New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-31
THE NEWS FROM THE OLD WORLD
Yhe Csnada's Mails arrived rom Boston on Sat
ur6ay morning.
az WV CANApA.

ENGLAND.
Rights Of British subjects Ia America
FROM the London Times
II may DO in the recollection OF our reAuets
thar we drew attention some months ago 20 sne
case Of Isaac Bowers, British sap. ece VINO On
the ground Of his color, was tsken out " Ees
sci at Charleston, and locked up 10 tne to"n Jsu
during the ships stay in that port ms pQolic
aotiee Of the subject was followed up by inquiries
M the House of Commons, and eventually Oy an
.nnlics,ion on the part Of our Government 20 that
al The United States The case has now assumed
aeornulexion Of the most extraordinary kind; In
dsed Il & hard to say what confusion may not De
genarsted by the action OF this unlucky incident
on the internal politics Of the Union snd the COM
r.srcial relations between THAI country and this
II sbould be understood that two distinct author
tiles were found to be interest in the question,
and corresponding division Of responsibility was
Of course involved
The treaties regulating the intercourse be-
tween Great Britain and the United States, and
contracted between Her Majesty's Government
on one hand, and the Supreme Government OF the
Union On the other, secure to the citizens oil eacn
Of the contracting powers the free right OF enter
ing departing ard residing unmoested within
each Others boundaries and it was on the
strength Of this stipulation that our Government
demonstrated against the gratuitous incarceration
of one Of its subjects. The Independence, how
ever, Of the several States composing the Ameri-
can Union has only been partially surrendered to
the Federal Government; and 1t was In the exer-
else of a right assumed 10 be legally reserved that
the local Legislature of South Carolina enacted
che ordinance under which Isaac Bowers was i'm
pnsoned.
The Carolinas, 40 the reader is aware are
slsvebolding States, and with such jealousy do
they guard their institutions that the appearance
of free black in their towns is absolutely for
biddeu, and hence the law providing for the In
generation Of all such during the stay Of the
vessel which shall have brought them TO the
country. On the one hand, therefore, by plain
treaty engagements between the two countries,
Isaac Bowers was free to enter, reside, and de-
part at any point Of the American territory with
cut molestaton or annoyance; on the other, by
known local laws, he was amenable to imprison-
ment at Charleston in respect of his skin.
The frat application Of the British Government
was made Of course, to the Cabinet of Washing
ION, as the representative Of the American Union
IN its relations with foreign States. Mr.. Clayton
In reply, acknowledged the violation of the treaty
in tne act complained of but charged the conse
quence upon the peculiar character of the FEEDER
alton, which RENTED to each constituent State
certain private sovereignty, In virtue whereof the
law in question had been passed. Whether this
reply was made entirely In good faith, or with
tho wish to elude troublesome controversy, we
shall not attempt to determine, bat the results
have been singular in the extreme. On the
ceipt Of Mr.. Claytons answer, by which we were
virtually referred for satisfaction to the Govern
ment Of South Carolina, Mr. Matthew, the British
consul at that port. was instructed to make his
appeal accordingly and he forthwith addressed &
communication on the subject to Governor Means,
who acknowledged his note with equal courtesy,
and laid the matter at once before the Legislature
of the State.
There seems little calculated to create dstur.
bsnce in the proceedings we have here described
The b. Ssh Government made it's appeal in the
proper quarters, and transferred it upon proper
Recommendation to others. The Government OF
South Carolina accepted the remonstrance In good
spirit Nor is there any reason to doubt that some
adjustment will be attempted between the as
sumed interests OF the State and the plain rights
Of British subjects. The consequences, however,
have been most remarkable. The circumstances
OF correspondence betwe foreign Consul and
q local Government has been seized upon and de-
nounced "a precedent OF the most dangerous
kind, tending to nothing less than the establish
of provincial sovereignties in derogatlon OF the
Federal Power.
In ordinary seasons the effect OF such assertions
would, perhaps, not be very serious. but it hap
pens at this moment, as the reader Will remem'
Der, that the Southern States have been agltating
for dissolution of the Union, and the incident Ia
question is camorously quoted as an overt stepin
the direction OF Independent sovereignty, mas
much as negotiation with foreign powers is one OF
the privileges expressly reserved by the Consti
sutton 10 the Federal Government alone. Such,
therefore, in this view, has been the excitement
upon the Executive to revoke the eze9uatur OF
our consul in consideration of his proceeding, and
70 withdraw from him that warrant OF recognition
under which he acts-a measure which would be
equivalent to the abrupt dismissal OF en- ambassa-
dor from friendly Court. Failing this immedi'
ate step, the Cabinet is menaced with impeach,,
ment las loaning itself to secession, disunion and
treason"
This defamation indeed, might perhaps have
few results, but more remains behind. In remit
ting Lord Pslmerstons Application TO the Legs
lature of South Carolina, the American Govern
ment "a understood to have added that, IN default
Of redress from that State, it would be optional
with the British Government TO receive notice for
the abrogation OF the treaty thus infrlnged. This
treaty is nothing less than the instrument under
the provisions CT which our commercial inter
course with the States is now conducted, and its
abrogation would reopen an infinite question OF
duties and tariffs In this way the mere political
question ID complicated, not only by the internin-
able topic Of Slavery, but by considerations OF To-
eel interests and advantages.
The Northern States are not only Aoolltlonlsts,
but manufacturers, and moreover, are Protection
ists vithel. They have lately been agitatlng Tor
Protective Tariff, especially in respect OF iron,
and they seek in this instance for favorable de-
yelopnent of those chances which they conceive
themselves TO have gained in the fortuitous acces
sion of the present Executive to power They
are not unwilling, therefore, 10 push our Govern
ment 10 the alternative Of either silently dropping
ia complaints or annulling treaty which they
would fain see superseded by a different under
standing.
The Southern States. on the contrary, are both
anxious for the recognition of local sovereignty IN
she settlement Of the imprisonment question, and
DESTROYS in the extreme 10 preserve those advan'
ssges which they are well aware Of enjoying un-
der the present treaties
We may mention, indeed, as one of the re-
narksble points brought out by the pending dis
eussiop that the Carolinss confess something very
like an obligation 10 Great Britain for the condi
tions under which their produce is imported into
This country A letter on the subject, attributed
70 a well known dignitary, plainly indicates that
our supplies are only drawn so exclusively from
American ports in consequence Of our own indit-