Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-11


detested cruelty; and so long as the high
price OF negroes is maintained here, SO
long they will receive al abundant re-
comPeise. The temptation which is
now heid out 10 them is too aluring Tor
their cupIdily to resist, and 1t we take
measures which enhance the value of
slaves, we shall as certainly find they
sviH be smuggted into car country.
Ii will probably be objected that tho
law OF Congress is an adequate security
against all attempts at importation. We
answ er, that such conclusion is not
supported by facts. We are fully aware
that Congress have made severe enact
mems against The traffic, as well as the
introduction oil African negroes into this
country, and we esteem their cohdncs
highly laudahle but are painfully con-
WINGED that iaqos merely will never prove
sufficient 10 restrain The traders. The
threatened danger Is wholly insufficient
to repres their unsuitable thirst for gold,
SO long as the cargoes procure ready
sale al high price Abandoning he
Ameril an flag, and taking shslter under
the colors of those ma ions which tole-
rate the trade, they prowl along our re.
mote southern coasts watching fsvora-
Die opportunity TO land their cargoes,
and we are assured that in many in
| stances they have succeeded IN eff citing
this. The correctness OF our opinions
upon this subject is fully established by
a reporl OF Smith Thompson, Esq. Se-
cre,ary of The Navy, to the Chairman Of
the Committee OF the House of Repre-
sen,atives Oh the Slave Trade, dated Fe-
bruary 9TH, 1921, from which we extract
the following:
There appear to have been Partial
CAPTURES made ufon The coast and in the
neigh6orhood IF GeorSra, BY public ves-
sells OF the | /. cd Siales The slaves,
in some cases, have been bonded out to
individuals until adjudication"
1.-The slave trade has been checked BY
our cruizers upon the southern coasts Of
tie United SAFES, and no great attemhta
| appear to have been made 10 introduce
slaves through illicit channels
The information contained in these
paragraphs, Is OF the deepest importance
~ w. -AbNaiSob TIC TtDUtt
announces that rade in slaves has been
carried on upon the southern coasts of
the United States. That the vigilance
OF the United States vessels cruising
there, has only checked, not abolished
that trade. That attempts, though not
great ones, have been made to introduce
slaves into this country through illicit
| ri nni1riS and OF
the cruIzers has been crowned with sue
cess, and The slave ships captured and
brought to port, the tedious and uncer-
tain process of legal investigation is ne.
cessary before they can be condemned.
To those who kaow The very great
perp!eX,les, the embarrassm ents and the
heavy expenses, whith must necessarily
be incurred IN the prosecution OF such
sui,--lhe great difficulty of procuring
evidence which will directly establish
those nice legal points upon which con-
domination must rest; the prejudices OF
jurics, the partialities of judges, and tho
influence OF popular opinion, all OF which
may operate very strongly in such cases
--those who consider these circun-
stances, and weigh The improbabii'les OF
conviction against the enormous profit
which accrues from the sale OF one car
go, will a, once perceive that the temp
tatien 10 smuggling is very powerful,
and that IN many cases the attempt can
scarcely fail 10 succeed.
A II these attempts arise undoubtedly
from the very high price of slaves; and
Whatever tends TO enhance their value
will afford an additional Indictment TO
the prosecution Of this detested traffic.
Tie high price Of slaves In any country
will as certainly allure to lis shores the
mercenary traders in human blood, as
the vulture will seek the carcass upon
which it ta!tens.
Slavery is he source whence the trade
originated, and by which it is maintain
ed. Lessen The extent of that and the
traffic will diminish /; bu' if we widen the
sphere OF slavery we increase the de-
mand for slaves, and consequently offer
additional inducements for its vigorous
prosecution.
Such will undoubtedly be the melsn-
choly effect OF extending slavery over
the vast territories OF the south and west.
The rich and fertile bottoms will drain
away the slaves from the sea board, aud
occasion consequen scarcity and high
price, which cannot fail to draw to our
shores the trade ships. Such being in4
dispu,abiy the case, it follows, that what
ever measures promote the introduction
of slaves INTO territories or states hi,her-