The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-14
FUGITIVE SLAVES.


THE LATE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE ADMIRALTY ri
BRITISH NAVAL OFFICERS -coRREsPoSDEscH
WITH THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANrI-sLAy-
EFT socIETY-PREss COMMENTS.
prom tho London Times, Sept 80, 1871
The following correspondence has passed between thd
Admiralty and the British and Foreign Anti-Slayer
Society the subject or the instructions issued by th
Lords Commissioners Of the Admiralty with reference
TO the question how far officers IN command OF HeH
Majestys ships justified receiving on board fugs
tive slaves who, escaping from their masters, may
claim the protection OF the British fag'':-
RKMoNsTRANCE.
To THE LORDS THE ADMIRALTY I,
Tho members OF the British and Foreign Anti1
Slavery Society respectfully beg convey 10 youE4
ordshps the expression their profound regret that
certain instructions have issued requiring nava4
officers 70 surrender fugitive slaves to their masters
They submit that these instructions constitute th
entire abandonment OF that mobiles honorable policy
which has distinguished Great Britain for than
Ever since the decision in the case OF the slavdR
Somerset nobly defended by Granville Sharp in 1772A
u has always been held that slave British soil or o
board British vessel OF war was absolutely free and
the property OF man.
This is the cherished opinion OF the people OF this
country, and we should feel alarmed for the Of
humanity could we believe they would ever consent
TO allow the settled policy or the nation tot
be reversed, and fugitive slaves once on board
Her Majestys ships TO be ever delivered bacH
shalt not deliver unto his master The servant who IL
escaped from his master unto thee, - the command
Of God under the Old DispensatoD, and being in har@
mony with the spirit and principle OF the New Tess
lament should be binding upon every Christian nation2
In addition TO all the other objections TO these nj
strucons cannot shut eyes to the fact that they
afford moral support and give the direct sanction oA
this country 10 slavery.
On all these grounds they, therefore, respectfully
urge upon the Lords Commissioners the Immediate
repeal Of these obnoxious regulations
On behalf Of the British and Foreign Anti Slavery
Society, we are, very respectfully,
spM1Sp I SURGE, Hon. Secretaries !,
AARON BuzAcoTr Secretary.
No 81 New Broad street. Goth September, 1876
THE REPLY.
To this memorial the following reply was made bH
the Admiralty
ADMIRALTY Sept 25, 1875
GENTLEMEN-I am commanded by my Lords Commis5
sioners Of the Admiralty TO acknowledge the receipt a
the memorial from the British and Foreign AntiI
Slavery Society," dated goth inst, in regard to the rei
cepon of fugitive slaves in Her Majestys ships and
my Lords desire to inform you that copy Of your
memorial has been transmitted to the Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs
am, gentlemen. your obedient servant,
THOMAS WOLLEY. /.
We give the instructions in full
TuB INSTRUCTIONS
l. Cases OF this kind may be divided into threg
harbor within territorial waters either ESCAPED
from the alleged cruelty Of their TO avoid
sh SSa The refugee
escaping perhaps from vessel also at sea, would bel
in danger Of losing his life were he not received on
board; where person has been detained on shord
10 state OF slavery aud, escaping to ~
British ship or boat claims British protection thci
ground that he has been so detained contrary tai
treaties existing between Great Britain and the count
try from the shores Of which he escapes in the cas
OF territories which, like Oman, Madagascar and Jo4
2 The broad rule to be observed is that fugitive
slave should not permanently received board anY
description of ship under the British flag unesS
his life would DO endangered II he were noa
allowed to come on board. The reason foH
htQ rnln 10 fhnt ygnrA N fhaFM fiQA no
cal result would be, in the first instance, t0
encourage and breach of the law OF the counry
and, next to protect the person breaking that law3
And contrary rule would lead to endless disputes an
difficulties with the legal masters of slaves for 1t might
happen TO take extreme instance, that the whol@
slave portion OF the crews of vessels engaged in the,
pearl fishery in the Persian Gulf might take refuge o
board British ships, and, If free there their masters
would be entirely ruined and the misrust and hatred
caused in their minds would be greatly prejudcial to
British interests.
g. Such being the general and broad rule, II remain4
TO apply it, far possible, to the three classes OF
mentioned above In the first the slave5
must not be allowed TO remain on board after IL has
been proved the satisfaction CT the officer in CONF
mand that no is legally slave. In the second the
should be retained board the ground thaq
the high the British vessel is par; OF the
dominons Of the Queen; but when the vessel
from a vessel Of which the slave has escaped
he will BIO liable to be surrendered demand
being made, supported by necessary proofs In tho
third class negro might claim protection on thu
ground that, being by the terms Of treaty free he
was, nevertheless, beng detained slave 1t would
then become the duty OF the commanding officer To
satisfy himself to the truth OF this statement and
to be guided his subsequent proceedings in regard
such person by the result of his inquiries and the law
WHICH would then affect the Those interested in
maintaining the slavery OF the person claiming his frees
dom should assist at the inquiry and in the o4
his claim being established the local authorities should
be requested to take steps to insure his not relapsne
into slavery.
4 AS a general principle care should DO taken thas
slaves mised into the belief that they will find
their liberty by getting under the British flag ahoat on
induced by the presence OF British ship TO leave
their ships, II at sea, their employment, If