EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF THE
GOVERNOR OF CANADA
Detroit, Feb. 28, 1842.
The editor of the Liberator will confer a favor upon the colored citizens of this city, by giving the following preamble and resolutions a place in his columns, and preface it with such comments as he may deem necessary.
On Monday evening, Feb. 14, 1842, a large meeting of the colored citizens of Detroit met at the second Baptist church, to take into consideration the situation of Nelson Hacket, now in prison in this city having been surrendered by the Governor of Canada to Lewis Davenport, on the requisition of the Executive of Arkansas, as a fugitive from justice. Mr. Lightfoot, the chairman, stated that this meeting had been called to raise funds to employ counsel, in order to ascertain if the papers sanctioning the surrender of the said Hacket were genuine, and to learn if it were possible to relieve him from is present confinement. Mr. Lightfoot said he had, in company with Messrs. Banks, Hall and Bibbs, consulted with counsel, who gave it as their opinion, after examining the papers, that they were genuine, and correctly made out; and there was no point or flaw in them, on which they could institute a suit in his behalf. Mr. Munro then introduced the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed by this meeting, to draw up a preamble and resolutions, setting forth the dangerous precedent of the Government of Canada, in surrendering the said Hacket to the Executive of Arkansas as a fugitive from justice, when a the same time he was a refugee from slavery.
Mr. Munro urged the adoption of this resolution, after considerable discussion, it was adopted. The meeting then adjourned. On Tuesday evening, Feb. 22d, a large meeting assembled at the same place. Mr. French fervently addressed the throne of grace. The committee who were appointed at the previous meeting reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, we have always viewed the British Province of Canada as an asylum for the unfortunate and oppressed slaves of the United States and fondly believed the moment they touched those shores, that moment they were free; and whereas the Governor General did, on the 17th January, 1842, surrender one Nelson Hacket to Lewis Davenport, of the city of Detroit, State of Michigan, to be by him given up to the authorities of Arkansas, as a fugitive from justice, (the said Hacket having been confined several months in the jail of Sandwich, Western District, Upper Canada, and on the night of the 8th Feb., at a late hour, conveyed across the river, and lodged in prison in the city of Detroit.) And whereas, it is a settled principle in the slave code, that every slave who absconds from bondage is a fugitive from justice, — a principle well understood by the British authorities, and, of course, familiar to His Excellency the Governor General: and whereas, the said Hacket was not demanded by the Executive of Arkansas, for the purpose of punishing him for larceny, but to punish and make an example of him for the unpardonable offence of absconding from slavery; therefore,
Resolved, That it is with sorrow we find the government of the British Province of Canada countenancing and assuring the slaveholders and their abettors of the American confederacy by seizing and confining in prison, and returning to bondage, individuals who had fled to that Province for protection and liberty.
Resolved, That as there are no treaty stipulations binding the two governments to surrender fugitives from justice, we cannot believe the Governor General was justified in giving up the said Hacket, even admitting him to have been guilty of the charges preferred, viz., stealing a horse and a watch.
Resolved, That if this precedent, this sort of courtesy, is established, then Canada will no longer be a safe asylum for our unfortunate brethren who are fleeing from bondage. The will be just as safe in the States of New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Resolved, That we pray our brethren in Canada, to give this subject immediate and serious attention. It is of vital importance to them; and if possible, to find out what part certain officers and counsellors at Chatham and Sandwich had in this transaction, and publish the whole affair, and by all means endeavor to stop such nefarious proceedings.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Signal of Liberty, in Ann Arbor, Liberator, in Boston; Philanthropist, in Cincinnati; Emancipator, in New York; and all papers friendly to the rights of man.
WILLIAM C MUNRO, Chairman.
ROBERT BANKS, Secretary.