Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-26
MR.. WEBSTER TO MR.. EVERETT
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

January goth, 1912.
EDWARD EVERETT, Esq, &c. &c.
SIR:-I regret to be obliged to acquaint
you with very serious occurrence, which
recently took place in port OF one OF the
Bahama Islands.
Itappears that the brig "Creole," of Rich
mond, Virginia, lnsor, mas tor, bound to
New Orleans, sailed from Hampton Roads
on the 9th Of October last, with cargo
of merchandise, principally tobacco, and
slaves, (about 1876 in number;) that on the
evening of the 9TH of November some OF
the slaves rose upon the crew OF the YES
sci, murdered passenger, named HewelI,
who owned some of the negroes, wounded
the Captain dangerously, and the first mate
and two Of the crew severely; that the
slaves soon obtained complete possession
of the brig, which, under their direction,
was taken to the port of Nassau, IN the IS.
land of New Providence, where she arrived
on the morning of the 9th OF the same
month; that at the request OF the Amerl-
can Consul in that place, the Governor or
dered guard on board, to prevent the es-
cape of the mutineers, and with view to
investigation of the circumstances oil the
dinghy made by two British magistrates,
and that an examination also took place by
the Consul, that on the report OF the mag
istrates, nineteen of the slaves were lmprls
oned by the local authorities as having beer
concerned in the mutiny and murder, ano
their surrender to the Consul to be sent tc
the u. States for trial OF these crimes, wa:
refused, on the ground that the Governor
wished first to communicate with the Gov
eminent in England on the subject; that
through the interference Of the Colonial au
thorities, and even before the military guard
was removed, the greater number OF the
remaining slaves were liberated, and en-
couraged to 90 beyond the power Of the
master of the vessel, or the American Con
sui. by proceedings which neither of them
could control. This is the substance o
the case, as stated in two protests, one
made al Nassau and one at New Orleans
and the Consul's letters letters, togethe
with sundry dispositions taken by him, cop
les of all which papers are herewith trans
mitted.
The British Government cannot but SCI
that this case, as presented in these papers
is one calling loudly for redress. Thu
HCreole" was passing from one port of tn
United States TO another, in voyage per
fectly lawful, with merchandise on board
and also with slaves, or persons hound t.
service, natives Of America, and belongln!
10 American citizens, and which are recog
nised as property by the Constitution OF tn
United States in those States in which sla
very exists. In the course OF the voyag
some Of the slaves rose upon the maste
and crew, subdued them, murdured on
man, and caused the vessel to be carried in
10 Nassau. The vessel was thus taken +
a British port, not voluntarily, by thos
who had the lawful authority over her, bu
forcibly and violently, against the master
will, and with the consent of nobody bu
the mutineers and murderers: for there is n
evidence that these outrages were commit
ted with the concurrence OF any Of tn
slaves, except those actually engaged j
them. Under these circumstances, it wouI
seem to have been the plain and obvious DIT
" OF the authorities at Nassau, the por
Of a friendly Power, TO assist the America
Consul in putting an end to the captlvlt
of the master and crew, restoring to ther
the control Of the vessel, and enabling theI
TO resume their voyage, and to take III
mutineers and murderers 10 their own couT
try to ans Wer for their crimes before III
proper tribunal. One cannot conceiveho
any other course could justly be adopted
or how the duties imposed by that part (
the code regulating the intercourse of frien,
lv States, which is generally called the con
iiv of Nations, could otherwise be futile,
Il IRE was no violation of British laws Il
tempted or intended on the part Of the ma
ter Of the "Creole," nor any infringemeI
OF the principles of the law of nations.-
The vessel was lawfully engaged in passlr
from port to port, IN the United States
By violepGc and crime she was carrie
against the masters will, out of her couts
into the port of friendly Power. All WI
the res ult of force.
y Certainly, ordinary comfy and hospita
= " entitled him to such assistance from Il
authorities Of the place as should enab
him to resume and prosecute his voyaag
and bring the offenders to justice. bu
instead Of this, if the facts be as represen
in these papers, not only did the authorltl
give no aid for such purpose, but they d
actually interfere to set free the slaves, N