Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-01-21
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1888, and differed in no m lteri,l circum
stance from the Others, as was acknowledged
by the British Government, except that il
occurred after the act of Parliament abol
ishing slavery in the colonies had gone in
TO operation, and the others prior to tha
period. ~
After a long correspondence of nearl,
ten years, the British Government agreed
to pay for the slaves on board of the tx,
first, on the ground that they were Iiberat
ed before the act abolshing slavery hlc
gone into operations; but refused to nav
for those belonging 10 the Enterprise, be.
cause they were liberated after il had
To Justify this distinction, Lord Palmer.
ston had to assume the ground, virtually
that the law OF nations was opposed ia
SLAYER, AN assumption shat placed the
properly oil third of the Union without
the pale of its protection. On that ground,
he peiemptorily refused compensation for
the slaves on board the Enterprise. Our
Executive, under this refusal, ucoepted the
compensation for those on boerd the Co.
met and EncomIum, and closed the cores
pondence, without even bringing the sub
iect before Congress. With snch perfect
indifference was the whole affair treated.
that, during he long period the negotiation
was pending, the subject was never once
mentioned, as far as he recolected, in any
Executive message; while those OF far
less magniluIe-the debt of few millions
due from France, and this very boundary
question-were constantly brought be.
fore Congress, and had nearly involved the
country IN war with two of the leading
powers Of Europe. Those who are now
so shocked that the boundary question
should be settled, without settlement also
of this, stood by in silence, year after
year, during this long period, not only
without attempting to unite the settlement
Of this with that of the boundary but with.
out ever once naming or abiding to it as
an item in the list OF the dispute between
the two powers. 1t was regarded as be.
meath notice. lie rejoiced to witness the
great change that has taken place in rea-
tioh TO it; and 10 find that those who were
then silent and Indifferent, now exhibit so
much zeal and vehemence about it. He
look credit 10 himsef for having contribut-
ed 10 bring this change abont. 1t was he
who revived our claim when it lay dead
and buried among the archives of the
State Deparment-who called for the COR
moved resolutions az
irming the principles Of the law of ma
.ionsin reference TO these cases, and repel-
ing the presumptuous and insulting as.
sumption on which it was denied by the
British negotlator. Such wa, the force of |
ruth, and so solid the foundation on which !
he rested our claim, that his resolutions re.
.eiyed the unanimous vote of this body; Ii
,ut he received no support--no, not
heering wcrd--lrom the quarter which t
low processes 50 much zeal on the subject. T
lis utmost hope at the time was to keep /
hive our right, till some propitious mo- t
nent shoulI arrive to asset it successful
V. In the mean time, the case of the {
creole occurred, which, as shocking and t
as it is, was but the legitimate t
of the principle maintained
,yLord Pamerston,a on which lie closed &
he correspondence in the case Of the En-.
erprise. S
Such was the state Of the facts when i
he negotiation commenced in reIefefce to I
hese CASE; and 1t remains now to be
hown in what stale il has left them. In
ne first place, the broad principles of the +
NV Of nations, on which he placed our t
ght in the res buttons, have been clearly I
lated aud conclusively indicated in the !
cry able letter Of the Secretary Of State, I
which has strengthened our cause not
title, as we'll from its intrinsic merit as the
uarter from whence it comes. In the ,
ext place, we have an explicit recogni- I
ion of the principles for which we cjn- q
end, in the answer of Lord Ashblrton, {
'ho expressly says that son the great gen G
raj principles affecting this case" (he I
creole, "they do not not differ;'' and that 7
) followed by San engagem ont that in q
tructions shall be given to the Governors /
f her Majesty's colonies on the southern ,
orders of the Unite1 States, to execute t
heir own laws with careful attention to c
he wishes of their Government u main j
ain good neighborhood; and thore shall $
e no officiols Interference with American c
esssls driven by accident or violence in {
D their ports. The laws and duties OF s
ospitality shall be executed" This a
ledge was accepted by our Executive, ac- t
by the express declaration of c
he President, through the Secretary of t
tate, that he places his reliance on those v
rinciples of public law which had been L
ated in the note of the Secretary OF b
tate. To all this it may be added, that Il
rong assurances are given, by the British 1
sgotiator, of his belief that final arrange c
ent may be made of the subj by posi- ri
We stipuations in London. Such is the n
ate in which the neg stations has left the a
lbject. O
n 4 al. | i