The southern press., 1851-04-02
THE NEWS FROM THE OLD WORLD

THE NEWS FROM THE OLD WORLD
BYTHE CANADA
The Canada q mails arrived from Boston on Sat
urday morning.
From the London 1ym<s
ENGLAND.
Rights Of British Subjects in .awerica.
II may be in the recollection OF our readers that
Of Isaac Bowers, a British subject, who, on the
ground of his color, taken out Of vessel at
Charleston, and locked up in the town Jail during
the ships stay in that port This public notice
Of the subject was followed up by inquiries in
the House Of Commons, and eventually by an
application on the part Of government to that
Of the United States. The case has now assumed
complexion OF the most extraordinary kind; in
deed, it is hard TO say what confusion may not be
generated by the action of this unlucky incident
on the internal politics of the Union aud the COM
mercial relations between that country and this
1t should be understood that two distinct authori-
ties were found to be interested in the question,
and corresponding division Of responsibility was
of course involved.
The treaties regulating the intercourse between
Great Britain and the United States, and con-
tracted between Her Majesty's government on
one hand, and the supreme government of the
Union on the other, secure TO the citizens Of each
Of the contracting powers the free right OF enter
ing, departing, and residing unmolested within
each others boundaries and it the
strength of this stipulation that our government
demonstrated against the gratutous 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 It was IN the exer-
else of right assumed to be legally reserved that
the local legislature Of South Carolina enacted the
ordinance under which Isaac Bowers was impris-
oned
The Carolinas, as the reader is aware, are slave
holding States. and with such jealousy do they
guard their institutions that the appearance OF a
free black in their towns is absolutely forbidden,
and hence the law providing for the incarceration
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 depart at any point OF the
American territory without molesaton or annoy
ance; on the other. by known local laws, he was
amenable to Imprisonment al Charleston IN re-
spect of his skin.
The first application of the British government
was made, of course, to the cabinet at Washing
ton as the representative Of the American Union
in its relations with foreign States. Mr.. Clayton,
in reply acknowledged the violation OF the treaty
in the act complained of, but charged the conse-
quence upon the peculiar character of the Fedora
certain private sovereignty, in virtue whereof the
,aw in question had been passed. Whether this
reply was made entirely in good faith, or with the
wish TO elude a troublesome controversy, we shall
not attempt to determine, but the results have
been singular in the extreme. On the receipt Of
Mr.. Clayton's answer, by which we were virtu-
ally referred for satisfaction to the government of
South Carolina, Mr.. Matthew, the British consul
at that port, was instructed to make his appeal
accordingly, and he forthwith addressed COM
munication 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 disturb
ance in the proceedings we have here described.
The British government made It's appeal IN the
proper quarters, and transferred 1t 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 assum-
ed interests of the State and the plain rights OF
British subjects. The consequences however,
have been most remarkable. The circumstances
Of a correspondence between foreign consul and
a local government has been seized upon and de-
nounced as precedent of the most dangerous
kind, tending to nothing less than the establish
ment Of provincial sovereignties in derogation 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, the reader Will remember,
that the Southern States have been agitating for
dissolution of the Union, and the incident in ques-
ton is camorously quoted as an overt step IN the
direction Of independent sovereignty inasmuch as
negotiation with foreign powers is one of the priv
ileges expressly reserved by the Constitution to
the federal government alone. Such, therefore,
in this view has been the excitement occasloned,
that vehement calls have been made upon the Ex
ecutive to revoke the ersq,atur or our consul IN
consideration of his proceeding, and to withdraw
from him that warrant of recognition under which
he acts-a measure which would be equivalent to
the abrupt dismissal Of an ambassador from a
friendly court. Failing in this immediate step, |
the cabinet is menaced with impeachment, "as
LOAF ming itself to secession, dlsunon and treason.
This defamation, indeed, might perhaps have
few results, but more remains behind. In remit.
ting Lord Palmerston 8 application to the legsla-
ture OF South Carolina, the American government
is understood to have added that, in default of re-
dress from that State, it would be OPTIONAL with
the British government to receive notice for the
abrogation of the treaty thus infrnged. This
treaty is nothing less than the instrument under
the provisions Of which our commercial inter-
course with the States is now conducted, and It's
abrogation would reopen infinite question of
duties and tariffs In this way the mere political
question is complicated, not only by the intermIn-
able topic Of slavery, but by considerations Of To-
cal interests and advantages.
The Northern States not only Abotionists,
but manufacturers, and moreover, protection
lists wtha They have lately been agitating for
protective tariff, especially in respect of IRON;
and they seek in this instance for favorable de-
veopement of those chances which they conceive
themselves to have gained in the fortuitous access
sion of the present Executive to power. They
are not unwilling, therefore, to push our govern
ment TO the alternative Of either silently dropping
its complaints or annulling treaty, which they
would fain see superseded by different under
standing
The Southern States, on the contrary, are both
anxious for the recognition of local sovereignty in
the settlement of the Imprisonment question, and
desirous in the extreme to preserve those advan-
tages which they are well aware of enjoying un-
der the present treaties.
We may mention, indeed, one Of the re-
markable points brought out by the pending dis
cussion, that the Caronas confess something very
like an obligation TO Great Britain for the condi-
tions under which their produce is imported into
this country A letter on the subject, attributed
to a well-known dignitary plainly indicates that
our supplies are only drawn exclusively from
American ports in consequence of our own indif
ference and misconc options, and that f his coun
trvren Unersist in hugoino the conviction that