The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-30

The following is copy Of ~ memorial to
which the foregoing nets i reply, Il b int
resting, a. rejecting the view taken by the Eng
sh people, Of their duty In ystbcanee to refugees
from slavery, and from tn fugitive slave act Of
the last Congress.
TO the RigM Hon, Lord Palmsrstoa, DC. &c.
Ny Lord The committee of the British and
Foreign Anti-slavery Society have felt it to be
their duty, ON several important occasions, to
direct your lordship'S attention to the laws
which exist in the Southern or slave States Of
the United States, Affecting colored persons, the
sabjscts Of this kingdom, who may have occs-
sion 70 resort thither, for business or other law
full purposes. These particular laws, and the
police regulations founded upon them in South
ern ports, infringe the just liberties Of large
body Of mariners and, Independently Of the
wrong which they innict upou them, they serious
ly interfere with the commercial pursuits of
British merchants and ship owners.
Every colored person, as your lordship is
aware, is seized, the moment he reaches those
ports, as II he were felon, taken to the common
gaOi, and there kept until the departure Of the
vessel on toard which he had been engaged us
a seamen; and what adds indignity to this
monstrous proceeding is, that they are taken
from on board British vessels, covered by the
British flag, in defiance of treaties which exist
between this country and the United States,
which guarantee protection and security to the
subjects and citizens Of the two countries within
their respective dominions when pursuing their
lawful business.
The plea set up, that the Southern States are
slave States and therefore require laws Of this
kind to protect the institution Of slavery, can
not, the committee conceive, be admit ID to b.
of any value, MS against British subjects Of any
class. But, in addition to this, the committee
would observe that the treaties OF amity and
commerce, which this country has with the Uni
ted States, are not made with the several States,
but with the Federal Government, representing
the entire Union; this country, therefore cannot
recognise local legislation, which infringes the
stipulMions Of such general treaties.-They
would, therefore, respectfully urge upon your
ordship the necessity of applying sure remedy
to this monstrous grievance, by urging upon the
Federal Government of the United States, either
to call upon the several States, in which such
exceptional laws exists, so to modify or to re-
peal them as to bring them into harmon, with
the just claims of this country, or. by an act of
the United States Congress, to set aside such
laws ms conflict with existing treaties, and the
rights of British subjects, without Distinction of
color.
Another point which the committee are anxi-
Gus to bring under your lordship's notice is, the
liability of fugitive slaves who seek refuge from
the oppression of their masters in Canada, uuder
the plea that they have committed crimes which
bring them within the scope of the extradition
cause of the Ashburton treaty. Your lordship
liz aware of recent law passed by the Congress
Of the United States, of a most cruel and un-
christian character, for the capture of fugitive
slaves who have fled into the free States. In
consequence Of the terror accustomed by this in
human piece Of legislation, large numbers of
colorcd persons, who were usefully engaged in
the free States, have been compelled to fly from
their homes, and to seek refuge within the
Queens dominions. There can be no doubt
that great efforts will be made, by unprincipled
men from the South, to get up charges against
some OF these unhappy persons, with view of
dragging them back into slavery.
By the law of nature and of nations, slave is
undoubtedly entitled to effect his escape from
bondage, and to use or take such things as he
may require to accomplish his object. It is
therefore not improbable that applications may
be made to the authorities in Canada for the
delivery of coored persons on all sorts of
charges; and inasmuch rs they cannot be de-
handed as fugitive slaves, but us criminals, the
greatest care mnst be taken by the magstracy
in Canada, or else the most grievous injustice
and wrong may be done to persons whose sole
crime las been their escape from slavery.
The committee would, therefore, earnestly ask
of your lordshipt to forward such instructions as
shall effectualy protect the fugitive slaves who
may seek an asylum under the British Crown,
from recapture and thus vindicate the great
principle of the right of every human being to
his personal liberty, and this country from the
dishonor of aiding and abettng the shareholders
of the United States in the accomplishment of
their nefarious designs.
| have the honor to be,
ION behalf Of the Committee,)
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) JOHN SCOBLE, Secretary.
Ant-savery Office, 81 New Broad street,
Goth December 1880