Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-02-11
Great Britain and South Carolina.

SAO@I D1ltdIu anu south Carolina
The British Consul at Charleston has written
to the Governor of the State of South Carolina
calling the attention Of that high functionary
to the fact that the United States, long ago.
entered into treaty with Great Britain. cor
, fening reciprocal commercial PRIVILEGES:
which treaty had been most fagrantIy violated
by the State of South Carolina. inasmncb as
British seanen had been forcby taken from
; the ships Of that nation trading to Charleston,
and placed in prison, merely in consequence
OF Their popularity of complexion; and mas
much, also, as the laws of South Carolina ex-
plicltIy contravened the said treaty, made be-
tween the British and United States General
Governments.
The communications of the British Consul
have been received in the most courteous man
ner by the Governor of the generally fiery,
fierce, and furious little Palmetto Sate:'
and every disposition seems to be manifested
by him to examine, and perhaps amend the
law, Which so utterly tramples on every prn-
cIple OF decency, as well as liberty, and which
places South Carolina in exactly the same po-
sition towards Great Britain that the barbarous
State of Algiers occupied previous to the ex-
pediion Of Lord Exmouth,
This correspondence between Mr.. Mathews
and Governor Means has given occasion to
good deal ofnewspaper disquisition; and diff
ferent views have been expressed of its pro.
prlety. One class of editors aIlege that it was
to the General Government that Mr.. Mathews
should have presented his memorial; and an
other class contend, on the other hand. that,
being British Consul at Charleston, Mr.. Math-
ews could apply only to those in authority
where he was stationed, to prevent the open
violation of the treaty made with his Govern
ment; and that, if South Carolina refuses to
listen to him, and observe the articles of tie
treaty, then Mr.. Mathews will transfer the
matter into the hands of The British Ambassa
do at Washngton and the issue will then Law
d between him and the Government of the Uni
i ted States
This qucet;ev, ;-~>e. Tt ,1as oc;
tated in the days when Mr.. Clayton was Sec
rotary of State; and that gentleman then in
formed the British Ambassador that, in con-
sequence of the "peculiar nature of our State
sovereignties," the General Government could
not interfere in matters of police. The com
, plant OF South Carolina imprisoning British
subjects, upon the preposterous ground Of COM
plexion, is repeated now, however, and with a
irmness that clearly shows the power of pres
E sure that npels Lord Palmerston to make it.
1t is not the Jealousy of bis lordship for the
honor and dignity of the British empire, nor
his anxiety to preserve involate the liberty of
the poorest subject Of Great Britain, that in
duces him to demand the redress of this most
fragrant wrong bnt it is in consequence of
that popular compulsion which, no government
in Great Britain can disregard We see by
memorial signed by our friend. John Scobe,
Esq, of London, that the British ANTI Slavery
Secretary concerning this violation of solemn
treaty made by the United States; and we see
by the British press, that this memorial is sup
ported by the whole moral sentiment of the
British nation. tits not the law of South Car.
DINA per Sc that calls forth, at this time, the
animadversion of the British Government, for.
that Government has been cognizant of the.
character of that law since its enactment; bu
it is the reaction caused in Great Britain by
the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, that
, has produced the determination, in that coun-
try, 10 protect the poor colored seamen who
man her ships, fiom the iniquitous procedure
. of a government which may, with, perfect pro-
/ priety, be styled the Algiers of the United
n States. We hope, however, that this cores
: pondence will terminate peacefully and hap
PLY; that South Carolina will have the manli-
ness, moral courage, and dignity to repeal her
most piratical and cruel laws; and that Great
Britain will, from this discussion and its issue,
be strengthened in the faith that peaceful ar
bitration is "a more efficient mode of adjusting
even the grossest violations of justice and
right, than the old and barbarous method of
the sword. J.B
Christian Citizen