what right
had the British authorities to inquire into
the cargo Of the vessel, or the condition
Of the persons on board? These persons
might be slaves for life; they might be
slaves for a term Of years, under system
Of apprenticeship; they might be bound
to service by their own voluntary act /;
they might be in confinement for crimes
comm tied; they might be prisoners Of
war, or they might be free. How could
the British authorities look into and de.
eide any Of these questions? Or, indeed
what duty or power, according to the
principles Of national intercourse, had the y
TO inquire at all! II, indeed, without un.
friendly interference, and nOtwilhstand-
ing lhe fulfment of all their duties OF
comfy and assistance, by these authori.
ties, the master Of the vessel could not
retain the persons, nor prevent their es,
cape, then il would be different question
altogether, resort could be had 10 British
tribunals, or to the power Of the Govern.
ment in any Of its branches, to compel
their apprehension and restoration. No
one complains that English law shall de.
eide the condition Of all persons actually
incorporated with British population, un>
less there be treaty stipulation making
other paOvisiOn for special cases. But in
the case Oflhe "Creols" the cOlOred per.
sons were still on board an American YES.
sci, that vessel having been forcib!y put
out Of The course Of her voyage by mutt
ny; the master desiring still TO resume
it, and calling upon the consul Of bis gov.
srnment resident at the place and upon
the local authorities to enable him so to
do, by freeing him from the imprIson-
ment to which mutiny and murder had
subjected him, and furnishing him with
such necessary aid and assistance as are
usual in ordinary cases of. disaster at sea.
These persons, then, cannot be regarded
as being mixed with the British people,
or as having changed their character at
all, either in regard to country or person
al condition. II was no more than Just
TO consider the vessel as still on her VOy,
age, and entitled to the succour due TO
other cases of distress, whether arising
from accident or outrage. And that no
other view Of the subject can be true; as
evident from the very awkward position
in which the local authorities have placed
their government in respect to the mutt.
neers still held in imprisonment. What
iS TO be done with lhem3 How are they
TO be punishedH The English Govern.
ment will probably not undertake their
trial or punishment; and Of what use
would il be TO send them 10 the United
States, separated from their ship and at a
period so late as that, it they should be
sent before proceedings could be institu.
ted against them, the witnesses might be
scattered over half the globe, One Of the
highest offences known to human law is
thus likely to 60 altogether unpunish.
ed.
In the note Oi Lord Palmerston to Mr..
Stevenson, above referred to, bis Lordship
said rthat, slavery being now abolished
throughout the British empire, there can
be no we'll founded claim for compsnsa.
liOn ia respect Of slaves who, under any
mav coma init. the Rr;t;0h