As soon as Daley withdrew, Manuel invited his companions to partake
of the Captain's present, which they did with general satisfaction.
CHAPTER XV.
THE LAW'S INTRICACY.
WHILE the scenes we have described in the foregoing chapter were
being performed, several very interesting ones were going through
the course of performance at the consul's office and other places,
which we must describe. The British Government, in its instructions
to Mr. Mathew, impressed upon him the necessity of being very
cautious lest he should in any manner prejudice the interests of the
local institutions within his consular jurisdiction; to make no
requests that were incompatible with the local laws; but to pursue a
judicious course in bringing the matter of Her Majesty's subjects
properly to the consideration of the legal authorities, and to point
to the true grievance; and as it involved a question of right
affecting the interests and liberties of her citizens, to ask the
exercise of that judicial power from which it had a right to expect
justice. The main object was to test the question whether this
peculiar construction given to that local law which prohibits free
colored men from coming within the limits of the State, was legal in
its application to those who come into its ports connected with the
shipping interests, pursuing an honest vocation, and intending to
leave whenever their ship was ready.
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