The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TO the Senate and
House of Representatives. Qfhe y. y.

House Of Represenfatpes p Me ~ a.
ItIansmit, herewith, for the Information of Con-
gress copies OF certain dispatches recently received
from Mr.. Wise, our Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
,er Psnipoenliary at the Court of Brazil, upon the
subject OF the Slave Trade; developing the means
used and the devices resored TO- In order to eyade ex
isting enactments upon that subject
AHxiousy DESTROYS as are the United States to sup
press traffic revolving TO humanity In the efforts
10 accomplish which they have been the pioneers OF
civilized States it cannot but be subject Of the most
profound regret, that any portion OF our citizens
should be found acting In co-operation with the sub
iecls of other Powers In opposition 10 the policy Of
their Government; thereby subjecting to suspi-
clon and TO the hazard Of disgrace the flag Of their
own country 1t is true that this traffic is carried
altogether IN foreign ports, and that our coasts
are free from its pollution. But the crime remains
the same wherever perpetrated and there are many
circumstances to warrant the belief that of our
citizens are deeply involved in It's guilt. The mode
and manueri OF carrying on this trade are clearly
and fsarlessly set forth the accompanying docu-
ments; and II would seem that regular system has
been adopted for the purpose Of thwartng the policy
and evadlng the penalties of our laws. American
vessels, with The know edge as there are good reasons
TO believe, OF the owners and masters are chartered
or rather purchased by notorious slave dealers in Bra
lI aided by English brokers and capitalists with this
intent The vessel is only nomnally chartered al SO
much per month, While, In Truth, II Is actually sold
u be delivered the coast OF Africa, the charter
party binding the owners, In the mean time
to lake on board, as passengers, new crew
10 Brazil who, when delivered ON the coast, are TO
navigate her back TO the ports OF Brazil with her
cargo OF slaves. Under this agreement, the vessel
clears from the United States for some port In Great
Britain, where a cargo Of merchandise known as
"coas, goods are designed especially Tor the African
trade, Is purchased shipped, and consigned, together
with the vessel ehhert the save-dtaer himself or TO
his agents accompiices In Brazil. On her arrival
crew is put board passengers, and the yes
sci aud cargo consigned an equally guilty
factor or agent ON the coast of Africa, where
the unlawful purpose, originally designed Is final.
" contaminated. The merchandise Is exchanged
for slaves--the vessel Is delivered up-her name ob-
Grated her papers destroyed her American crew dis
charged to be provided Tor by the charterers and the
new or passenger crew put In command to carry back
its lable freight to the first contrivers of the
voyage, or their employees in Brazil
During the whole progress Of this tortuous enter
prise II is possible that neither the American crew
originally enlisted, nor the passenger crew put on
board the Brazilian ports, aware OF the nature
OF the voyage, and yet il is these principally, igno
rant If rot innocent that the penalties Of the law are
inflicted; while the guilty contrivers, the charterers,
brokers, owners and masIers-in short all who are
most deeply concerned In the crime and Its rewards,
for the most part escape unpublished.
twill be seen from the examinations which have
recen " taken place at Ro that the subjects Of her
deeply implicated in this inhuman traffic BRUSH
factors and agents, while they supply Africa with
Br ish fabrics in exchange for slaves, chiefly In
srumen,sl in the abuse of the American flag and
the suggestions contained in the letter of Mr.. Wise,
Whose udicous and jealous efforts In the m tier,
cannot be too highly commended } addressed to Mr.
Hamilton, the British Envoy as to the best mode Of
suppressng the evil, deserve your most deliberate
consideration, they will receive, doubt not, that
ofthe British Government.
Ii is also worthy Of consideration whether any other
measures than those now existing, necessary
TO give greater efficacy to the Just and humane policy
of our laws which already provide for the restora-
ton to Africa of slaves captured by American
cruisers. From time to time provision has been made
by this Government for their comfortable support
and maintenance during limited period after their
restoration and it is much to be regretted that this
liberal policy has been adopted by Great Britain.
As it is il seems to me, that the policy 1t has adopt
ed calculated rather to perpetuate than TO suppress
the trade by enlisng very large interests in It's Ia
vo Merchants and capitalists furnish the means Tor
carrying 1t on, manufactures for which the negroes
are exchanged are the products OF her workshops (;
the slaves when captured instead Of being returned
back to their homes, are transferred to her CO.
lonial possessions in the West Indies, and made
the means Of swelling the amount of their pro-
ducts by system of appreciate, ship for term OF
years. and the officers and who capture the YES
sci, receive on the whole number of slaves so many
1t be obvious, that while these large interests
are enlisted favor of its continuance, will be dit
fcut if inn ble to suppress the nefarious t'af-
fe and that its results would be in effect but contin-
uance Of the slave trade OF another and more cruel
form for It can be but matter of little difference with
the African whether he is torn from his country and
transported to the West Indies, as slave in the re-
gular course of The trade, or captured by cruiser
transported to The same place and made to perform
the same labor under the name OF an apprentice
which at present the practical operation OF the pol
icy adopted.
Ii is to be hopedthat Her Britannia Majesty Gov.
ernment, will upon review of all the circumstances
stated in these dispatches, adopt more efficient mea
for the suppression Of the trade which she has
so long attempted to put down, with, as yet, so little
success and more consonant with the original policy
Of restoring the captured African to hls home
JOHN TYLER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1915.