The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-06-26
History Of the Slave Trnde.

views. The Edinburgh numberfor April contains
an article founded on work published by Mr..
Bandinel, under the particular auspices of Lord
Aberdeen, the British Secretary of State for for
eign affairs. From it we derive the following in
formation.
The African slave trade owes its origin to the
Portuguese In l442 an expedition was fitted
out by Prince Henry, third son of John the Ist
of Portugal, and placed under the command of
Gonzales Baldesa, and this officer brought home
ten negro slaves, the first ever seen in western
Europe.
Two years afterwards, an association was for
med for the purpose of obtaining slaves, and these
were sold not only in Portugal, but other coun-
tries. After the discovery of the West Indies,
the trade increased rapidly. In 1907, fifteen
years after the discovery of Hayti, the natives
were victims of the most horrible outrages, and
it is said even the good Las Casas, in order to
save the remnants of the wretched Caribs, who
resisted the attempts 10 enslave them, as we'll as
they were able, proposed that the African race
should be substituted as the object of this nhu-
man traffic
In 1917, Charles V issued patent authorizing
it, but subsequently, in l542, under the chidings
of conscience, revoked the authority granted to
the traders, and emancipated the slaves made
under the grant. His successor did not ''tread
in his footsteps" but allowed the trade to be con-
tinued. The English did not at this time COM
pete in the business with the Spanards or Portu-
guese, who seem to have ruled the American
and African seas. One exception is recorded,
that of Sir John Hawkins, who, in 1862, captur-
ed three hundred slaves on the Coast of Guinea,
and sold them in Hayti to the Spaniards As
tho Fpulicl
in numbers, its adventurous captains found their
profit in making incursions into South America
and sacking the Spanish towns. In 1888, Queen
Elizabeth, who is said TO hav e been offended at
the conduct of Sir John Hawkins, chartered an
Anglo-African Commercial Company, and in
1880 another under the auspices of Charles L.,
went into the traffic upon large scale with the
regular system. As the English began to settle
their American Colonies, slaves we're carried
there i'll great numbers.
In l7l3, by the famous arrangement called the
Assientlo Contract, the carrying trade to South
America was placed in the hands of an English
Mercantile Association, and from this time the
sale of slaves became an important iten in En-
glish commerce. Previous to the American
Revolution, there were $4,000 slaves in the An
| glo-American Colonies and the whole annual
importation under the British flag amounted to
10000 souls. Among the earliest opponents to
the traffic was Richard Baxter, man whose mem
ory and works arc highly valued by many reli-
gious communities of the present day. Public
opinion began to mature on the subject through
the eighteenth century, and many eminent wri-
ters took ground against the continuance of the
trade. 1t scenes however that the feeling of the
conscientious had not been fully enlisted against
it, and John Newton who afterwards became so
conspicuous for his pety, did not hesitate even
while a protesting Christian, to make several
Guinea voyages, without having his serenity of
mind in the least impaired by his undertaking.
In l772 the principle of slavery received its
death blow in England by the decision of Lord
Mansfield in the cause of the negro Somerset,
one which shines forth among the decisions of
the Kings Bench, is familiar to lawy ers, and is
on the lips Of the benevolent throughout the
world. The press took up the principle then es-
tablshed, and the Poets in the fervor of their en-
thusiasm, declared,
''Slaves cannot breathe in England"
The first time the question was agitated in
Parliament it was by the celebrated Mr.. Hartley,
member for Hull, in l776. Although he foed
in carrying his resolutions against the slave trade
the subject was thenceforth constantly agitated,
In 1857 private committee was formed for pro-
curing its abolition, and Wilberforce and Clark
son were two of its most active and conspicuous
members. Burke, Fox, Pitt and Greenville yiel-
ded to the force of their arguments and influence
a large number of Peers went with them, and the
Clergy and the Universities added their power
full support.
On the Ilth of July, 1888, bill was passed
Regulating the trade so long as it existed and lin
iting the number of "negroes in cargo" in proper
ton 10 the tonnage of the vessel. 179l, Mr.. Will
berforces bill to prevent the importation Of slaves
into the West Indies, after long effort on his
part to carry it, was thrown out. For sixteen
| years the struggle continued. During this peri
cd Denmark and the United States prohibited
the traffic. The former country passed the ne
cessary laws in 1892, and Congress did so in
1894.
II was during the administration of Mr.. Fox
that the abolition of the slave trade was determ-
ned upon. Two bills were passed in 1906, re-
stralning and checking the practice, and soon af-
ter his death, his latest wishes were carried out
by the passage ofa bill introduced into the House
of Lords by Lord Greenville. This gave it its
death blow
Napoleon on his return from Elba, abolished
the French slavetrade, and in 1877 Loui. XVIII
confirmed the decree. Holland forbade it in
1914. No European or American power now
lawfully carries on the business.
There is still some trading in human flesh with
certain Spanish and Portuguese possessions. But
the constant cruizng of United States and Brit
ish armed vessels on the coast of Africa, will
probably effect its entire suppression.--N Y.
True Sun.
THE MoUNTAIN.--Wo most enthusiastically
admire the mountain--lhe high, the noble, the
majestic mountain--that bends not in the storm,
| is unshaken in the temnesfs and the whir,yinds