Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-10-16

France, was more than ever exposed to
its destructive influence, and under cir
cumstances aggravated by the very lille
gality of the traffic.
This assurance, however, so far from
releasing the parliament of Great Britain
and this country in general, from making
further exertions to effect the termination
OF the slave trade throughout the world,
only bound them the more firmly to
greater efforts and if their lordships
would look TO the perseverance which
was required, even in this country, to
induce individuals to forego their selfish
interests, and sacrifice them to the cause
OF general humanity, they should not be
surprized that the same or still greater
perseverance were necessary with foreign
powers and other people; while, from
their success in their former exertions,
they must derive the conviction, that, if
pursued with equal carnestness for the
future, their perseverance must be crown
ed with equally fiattering results.-The
only means by which it was possible to
terminate the slave trade on the coast of
Africa, would be to display common
flag against the common enemies Of
mankind, and to establish such a system
of maritime police as would give effect
TO the determination of the powers Of
Europe to suppress this abomination.-
In considering which of those powers it
would be most advisable to associate
with this country for the attainment of
this object, it was impossible not to
choose those whose marine was in the
most efficient condition, and those were
France and the United States of North
America. France and America had not
hitherto entered into any specific agree
ment with this country for carrying into
effect the laws passed by each for the
prevention of the slave trade, such as
even Spain had consented to. Of the
disposition of these powers to suppress
the traffic, he could entertain no doubt
although with respect to France the
trade was still-carried on in her colonies.
In Senegal and Goree, with such atroci-
ty, as not only tended to restore the slave
trade eifectually in that part of the world,
but even to destroy every species of in
nocent traffic. The merchants and ira
ders through whose fundamentally an
innocent and in every respect valuable
trade had been carried on with those
countries, had been compelled to retire
from the former scenes Of their negocia-
tons, to avoid the danger they incurred
of becoming victims to the revived slave
trade. He could not believe that gov
ernment SO enlightened as that OF France,
could any longer endure this stain upon
the national character of that country !;
yet it was to be lamented that at the very
moment when proclamations were issued
for the suppression Of the trade, the very
ships that conveyed these proclamations
to the scenes of such atrocities, should,
at the same time, convey the means of
their continuance. Confident, however,
as he felt i'll the good disposition of the
government of France, he was still more
sanguine in the hopes he entertained of
the active concurrence of the United
States. In many other ways have the
United States already evinced their will
lingness to suppress this evil. In the
last session of congress, an act was adopt
ed which was more efficient than any
previously passed for preventing the i'm
portation of slaves, denouncing the
heaviest penalties not only against those
who received slaves SO imported, but en-
gagged in such a traffic. SO long, how
ever, as any flag remained not liable to
be visited, SO long would persons pur-
suing this trade find shelter for their
crimes under its protection. In seeking
to ebviate this evil, he trusted that the
United States would not be deferred by
slight difficulties that may seem to OPP
pose them-difIiculties which might ca
silly be removed by judicious manage
ment. America had hitherto pursued
this great object hari hassu with Great
Britain, as it had unhappily derived from
this country the use, or rather the abuse
of commerce, SO likewise did it derive
from the same source those enlightened
principles of humanity--that generous
sentiment which ever accompanied the
possession of liberty, by which the lc-
gislature of America, impelled by public
opinion, was induced to renounce this
odious traffic. From us too did the Uni
ted States derive their marine, which
was now arrived at so considerable a
height, and which, he hoped, would be
called upon to act in generous concert
with the navy of England, to put down
practice revolving to our nature, and
elisgracetul to the civilized portion of the
world. Such task would be no indig-