Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-06-22
From the Illinois Intelligencer.
No. s.
re tic Citizens Of Illinois.

r---.S v tNc b{ff@fHS VI IHihOISa
II was long commended by those inie-
rested, and believed by many who did
not understand the subject, thai the To-
reign slave trade had not the effect OF
increasing the number of slaves in the
world, but OF improving their condition.
by changing their situation. But The
tallacy OF this doctrine having been fully
developed in the discussions which have
taken place on lie abortion of the tsesic,
III is now admitted by all that this inhu-
man traffic no, only mad the effect of IN
creasiDg the number, but of adding TO
the misery and prolonging the bondage
Of the wrelched subjects oill. And that
such also will be the effect Of increasing
the domestic slave trade, cannot be
doubled by any who understand The close
| affinity and striking resemblance both IN
form aid purpose between II and the TO-
! reign slase tr~de
The constant demand for slaves q.
The coast OF Africa, and the inducements
and temptations held oat for them, Ia
duced mol only mercenary and unpcin-
cipied individuals TO form deRradstory
parties te prowl through the country
and kidnap their dtsenceless brethren,
but The different nations and tribes also
we're induced 10 MAKE war en- each
| other for the purpose of obtaining slaves,
which constituted almost tie only artl-
| Gle OF commerce between them and Eu-
| ropean nations.
| In this way slavery which had been
| an a frtra a. in atbar hsathaf,y
wage nations the casual effect of war, be-
tame the sole cause and object OF IT,
Wars were made TOR the express pur-
pose OF OBJ aiming slsvesto supply the de-
mand created by the slave trade. Thus
the demand in this, as IN every other ar
tlcle OF trade, created The supply; and
dis will, and must necessarily be the
case in the domestic slave trade. BY
Iopening a new and fertile region aud
lgreatly enlatging the malkel, you ne
Icessariy increase the demand, and with
Iit the supply, and consequen tly the
number OF slaves. But thisI shall be
toId cannot be, since the further impor-
lation OF slaves is prohibited by the con-
sitution Of the United States. That
great aud increased demand ter any arti-
Gle, viii produce corresponding great
and incrc ascd price; and hat great pro-
| hs viii produce great efforts, viii rot
presume be questioned, nor can II be
1 ienied that the greater Tie pecuifiary
Inducements Tor The violation 81 any law,
Fthe greater the probability Of IT'S being
violated. That the iaducem nj is now
very strong Ter the lnlringeni nj OF HE
inhibition Of the further lmportalipg of
slaves would seem to require no further
proof than its irequcn, violation, which
is fact kuowl 10 al who are in The least
acquainted with the subject, or are in
tbs habit OF reading the newspapers. But
as some Of my readers may not be
aware Of the extent OF This Illicit trade,
will transcFibe from the many detailed
statements ] nave seen on the subject,
lew official facts which happen acei-
dentally 10 have ., hand. On the 10th
oi June, 1917, Capt. Morris, OF the Con-
gress 'riga'e, then cruizing in the Gulf
OF Mexico, wrote to the Secretary OF the
Navy that several hundred slaves are
now at Galveston, and persons have
gone from New-Orleans 10 purchase
them. The collector OF the port OF
Darlen IN Georgia wrote to the Secreta-
Try of the Treasury, March l4Ih, 1919,
that, 4" it is painful duty sir TO express
10 you that am in possession of un-
doubted information that A fricans and
West India negroes are almost daily ILL
citly introduced into Georgia for sale or
settlement, or passing through i, to The
Territories OF the United States for ST.
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