The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-10

~f~.- VAC h'Sn oedS. In seeking a
enohihstion Tor new crime, II is NOT
lect oi CHASING the prohibited act unde,
an old title, is TO provide Tor the former !,
definite aud Competent remedy. Piracy
under the law OF nations. is alike under
$1,000, and punished by all nations. Blu,
SIR Is there no analogy between the Arr.
Can save trade, and the offence of piracy,
\ SS"on would warrant the proposed class
ncsioh OF the former crime under the
lsuel uue IL may sometimes prove a dit
hcui. TASK, amidst conflicting authorities,
say what Is not piracy but il cannot
De uiincult 10 determine what il is.
IS u robbery, on the high seas, wi,hou,
lawful commission from any recognised
authority, to take forcibly from a vessel,
without color OF law, a single package OF
goods! And IS it not robbery 10 seize, no,
Inc property Of the man, but the man
himself; TO chain bin down, with hun>
ureds OF mis- fellows, in the pestilential
bo'd oil slave ship, in order il he nance
70 survive the voyage, TO sell him TO some
foreign master; TO coDsign him, and not
n'mseif only, but his latest pos,erity, to
neriditary slavery in an unknown joyless
land! by former law, almost coeval
with our present constitution of govern
piracy. Kill man by poisoning the air
he breathes-is il not murder, as truly as
10 Kill him by poisoned food, or by plant.
ing dagger in his heart Is il not, in
deed, to Kill with the aggravated horror
Oi SLOW aud loaihsome death 1t rs sob
DerJ combined with murder. This CRIME,
pegun IN barbarous shore, claimed by
no civilized state, and subject to no moral
law, Is prosecuted to its cOnsummation on
The high seas. Every day, every hour OF
such vOy age Of iniquity, furnishes a fresh
instance OF The crime
Search the etymology Of this term, and
nothing restricts piracy TO mere injuries of
he rights OF property, or limits It's com.
mission TO certain distance from any TO-
Eeign shore According 10 the most re.
mote antiquity. the first pirates were steal
ers OF men and, TOR the very purpose
which now carries the African slave deal
er to that continent which his crimes have
so often imbued with human blood. to en-
slave and sell his spoil From the shores
OF the Mediterranean, this piracy spread
along the Atlantic, and finally encircled
Africa and her islands in its iron grasp
From the very history of this species OF
piracy, IT may be confidently inferred,
that, when once suppressed it cannot be
revived. Other piraLies have their origin
IN transient disorders in the world They
cease and re-appear again This is
remnant at ancient barbarsm-a curse
extended to the new world by the colonial
policy Of the old. Let Africa but once
h freight with the fruits of her soil those
lhips which now carry thther scourges
letters, and she will not sell her off
ng. Let all Fhristendom proclaim the
e trade TO be piracy, and you will
Y.yorily reyoiutIonise the moral sentiment
OF the tew states, who now seem, not by
their professions, indeed, hut their con
duct, 10 tolerate this crime Public SEN
hTenf and law act, reciprocaiiy on each
Other. Has not The dehunciaticn of the
African slave trade, as piracy. by the act
of the last Congress, done much toward.
:, the entire abolition of that portion of this
traffic which then fingered in America ?
The time is not very remote. when men
OF high standing in our country openly
and uBblushingly prosecuted this prohta
BILE commerce. Is there now remaining
single man IN America, who would brave
the public sentiment, not 10, speak of the
public justice, by avowing himself par
ticipaDt. in this gully traffic ?
Sir, said Mr.. M. the present period is
most propitous for the success OF the ex-
pertinent have presumed TO recommend
to the sanction OF the house and the nation.
South America furnished and Brazil yet
affords, an extensive market for African
slaves Two years only nave elapsed,
since this house pledged itself to sustain
the executive in recognition OF the inde-
pendeDce of the South American provn.
ces, now the states of Mexico, Colombia,
Buenos Ayres. Chill, and Peru During
our present session, the executive has de
puted ministers TO the several governments
OF these new born empires. The instruc-
tiens Of these ministers, il may be pre-
sumed, are now preparing, and il among
them there shall be compreheBded this re-
solution, sustained, as | trust it will he,
by the approving voice OF this house, will
those governments deny to US the small
boon we ask Of them, humanity and JUS
tice, in return for our recognition of their
sovereignty ? They have all, possibly,
with the exception Of Peru, followed the
example OF the United States. by abolish
ing this trade. They will undoubtedly
seize the first occasion to propitisie the
good will, not of America merely, but of all
Cbristendom, towards their infant cause.
Brazil, the great slave mart, which has
SO long withheld Portugal from a cordial
union with England in the abolition Of the
slave trade, is also candidate TOR indie
pendence and it may be confidently
hoped that another year will afford suf&
Gent evidence of her ability 10 sustain IT,.
Should she, in like manner with her neigh
bors. yield Der support to our policy, much
will have heen achieved for the success oI