A Greater Than The Creole Question

It will be recollected that, about two months ago; seven slaves escaped from Florida, in a revenue boat - that thcy were heard of coasting and landing along the eastern shore of Florida, and that a deep and painful anxiety was feit in this quarter for their fate. The anxiety is now relieved - they are safe in a land of liberty. Laus Deo From the St Augnstine Ilerald, Oct. 31. THE RÜNAWAY NEGROES. The following facts are interesting. - They are derived from the most accurate sources, and may be relied on. The simple relation of the eïrciimstances of the murder of Mr. Geering, as told by the little girl, is touching. It is substantially as follows: At sunset, on the day when her father was murdered, the little girl was alone iu the house, when three nogroes, armed, entered the house, and took the provisions, all they had, consisted of bread, flour and pork. The negroes used no violence or threats towards her; but endeavored to stop her cries by putting their hands acrossher mouth. Soon as she could make her escape, she ran to her father who was fishing a short distance off. The father seized his rifle and pursued the negroes. He had been gone but a few moments, when she heard two shots in quick succession, and her father's cries immediately after. She and her brother had hid themselves in the bushes, rhere they remained during the night,endnring intense suffe ring, from the stings of myriads of musquetoes, and lest the least noise should discover them, they feared to brush them off. In the morning they venturedout. They found their house robbed of everything, and all their provisions carried away, theïr father dead! and no oüier inhabilants on the Islandl Ia thistressing situation they remained some hours after daylight, when a small boat from the Miami carne there, but would not remove the children, thoughthey were entreated to do so. Such is the distressing tale of these bereaved orphans. At noon, a Mr. Ferguson, wilh several other settlers from that river, came in search of the negroes, and took the children to his house. The boy is about 8 or 9 years of age, and his sister two years younger. They are spoken of as very intelligent children. They have a mother in New York, if she be alive.Mr. C. G. English, at Miami, has laken the boy into his family, and the little girl is in the family of Malory, Esq. at Key West. Ás near as could be ascertained, the murder occurred between the 18thand 22d September.Subsequently to tho murder, the negroes were seen going from the cape to the Miami. On the 3d of October a fishing smack arrived at Key West, direct from Key Biscaync, the master of which gave information that the negroes, after being absent several days, had returned and when he left, were at the old lighthouse.On the 4th, Capt. F. A. Ogden. of the Stli infantryjcommandingilie port at Key West, upon learning tiiis fact, promptly ordered Lt. Hetze], with 20 men, with 20 days' provisions, to proceed to Key Biscayne, in the schr. Walter M. then justarrived iYom Indian Key, with instruc tions. if posssible, to capture them, and, if need be, dead or alive. At the same time the collector despatched the revenue cutter, Nautilus, with the same object. On the same day a smaíl schooner arrived at Key West. the master of which reported, that on the 2d he had landed at Key Biscayne, and saw the negroes, and was pursued by them until he reached his vcssel. Lt. Hetzel arrived at Keycayne on the afternoon of the 6th, and occupiod the next two days examining the Key; but the negroes had left. AU the coves and the creeks, where a boaf might possibly be concealed, were thoroughly explored, but without success. ► From the 7th to the 13tb, Lu Hetzeir party was occupied ín examining both' shoies of Key Biscaync, Bay Fort Dklas, the Miami, Little River, M'Gregor% Island and a great portion of the tract of country, called the Huniing Groünds At M'Gregor's Island, tracks, evidently negroes, were secn bota a weeïragou On the lOth the cutter, Naulilas, onchored off Key Biscaynelight-house, and effected a junction with Lt. Hetze], aad a reinforcementy under cxmmand of Lt, Woodward, proceeded a second time tothe Miami, giving the country a mom thorongh examínation, but no Awthey traces of them were discovered.On the 6th, LU Davis, of the U, 8. schooner, Flirt, landed at the ïight-hosse, and searched in vain fór the negroes, Concluding from the result of th expedition, that the negroes were no where in that neighborhood, Lt. Hetzrel Ieft Key Biscayn-e and turned to Key West,where he an-ived on the evening of the I5th. The supposition is, that they had mado another attempt to cross the Bahamayr nnd being favored by several days calm weather about that time, renders its probable, that they had succeeded in the attempt, If the negroes have reached the Bahamas, we fear that there will be more díL fículty ín them ta trial and pimishment, than was at fírst apprehended. The question of indentity will arise ïn M force, and under tlie circumstances, we apprehend full proof will be required by the Brifish autiiorities, "We cotildn't whip them away." "They can't take care af themselves," These stale and harmlegs assertion aro delightfully illustrated in the foregoing narrative.The question arises, how vrili the British government act, on a demand for the surrender of these under the Ashbarton treaty, as murderers. Such a demaná will doubíless be mado. Lord Aberdeen has declared, in his place in the House of Lords, that his government will not regard, as crime, the taking of "a horse, boat, or other things, by a slave, to facilítate his flight". By the same rule, killing a man,who endeavors to impede his flight, and mnch more one who seeks the fugítive's life, musí be deemed excusable bomicide. We do not permit ourselves to doubt, for one moment, that these enterprising and lucky adventurers, are as safeírom the DUrsuit of our government, as LordAberdeen hímself, or Queen Victoria. Still, the question is different frora that in the Creóle case. There, Iife was taken by the self-emancipated slaves, out of the jurisdiction of slave law, as Mr. Giddings clearly showed; in this case, it waswithin such jurisdiction. Probably, however, the British government will not trouble itself much about the distinction; but will say with Harry Percy: "I'll keep thera all, By Heven,thcy shnll not have a slare of them; No.if t'were lo save ther$ouls,they shallnot." Since noticing the above we hare roceived the following: Correspondence of the Cour. U Enqnirer. Key West, Nov. 16, 1843.At the November term of the Supremo Court for the Southern District of Florida, eight negroes were indicted for murder and robbery. They are the same who fled from St. Augustine some time past with a sail boat. They went to Biscaine, cape Florida, where they remained some time during which they entered the house of one Gceren, and in the presence of two children, tlie one 10 and the other 6 yeara old, took whatever they foundand wanted and then went away. Mr. Geeren, on his return, learning what had transpired took his gun and pursued the negroes, andsoon after, the children heard the reporta of guns. Mr. Geeren was afterwarda found dead, having been shot. But the negroes have arrived safely at Nassau. - It is the intention of the authorities hero to have them demanded of the British Government as fugitives from justice. - The above detailed facts, I believe are the substance of what was disclosed beforo the Grand Jury." We are not greatly anxious or fearful of the result of a demand from President Tylers administraron on the British gorernment todeliver up men, guilty of no crime but that of defending their Iivea against the attacks of a man who sought their death with the deadly weapon of guns. The British govemment wiJl . cover, that these negroes; were escaping from legal ized American Piracy, and that in helping themselves to "a boat" and to food on the way, "necessary for their escape," they did nothing which the circumstances would not justify ín the eyea of Christendom and in all eycs but those of brutal slave-holder.