New-York daily tribune., 1844-12-05
THE TRIBUNE.
Rights Of Colored Seamen in Southern
Ports,

Il
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rights OF Coiored Seamen I'm Southern
Ports,
Itbas been the practice in several Southern ports
sr the local authorities to imprson all caored sea-
~ Immediately on their arrival, TO detaa them un-
Il the departure of the vessel in which they came,
an ! to release them even then only on the payment
by themselves or the captain sf their Jail fees This
regulation, SO unnghteous and oppressive in itself,
when applied to citizens Of any State in the Union,
. clearly violation OF the Constitution of the Uni
d States, which declares that the citizens ofeach
State shall be entitled to all privileges and immuni
rss ofcitizsns in the several States" Large num-
ban; ofcolored seamen, citizens of Northern States,
naIy Of them voters and eligible to any Office with
in the gift Of the people, have suffered the grossest
insu 1t and endured the worst hardshps under this
system Of Southern Legislation in behalf of Slavery.
twill be observed that they are not imprisoned for
any interference with the slaves nor in fact for any
act which they have committed, whether good or
bad, but solely because they are black, and being
50 are supposed to have sympathies with those OF
their complexion who are in bondage. These natu-
nj sympathies, it is assamed--sympathies which
Col has implanted in the hearts of all men alike
render ii unsafe for them to go at large!
Now we do not intend to be mealy-mouthed in
the expression of our opinions respecting this fea-
turs Of Southern legislation. 1t is wholly upjusti-
fable and atrocious, and the North cannot submit
TO it consistently either with her own selErespec, or
just regard to the rights guaranteed to her citizens
by the Constitution. Various efforts have been
made in several States to redress the grievances
oc
repetition. The Intervention of Congress has been
invoked in vain, though the cause Of Liberty and
Justice found an advocate, as usual, in the pe'son
Of the venerable JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. The Le-
sslature Of Massachusetts has on several occasions
given diligent and respectful attention TO the sub
ject; and now we perceive tbst, under resolves
adopted by that body in l843 and 1874, the Gov
ernor aud Council have appointed Agenls to reside
in the ports of Charleston and Nav Orleans, for the
exclusive purpose of defending the Constitutional
rights Of the colored seamen of that State. The
Agent for Charleston Is Hon. SAMUEL HeAR, If
Concord, formerly Member Of Congress and one OF
the ablest men in the State. Hon. H. HUBBARD,
Of Pi,tsfeld, is The Agent fer ~Or1ans. The
expenses Of these agencies will be S5 0U0 per an
num-a snail sum if We consider the magnitude
and importance of the object, but yet sufficient for
the purpose. We shall watch with deep interest 10
zee how these Agents are resolved in the places TO
which they ere sent.
Why will not Louisiana and Sou,h-Caro'ina
abolish their unconstitutional laws, and thus re-
move painful source of irritation7 Surely these
States cannot pretend that their Legislation this
subject is justified by the bond of our Union.
FATHER MATHEw.-We see in The Liberia
tor suggestion that the unfortunate Pecunlary
embarrassments of this revered Philanthropist
furnish the tetotallers of the United States fl
ting opportunity to present to him splendid tes
timonial of their appreciation of his wonderful
labors. The suggestion is good one. The
whole world has felt the blessed influences of his
philanthropy, and why should not all the friends
Of Temperance claim the privilege of extending
to him needed relef2 Father Mathew is indeed
an Irishman, but lie is one "whose country is
the world and whose countrymen are all man.
kind" The Liberator recommends the holding
of a public meeting in Faneuil Hall to fix upon
some plan by which the contributions OF the
friends of Temperance in that quarter may be
concentrated. Very likely the thing will be done.
Have the tetotallers of New. York nothing to say
or DO in the premises
1T occurs to US that not long ago, when
Father Matthew visited London, in his character
as an Apostle of Temperance, he was repulsed
by many Protestant clergymen as well as others,on
the pretence that his labors were dictated by nerce
nary motives, and that he was making largesums
of money by selling medals, sc. These scanda-
lous imputations-,he fruit OF that sectarian big
otry and jealousy which always obtrude their
hateful croakings whenever any work of mercy
is likely to be accomplished much to d.
minish the usefulness of Father Mathew by IN
flaming the prcjudices Of mult,udes who might
otherwise have been reached by his appeals. His
present embarrassmcnts will at least have one
good effect-that of exposing to meri,ed con-
tempt the ISLANDERS ef English clerical wine
drinkers and Protestant beer guzzlcrs.
THE SMITHSONIAN BEaUEsr.-The papers in
different parts OF the country are calling attention
TO this bequest. The whole fund now amounts to SIX
hundred and ninety thousand dollars. The propo-
sion of Senator Tappan 10 lay out model farm
upon ten acres of ground, in the vicinity Of the
Capitol, is alluded to, and petitions are circulating
in aid OF the passage Of mis- bill.
lew. fl. GRAHAM has St. james, or the
Court of Queen Anne, an Historical Romance by
Ainswor,h, complete in one volume, for 2o cents.
GAPING THE CLIMAX OF RAscALrrY.-The fol
lowing is an extract from letter to Rev. John
Marsh, New.York, from J. Fl. Coffin, an able
and jealous temperance agent, now on alecturing
tour in Western New-York. Our readers Will