The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-10


for Deportcd slaves.
We find in The New York Post another chapter from
Nr benton's forthcoming history II gives an account
OF the controversy between Great Britain and the UNI
led States ~ relation 10 the non-ulhlmen OF The treaty
OF Client, for the restitution of slaves carried Oh by Brit
sh troops n the OF 1912" sThat controversy says
Mr. Benton. "was renewal OF the misunderstanding,
but with better issue, which grew up under the seventh
article OF the treaty OF peace OF 1883, upon the same
subject The power OF Washingons administration was
mol able 10 procure The execution OF that article either by
restitution OF the slaves indemnify The slaves then
taken away carried 10 Nova Scotia, where, becom
ng an annoyance, they transferred TO Sierra Leone
and thus became the foundation OF the British African
colony there"
The point was soemnly carried before the Emperor
Alexander the United States represented by their minis
% 1sf, ar Henry Middleton; and Great Britain by Sir
Charles Bago-the Counts Nesselrode and Capo Disas
receiving the Arguments TO be laid before the Emperor
he Emperor Alexander accepted the Office Of arbitrator,
sSssAIed Y and decided in favor Of The United States
hal decision was as unnelgibe 10 Great Britain all
he previous treaty stpulaOns the same subject had
been She would not understand il. A second misun-
was vs by n ss e
value OF the slaves carried of In 1927 payment was
madetweve years after the injury and the stipulation
to repair --and alter continued and most strenuous ex-
eI,i0ns
The was this 1t was part OF the system OF war
are adopted by the British, when operating in the slave
ates TO encourage the slaves desert from their
ers promising them freedoms and the end OF the
these slaves were carried OFT. This carrying of was
oreseen by the United States commissioners at Ghent
and IN the Ist article OF the treaty provided against
in these words "Al places taken, &c. shall be restored
without delay &C., psremptoy That the United States
OF America ale entitled TO Just indemnlhcaiion from
Great Britain Tor all private property carried away by the
British forces and the question regards slaves more
especially for all such slaves carried away by the
British forces IRON the places and territories OF which the
restitution was stipulated by the treaty, in quitting the
said places and territories" THIS was explicit; but the
British minister undertook understand applying
slaves who Uplunor joined The British troops 10 free
themselves from bondage, and who came from places
never IN possession OF the British troops and he submit
ted noe 10 that effect to the Russian minister, Count
Nesserode to be laid before the Emperor To this note
Alexander gave which is model OF calegor-
cal reply 10 uniounded dubitaon. he said THE En-
pero having by The mutual consent of the two penpo-
entares given opinion, founded solely upon the sense
which results IRON the text Of the article in dispute, does
not think himself called upon 10 decide here any question
relative 10 what the laws OF permit forbid TO the
begerents but always faithful to the grammatical inter
probation of the first article of the treaty Of Ghent his i'm
pera Majesty declares second time that appears to hun,
according to his interpretation that in quitting the places
the restitution o. the United States his Britannia Maesys
forces had right 10 carry away from the same places
and territories, absolutely any slave, by whatever means
he had fallen into their power" This was the
second decIauonhe second decision OF the point; and
both parties having bound thensevs TO abide the decls
ion, be il what Il might, convention was Immediately
concluded for the purpose OF carrying The Enptrors de-
cision into effect by establishing board to ascertain the
number and value Of the deported slaves II was con-
VentOn formally drawn sBneu ol
three powers, done trpcale ratified, and allhcatons
exchanged and the affair considered finished Not so the
fact! New misunders,andlng-new Degota,on-hve
years consumed in diplomatic notes. and hnaliy
convention concluded Certainly II was not the value
OF the property in controversy nor the amoun. oi money
to be paid that led Great Britain in that pernacious re-
ssanee bordering upon cavng and bad failh. II was
the loss OF an advantage IN wathe loss oil The fuiure
advantage OF operating upon the slave States through
their slave property, and winch advantage would be los
il this compensation enforced-,o stand out SO long
against her s,pulaons. and the decision OF her own
accepted arbi,ra,ors.
THIS new or third treaty, making indemnity for these
slaves, negotiated at London. November 1926, be-
tween MIR Gaatn the part of the United States, and
Messrs Huskisson and Addnston on the part OF Great
Britain. The result of this third negotiation was 10 stpu
late for the ymenof gross sum TO the United States,
10 be by divided among those whose slaves had been
red OIL and the OF million Two hundred and
four thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars was The
amount agreed upon. The received, was large and
ample TO pay The damages but that was the spalles,
part Of the advantages gained, The example and the
principle were the main ponis-the enforcement OF such
demand against government 40 powerful, and alter
much resistance, and the condemnation which u car
ned, and the responsibility which implles-his was
the grand advantage Liberation and abduction o slaves
was of the modes OF warfare adopted by the British
and largely counted on as means OF harassng and IN
jurng onehali OF the Onion II had been prac,sed du
ring the revolution, and indemnity avoided II avoided
second time, mpuniiy would have sanctioned the pfac'
ice and rendered IL inveierate and in all future wars
not only with Great Britain but with all powers, this
mode Of annoyance would have become an ordinary re.
sor, leading 10 survile instructions. The indemnify ex-
ted carried along with il The condemnation OF the prsc
lice, as spollaon OF private properly TO be aloned o
and both compensation for the past and warning
for the future. II implied responsibility which no
power, or a, time could evade and The principle oil
which being established there will be no need for fu-
ture arbtTalIons.
have said that this article in the treaty oil Chen, Tor
restitution or compensation for deponed slaves was
brought to better -sue than lis parallel in the treaty OF
peace OF 1888 BY the seventh article OF this treaty, II
declared that the evacuation (by the British uoops)
should be made without carrying away any negroes or
other property belonging TO American Inhabitants Yet
three thousand slaves were carried away, and neither
restitution compensation made for any part OF them
Both were resstedthe restitution by Sir Grey Carleton,
in his letter of reply to Washnston's demand declaring
IL 10 be an impossible nfamy in British officer TO give
up those whom they had invited 10 Their standard but
ing the point Tor the consider atoms OF his govern
meni and, in the time allowing and facilitating the
taking of tchedules OF all slaves taken awaynamss,
ages SEX former owners, and States from which iaken
The government resisted compensation upon The ground
OF r-capiuresiha', being taken IN war, no mauer
how they became like other plunder, the property oil Inc
capors who had right 10 dspose OF as they pleased,
and had chosen 10 sci il fee-tba he slaves having oe-
free, belonged 10 nobody and consequently u was
no breach OF the treaty sipuaiions 10 carry them away
federation 10 the end of its existence, and Afterwards ny
The federal government from its commencement nnu the
claim for indemnify was waived or abandoned, az 'he
conclusion OF Jays treaty, in 1896.
The very first message OF Washington TO Congress pre-
sened the Dexecuton OF the treaty OF peace IN ts par
tlcular (among ohers OF the complaints Justly ex-
ising against Great Britain; and all the diplomacy o ms
administration eyerted 10 obtain redress-in VAN
The treaties OF s and 90 were both signed without allu-
sion TO subject and being left unprovded for IN these
treaties the claim sunk into the class OF Obsolete ne.
apds and the stipulation remained in the treaty dead