The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-24
THE SLAVE-TRADE.
For the Union,
No. l..

For the Union
THE SLAVE-TRADE.
No. |.
Permit me to offer you the following summary
for publication in the ''Unon;" il seems that it
would he acceptable at this time. 1t is, in part,
translation from a pamphlet published lately by a
member of the French Chamber of Deputies, and
goes to establish the fact-rst, that England contin-
ued the save-trade so long it her interest to
do so; secondly, that ii was only abolished when
and where II was her interest 10 abolish II; thirdly,
that It's abolition was mere preteXt, the right Of
search means, and the supremacy of the the
object; which she has prosecuted sometimes by
force of arms, sometimes by diplomacy; and that
the treaties of 1881 and 1893 are only temporary,
and may be repealed at the will of either France or
England; that the English government is not now
sincere in her declared wish to abolish the slave
trade on the coast of Africa.
As far back in the reign of Elizabeth the
slaye-trade was an important branch of English
commerce.
Hawkins, commanding several vessels of war,
Gone Of which was of seven hundred tons, sailed
for the west coast of Africa in 1862. He there OBJ
tanned, either by stratagem force full cargoes of
negroes, sold them to great advantage and, on his
return from the expedition, was knighted, and APP
pointed treasurer of the navy.
| During the regns of james |, Charles !, and
Charles III several oint-stock compa Mes were char
tered, at the head of which were to be found the
names of the flower of British aristocracy. These
charters, having granted monopoly of the slave
trade, soon became an object Of envy, and were so
violently attacked, IN the name Of natural right and
free trade, that Parliament, in 1897 by an act open
ed the save-rade to all the subjects Of Great Britain.
Forts were then erected, and factories established,
on the coast of Africa by the government TO pro-
tect and encourage the trade
In 1859, England stipulated, in a treaty with
Spain, the right of alone supplying the Spanish col
onies with slaves.
The 18th article fthe treaty Of Utrecht 17l3) fix
ed this supply to $500 negroes annually during thr-
ty years. This, according to Lord Brougham, was
the price of the victories Of Families and Benheim!
England obtained an extension of this monopoly in
the treaties of Ax-la-C hapelle and Madrid.
i In 1892 there twenty-sx acts of Parliament
authorizing and favoring the slave-trade.
/ In 1877, England took possession of the three
Dutch islands of Demerara, Guiana and Berbice.
War having prevented their obtaining supply of
slaves large quantity sent there by England
The Edinburgh Review estimates the number annu-
ally imported into these colonies at 81 000 from the
year 1897 to 1905. Anderson, in his History of
Commerce, estimates the imports at 900.
| "The truth is" says Clarkson, ''that no nation
ever entered more largely into the slave-trade than
| England"
England has checked civilization in Africa, has
kept Africa in state of slavery and barbarsm, and
has constantly urged the native African tribes to
war against each other, in order to become enriched
by this odous traffic"
Carkson and his friends long since petitioned, in
the of religion and humanity, for the abolition
of the slave. trade, But Parliament ever rejected
their Petitions and when, at last, it yielded, with a
bad grace, it was more from motives of policy and
a more lucrative commerce, than from those of hui
manity and religion. This is an historical truth,
| very easily proved.
In 1871, Mr.. Wiberforce, chief of the party of
saints, proposed the abolition Of the save-trade.
His proposition was rejected by large majority
one Gifts opponents, Mr.. Grosvenor, while acknowl-
edging the great eloquence Of Mr.. Wilberforce de-
| Tended the save-trade, because of its Usefulness
"The butchers trade" said he, sis like the slave
trade-not very humane; but mutton-chop is not
the less palatable on account of it,"
| 'Let US beware said Mr.. Dundas, s'for, in sup.
pressing the slave-trade, we may compromise
the existence Of our American colonies"
Mr.. Wilberforce and his friends, since 1871, had
several times renewed their motion for the abolition
of the slavelrade but unsuccessful until 1907
| But they attained their object by changing their
means. They no longer attacked the save-rade as
opposed TO religion and humanity, but prejudical
to the interests of England They began to cac,i-
late the number of seamen annually ostto England;
they showed that it might be superseded by more
lucrative trade with Africa; they proved that the
English colonies abundandy supplied with
backs; insinuated that the colonies of other nations
would be compelled to follow the example of Eng
land under less favorable circumstances; and drew
the conclusion that all well considered the suppress
sion of the save-rae would be rather advantageous
| than otherwise TO England.
Hence Mr.. Whitbread very Justly remarked, that
the suppression of the slaye-trade regarded in
the British Parliament less question of humanity,
than account Of profit and loss trhere The gold Of
England ieas balanced against african blood
England having abolished the slave-trade in its
own colonies, made persevering efforts to have it
abolished in all the colonies Of other nations.
Mr.. Fox sent Lord Lauderdale to France to nego-
tho A,
The following is the strange report made by him to
the House of Lords in 1907:
"When pressed the French government to abol-
ish the save-rade, the answer | received was, that
could hardly expect that, irritated as it must be
against the negroes of ST. Domingo, would readily
yield to the wishes of the British cabinet. But
this was not serious answer; for | soon received
the true one,--that England was enabled to abolish
the slave-trade because her colonies were abun-
dainty supplied with blacks. That was not the case
with the French colonies; and while il would cause
inconvenience TO England, 1t would operate very
disadvantageously to France"
England, after the peace of 1874 fearing that the
colonies of other nations, which had not been so
fortunate as to procure slaves during the war, would
send to the coas, of Africa for them, commenced
that crusade against the slave-rade, which she has
since continued with her usual forethought.
England first applied to Ferdinand, King Of Spain;
but he refused to listen TO her proposals. She met,
however, with better success ct the Congress of
Vienna Notwithstanding the opposition of the
Spanish and Portuguese plenipotentaries, Lord Cas-
ereagh after four consecutive stngs, succeeded in
obtaining the famous declaration of the 9Th Feb.
ruary, 1915, by which all the great powers repre-
scented in this Congress voted against the slave
trade, and resolved to abolish it, But this decara-
ton ofprnciples not followed by any immediate
effects.
AN OFFICER IN THE NAVY. =
See Mr. Clarksons pamphlet entitled "T1e Tapoiy o
me adrsirdds."
To complete The number Of slaves in their colonies