The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-12
THE SLAVE TRADE.

ecu;e from time to time, such negotla
items with the several maritime power:
of Europe and America, as he may deem
eXpedient for the effectuai abolition OF the
African slave trade, and its ultimate de.
runcistion, as piracy, under the law Of
nations, by the consent OF the civilized
( world.
| MIR. Mercer prclaced his motion &c
take up this resolution, submitted by
him 10 the house, on a former day, by
stating hat, t~iths,andipg the advanced
stage OF the session, he laid claim 10 the
indulgence oftbe house, for considcra
ton OF the resolution which had been
| just read, ontRe ground hat he had for
b. rne to urge its consideration until that
| portion of the public business had been
disposed ct, which. eq,'ring he coop
Grafton OF the two houses, could not, by
their new rule, be transacted after the
las! evening. lie trusted thai the house
wouid regard this appeal their favor,
| as deriving some support f'um the recol-
lection That he had abs,ained from ans
| p 'rticipatiou IN debate upon many inle-
| rr sting opics which occupied their at
tention al an earlier period ofthc session
Were II allow able, ON motion TO take
up resolutipr, 10 enter upon its merits,
ne would venture 10 say, that q more
important question:, whether regard be
had to the policy. The Justice, or the HUI
manity of the nation, had not been pres
sented 10 the deiiberaiion Of the house,
than that which was involved i'll the reso-
luton that lie now asked the house to
consider and 10 dispose according to their
wisd IN.
he house having agreed to consider
it, Sir. Mercei proceeded 10 say. in sub
stance, rs follows: Alter experiencing
the indulgence of the house, shall avoid
trespassing ON their patience, by combining
my argument, in support oil The resoIu.
ton, 10 the narrowest compass. The
which this resolution seeks TO
suppress, by combination of the moral
aud physical power of the civilized worid
had been declared, many years ago, by
= convention at the principal powers of
Europe, 30 DC the disgrace OF that eonti>
nent, and the scourge and calamity OF
Africa.
The government Of the U. S. prohibit.
ID 1t as soon as i, had acquired constItu
tional power TO do SO 1; and, by q success
sion OF OF laws, increasing in seVerItp, three
years ago denounced i, as piracy. The
report OF the committee TO the house OF
reprs sepiatives. which accompanied the
bill 20 this effect, III The fist session OF
the 10Th congress, borrowing the Ian.
guage OF The mr. morable congress of vi
emma, pronou &C ;hIs trade to be the
SEQ rye ut Africa, The disgrace and Attic
non OF both Europe and America. YET.
the papers lying before me disclose the
melancholy fact, that, notwithstanding the
active md Jealous efforts of Great Britain
and America, TO suppress this Ubiquitous
traffic, seconded as those efforts had been,
by the treaties Of the former, with three
Of the principal maritime powers of Eu.
rope, the African slave iraJie continues
TO spread its ravages over that much IN
lured continent, increasing annually, both
in exteDt and maligniiy. Since tins trade
mas been condemned oy he moral feel
ibgs OF all Christendom, it has failea into
ne hands of the most daring and harden
ed adven,urers. Shielded from search,
by the maxims of public law no efforts
Of The ma,itime poWei of England aud
America, can overtake or punish them.
so long as the right Of common search
and punishment is withheld, so long may
The flag Of single state cover this de-
| testaDle commerce. Indeed, the partial
restraints now imposed upon this traffic,
by enhancing its profit, and its danger,
serve only TO whet the cupidity of avat.
ice, and to augment the suFerings OF Its
victims. The heart recoil5 With horror
from the narrativec Of cruelty and guilt
reccunted in he volumes before me-
| From two African rivers, the BonDY and
the Caiabar, Doth emptying into the At
iantIc north of the line from a very
| small portion of an extensive coast, to the
whole Of which the slave trade has beer
interdicJed, by the united voice of all
Europe, $50 cargoes OF human victim:
have been ported in single year -
Of thes,, one third are supposed to have
persisted an the middle passage The
mixed Coz mission Courts of Great Br'
tain aud her allies have not from thei
first institution down to the present peri
cd. pronounced more than 90 sentences
# condemnaiion on the numerous vessel
engaged in this traffic and the court es
tab,lshed at the great slave mart OF Cub;
not one
Mr.. Speaker: The volumes before INT
abound with unquestionable evidence o
ne deplorable extent 10 which these hor
| fUle caTgoes are smugpled into on