The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-17
Emigration Of Free Blacks TO The British
West india Colonies.

Emigration Of Free Blacks TO the British
West india Colonies.
Mr.. Bayly, in the House Of Representatives,
o short time since, called for the correspon-
dence between the American Minister at the
Court OF ST. James. and the Secretary of State,
relative 10 the emigration of free blacks to the
British West India Islands. Those letters
have been laid before the House, and their sub
stance is as follows:
Under date Of the I4th November last, Mr.
Lawrence addressed communication to Mr..
Webster. in which he stated that few weeks
previously q Mr.. Owens, Of Georgia, had called
upon him to say, that he had newspaper
published in Antigua, containing circular
dispatch from the British Colonial Office, re-
commencing the British West India Colonies
to enter into contracts with persons held in
slavery in the United States-that Mr.. Owens
seemed greatly annoyed at the dispatch, and
desired al explanation-that although he 1.-THE
Minister) did not feel authorised to make an
official matter of the subject, he yet waited on
Lord Palmerston, and received from him ver-
bal disclaimer Of any such intention as was at
Secretary, Lord Grey, (who had been absent,)
he received from him an informal note, to the
same efect-that he then wrote note to MIR.
Owens, e;nbodying the substance of these ex-
planations-that that gentleman, replying from
Liverpool, expressed himself by no means sat
isfed-and that not knowing what use he
might make of the circular dispatch, he (Mr.
4 h.l Ill, h. -
of his letter to him, having first read it to Lord
Palmerston, who said it concurred with his
views, as we'll as with those of Lord Grey, and
tho rest of the Cabinet.
The letter of Mr.. Lawrence to Mr.. Owens
states, that he has Just received a note from
Lord Palnerston, accompanied by Lord Grey's
explanaiion-tha he (Mr. L. is assured that
he lLord g. had never intended to enter into
any arrangements with regard to slaves, not
first known to, and approved by, their masters,
and that he had believed that shareholders
would receive the arrangement with satisfuc.
tion-that the West India Colonies were suf
fering for want of labor-that gentleman from
the West Indies had directed his attention ia
the fact that large number of free blacks ex.
listed in the free States, whom the whites wou'd
be glad to getrid of-,hat he believed the san
States would gladly seize upon such an op
portunity to carry out that policy-that he hut
been informed that the laws forbade emancir a
ton without removal, ard that he had sup
posed that measure which saved the emanc
pators from SO great an expense, would be &C
ceptable-that with these views he had pre-
pared plan for the removal of liberated slaves
without expense-that he had recommends {
this plan 10 the Colonies, and had written Il &
circularin extraordinarily, that he regretted
that it had been misconstrued.
The following is the circular. preceded b,
the proceedings of the Antigua Legislature:
Extract rsm the Aatigua Weekly Register, published
III TIE city IF 50. Johns, Goth Nortmbcr, 1850
HOUSE OF Assembly
Thursday, November 81, 1850.
When the House was formed, which was no
before two o'clock, Mr.. Speaker informed tn,
House that he had received message from
the Governor-in- chief, which he read, as fol
lows:
ar J McIsTosH, the Governor-in-ch ief trans
mits, for the information of the House of As
scmbiy, the accompanying copy of circula
despatch, which lie has received from Her Ma
jesty's Secretary of State, suggesting tnea
sures TO be adopted for the announcement O
emigration TO the West Indies from the Unite,
States.
"GorernmeM House, antigua,
November 49, 1850"