The southern press., 1852-01-15

Inc secretary OF state, TO WhOm mas Oe0n re-
ferred the resolution which was adopted by the
House Of Representatives of the United States
on the 9th instant, requesting the President to
communicate to that House, if not Incompatible
with the public interest, any information he may
possess, respecting circular which was issued
by the Secretary of State for the British Colo
nial Department, on the 10th of October, 1850,
relative to the employment in her Britannia
Msjesty's West India Colonies, of free blacks
and liberated slaves from the United States,
" and particularly what action the Legislative
Assemblies of the British West India Islands
have taken in pursuance of the suggestions con-
tanned " in said circular has the honor to report
to the President the accompanying copy of
papers, which embrace all the information pos
sessed by this Department on the subject OF the
said resolution. Respectfully submitted.
DAN'L WEBSTER.
Mr.. La,crence to Mr.. Webster.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LONDON, Norember IA, 1861.
Sir A few weeks since George w. Owens,
Esq, of Georgia, called upon me to say that he
had seen newspaper, published in the Island
of Antique, containing circular despatch from
the colonial office, recommending the British
West India Colonies to enter into contracts
with persons held in slavery in the United
States Soon after the interview he furnished
me with copy of the despatch.
Mr.. Owens seemed greatly annoyed at Lord
Grey's depatch, although | told him that this
government could not have the intention of
meddling with slavery in the United States.
He, however, was anxious for an explanation
from the government. did not feel authorized,
nor did | think it wise to make an official mat
ter of the subject, as believed could accom-
plsh the object in a more satisfactory manner
by personal interview. | accordingly called
on Lord Palmerston, in the absence of Lord
Grey and received from him verbal explana-
tion, discainlng any such purpose as Mr..
Owens had drawn from the language of the
despatch On Lord Grey's return to town, re-
ceived from him an informal note to the same
effect. Immediately wrote Mr.. Owens note,
mbodying the substance of these explanations,
and received from him reply, dated at Liver
pool, expressing dissatisfaction with them. Not
knowing what use he may make in the United
States of the circular despatch, ! deem it my
duty to place you in possession of copy of
my letter to him. | have read this letter to
Lord Palmerston, and have received from him an
assurance that it is entirely in accordance with
his own views, with the views of Lord Grey, and
with those of the cabinet ministers
The despatch in question was, as you will see,
sent to the West indies some time in The autumn
of 1850, and as it has never been he ,rd of in the
United States1 apprehend it was never acted
upon by the colonial legislatures, 1t grew out
of the action of the late MIR. Turnbull, who was,
believe, of the mixed commission in Cuba, and
an agent of this government in matters connect
cd with the slave trade. He was in Washington
about two years since, and while there saw many
oc otL.
ern States, respecting the free colored people
of those States, and communicated the result of
his observations to this government.
| should not have thought it necessary to
trouble you with this matter if Mr.. Owen had
expressed himself satisfied with my letter.
have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State,
Washington.
Ertract from The Antigua Weekly Register, pub
hshed in the city Of ST. Johns, 26M November,
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,
THURSDAY, N0ren,ber 81, 1850 {
When the house was formed which was not
before two o'clock, Mr. Speaker informed the
house that he had received messa ge from the
governor-in- chief, which he read, as follows:
"R J. Mcintosh, the governor in-chief trans
mits, for the information of the House of A ,sem-
blythe accompanying copy of circular despatch
which he has received from her Majesty's Sec-
retary of State, suggesting measures to be
adopted for the encouragement of emigration to
the. West Indies from the United States.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ANTIGUA, Nou. 18, 1850.
Irrpc
"DowNING STREET, Oct. Is, 1850.
"SIR: have to acquaint you that it has been
suggested to me that desirable class of emf
grants for the West Indian Colonies might be
induced to come to them from among the black
and coored population of the United States,
whose arrival and location, if they chose to
come, would, have no doubt, be advantageous
both to themselves and the colonies.
81 am not aware of anything which can be
done by the colonial governments to encourage
such immigration beyoud showing readiness
to pass acts giving the privilege Of naturaliza-
ton to any such persons as might come and
settle there, and providing that bounty should
be payable on such arrangements as may be
thought desirable.
81 could also suggest, as deserving of con
sideration, whether laws might not be passed
rendering binding, on certain conditions, engage
ments to pay sums of money which may have
been agreed on by immigrants, although such
engagements may have been contracted in Ame
rica, and while the parties were in state of
slavery
have, &c, GREY"
Mr.. Laurence 10 Mr. Queens
LONDON, November 8, 1851
My DEAR SIR: have just received rerIy
to my note to Lord Palmerston, accompanied by
Lord Grey's explanation of the despatch to which
| called his attention | am assured that he
never intended to sanction or suggest entering
into any arrangement with regard to slaves not