Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-27

independence, II would Oe Tor Inc Govern
ment of England, bv addressing itselfto that
State, to enter INTO such negotiations rs
would induce its Government to enter into
those engagements for the suppression of
the slave trade which we had persuaded
many nations to contract, and which, he
trusted we should persuade all the nations
of the civilized world in like manner to con-
tract.
IT, again, by any progress of events at
any future distant time, Texas were to be-
come a member of the Union, then, un-
doubtedly, there would be some danger that
atleast from other States of America, slaves
might be introduced into the province. Of
Texas, but there would not be any real dan
ger in practice Of the importation of slaves
brought from the coast Of Africa, or from
any of the West Indies. If there had been
hitherto an importation of slaves into Texas,
which he was inclined to believe there had
been, it would be found, he apprehcnded,
that they had come from Cuba and some
neighboring places i'll the West Indies; he
had not heard ofany cargoes being brought
to Texas direct from the coast of Africa.
With regard to the importation from Cuba,
that was branch of a larger question which
he trusted, had been satisfactorily settled.
The House knew that we had concluded a
treaty with Spain for the suppression Of the
slave trade, containing what he hoped and
w.at he thought would be most etfectual
provisions for putting an end to the slave
trade under the flag of Spain. That treaty
had only lately come into operation, and,
therefore, the statement which the honora-
be gentleman had made as to the transfer
of slaves from Cbba to Texas related to a
period of time, and state of things antece-
dent to the practical operation of the new
treaty. 1t was well known that some years
ago we persuaded the French Government
to enter into atreaty by which mutual
right of search, subject to certain limitations,
was conceded by one country to the other.
The treaty likewise contained other regula-
tons, having for their object the suppress.
sion of the slave trade.
What had been the effect of that treaty
Until then, the trade in slaves was carried
on to an enormous extent under the flag OF
France hut he believed that, from the mo-
menl the treaty came into operation, not a
single slave-ship had sailed under the flag Of
that country. We had now also concluded
treaty with Spain. Previous to the con.
clusion of this treaty, and perhaps he might
say, almost up 10 the present moment, the
flag ofSpain had been extensively y used for
the purpose of covering the abominable
traffic. He, however, trusted and believed
that the same provisions which in the treaty
with France had proved efectual in sup
pressing the illicit traffic carried on under
the French flag, would,in the treaty with
Spain, be found equally effectual in prevent.
ngit from being carried on under the flag
ofthe latter country, and that the enormous
trade in slaves carried on with Cuba in de.
fance of our representations to the local
authorities of that island, and in reproach of
the good faith ofthe Spanish Government,
would finally be pu, an end to, as well as
that subdivision ofthe traffic which had flow
ed into the territory of the Texas. There
was another flag which had, perhaps. been
more abused for the purpose of the slave
trade than that of Spain he meant the flag
of Portugal.-(Hear, hear.)
The papers which have been laid upon
the table contained sufficient evidence Of the
denominations carried on under that flag, and
hardly week passed without his receiving
fresh accounts, each exceeding its prede-
cessor in the cnormity ofthe facts disclosed.
1t, therefore, gave him much pleasure to be
able to S ate to the House that this country
had entered into negotiations with Portugal
for the purpose ofconcluding treaty pre-
cisely similar to that concluded with Spain.
These negotiations were brought so nearly
to a conclusion, that he expected, before
many weeks elapsed, to receive the treaty
signed and, iftnat should be the case, he
trusted that the slave trade, now being car.
ried on under the Portuguese flag, would be
put gown. Then there would remain chiefly
to be considered the flag of Brazil, which,
in spite of treaty, had, 10 certain extent,
been applied to that purpose. The Govern
ment of Brazil had lately signed two supple.
mentary articles containing the essential
stipulations, for want of which the existing
treaty had proved Intellectual; he meant the
stipulations respecting equipments and break
ing up of vessels. We had now, therefore,
associated with us in the common causes
of putting down the slave trade, almost all
the maratime Powers whose flags could be
abused and prostitutcd for that purpose.
The British Government was going still
further than this.
They had made proposition to the Gov
emment of Austria, Prussia and Russia, who
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