Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-03
tSdle,n (;ns.

~
RICHMOND, AUGOS 81 5, 1891.
SLAVE TRADE.
Tins question had lately been discussed in
The British Parliamcnt-and tie policy of,hc
United States, as respects The suppression of
me trade, has been censu:ei or commended
according to the views of the speakers The
resolutions reported by Mr.. NVilbcrforce. so
lar as they relate to the u. States, are stated
IN our preceding coltilnns.-'rhey are sing,,-
larry complimentary TO America while the
other resolutions cens,irc i'm strong terms the
conduct of the courts Of France, Spain, Por-
tugai, and the Netherlands {" for nermittn~
tins guilty traffic To be carried on by their sub,
Jects, contrary to the solemn agreement en-
tered into by all the great powers of Europe
at the congress of Vienna" The conduct OF
Portugal Is ccnsured by these resolutions in
the strongest terms because she did not name
| some day at the congress of Vienna for ter
niinatinS this trade altogether because she
has since little regarded even the treaty bv
which she bound herself TO abolish the trade
! to the North of the line land because She does
not yet hold out the smallest hope of its total
aboll'ion.--They propose, therefore, to visit
her with the punishment which received some
c0untenancc from the negOciatOrs mt Vienna :
VIZ To exclude her from all commercial inter
course with their respective dominions (: and
at all events, " TO prohibit the Importation of
'he produce OF any colonies belonging TO the
crown of Portugal"
Mr. Wilbcriorce in the Speech, which sec
onded these resolutions, again placed us in the
mostadvantageous contrast with Portugal and
trance-and declared that g as the Americans
arose rom the same source as ourselves, This
indication either character ,caS q inst cause of
pride 10 EHglishmen."- These praises did not
sound so pleasantly in the ears of NV Lord
Castlereagh who orcourse set himself imme-
dlately to modifying and nibbling away the
appreciation which we had so Justly meritcd
iieor nam however-and let us hear those
too who spoke after him:
The Marquis of Londonderry said he pove the
American Government perfect credit both for
zeal and sincerity in its eXertions to put down this
deies'b!e traffic but it had shown itself in no res
pect the most iace the most disnosed tn lend
itself unreserycdlv To the accomplishment of the end
which 1t protested TO desire. The Honourable
cenemans admiration, in this case, ran n little
beyond his philosophy Toappeal TO facts :-America
had attached the penalty of piracy to perseverance
IN the slave trade-she had raised IL TO the level of a
capital offence, though il seemed sort of Irish piracy
"nere the punishment was only 10 operate on her own
SUBJECTS SFc had cruisers upon the of Africa
but what could two vessels accomplish unless they
continued with the ships of other nations? She had
hdeed, proposed cooperation, and the suggestion
ad Deen received here with great cordially, though
II did not appear ut a distinctly in what mode that c
operation was 10 he effected. OF all Governments
however, the most determined against conce,ling the
right OF qualified search that of the United States
he (Lord Londonderry might perhaps entertain san
shine hopes OF overcoming the prcjudces existing in
some countries, IN France but WHY was the Aineri-
can Government thrown in his face That Govern
cnt mad utterly refused 10 concede the right OF search
he discussions upon this point had been many and
ample but 1t was declared to be inherent part of
her system, never TO allow the right of search. II was
not therefore, to be supposed that difficulties were on
y iound with despotc strictly monarchical govern
mcns. America WAS ruled by representatives BODY {:
her inhabitants were unquestonaby highly cnlightem-
cd, nut the national jealousy that guided her councils
laq opposed an invincble barrier the establishment
OF system, calculated at 10 put an end 10 the
slave trade In short greater difficulties had been
created by any, than by, representative govern
mems, and oil all representative governments America
| had raised the most nsurmountac obstacles
or j. Macintosh said the Noble Lord spoke will,
praise OF The American Government, in that praise he
most cordially concurred She had done that without
engagement or treaty which the great powers of
Europe had refused 10 do, though bound by the most
solemn obligations, and he could not but rejoice in tine
rciction, that the two States which were allied l,v
Eng''sh blood and liberty the first TO wipe out Of
their own characters stain which other states retain
ed, ms II 1t were an advantage and privilege.
Dr. Washington expressed hope that America
wCnld consent to n m;tigated right OF search as
necessary To carry the law she had made into execu-
Lon Tie also observed upon the conduct of the
ehch government with respect TO the Slave Trade
subsequent TO the application of Sir C. Stewart as
e'asi'e and nsncere, and said il would require the
most active cNeitions of the Noble Marquis 10 induce
toat Government even reluctantly perform its sacred
engagements.
Mr. Brousham observed that although America had
| done much TO pul down the Slave Trade by her
Act OF abolition, and by declaring the traffic piracy
yet until the right of reciprocal! search was allowed
her efforts could not he complete The right Of
search had acquired i'll by circumstances of
inc last war; but as we now offered present equ-
'alcni TO America for what she could give up, and
not any thing future and contingent, when one was
heilscrent and tic other neutral, he trusted the
difficulty would be soon obviaed
| That our laws hold the save trading Amer
leans to he pirates, that is, as it were, enemies
| o. me hnmc'i race, Is no more an lrishsm, than
the provisions we have enacted against such
as III out IN our own ports against countries
with whom we are at peace. We do not in
either case make the provision general. We
do not extend it to all, who are engaged in the
slave trade, or all, who take part in the war
| between Spain and the Patriots.-We do not
extend the faint of piracy to English or Por-
| tusuese slave traders because we do not wish
the governments Of those countries to extend
| similar surveillance to our vesses.-Iord
CastIereagh may brand this with the name of
an lrisllism but we hold it to besound policy
1t is policy imposed upon us by the conduct
of Great Britain herself We have suffered
too much by her Legitimate doctrine of the
rights of search and impreSsmcnt, to give her
any preteXts for carrying them into effect
Let her abandon those assumptions. Let her
by solemn covenant disclam the right of search
ing or vessels for her sea;Den, and the ma
tional jealousy that guides orr councils" will
cyui-p from fhp want nf fI,c food - ccoJ, ~