The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-16
In CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES.

PETITIONS. ETC

PETITIONS ETC. .
Mr.. DICKINSON presented three petitions OF
tors and other persons interested patent rights in New
York. praying modification OF the patent laws; which
were ordered to lie on the table.
Also, petition from publishers of periodicals. in the
city Of New York praying reduction of the postage on
Also the petition of jeremiah IL. Whitney, praying
an increase of pension which referred to the Com
mittee on Pensions. a
AFRICAN coLoNIzATIoN.
Mr.. CLAY Mr.. President, have several petitions
which desire TO present Two OF them on the same
topic signed by large number Of citizens OF the Stale
OF Indiana The petitioners state that they are anxious
10 remove from land the greatest cause OF discod
nency Sa ahs Union-havng in visw an object upon
which they believe the great body Of all parties and Of
every section OF the country can unteand respectfully
pray that Congress would pass bill providing means
from country all that portion Of the African
race who both willing and ready to emlgate to Al
ca ALSO that suitable provision be made for their real
wants for year after their arrival in Africa; and
greater nducement for them TO emgrae that bounty in
land be given them on their arrival upon which they
may, with industry and economy, support themselves,
and make such other provision as may be most desira-
BILE.
mer and which take particular pleasure in presenting,
both Of the and respectable source
from whence 1t emanaes, and on account OF the prayer
of the petitioners II is petition from Rhode Island
and is signed by large number OF the senator's and
most of the members OF the house Of representatives.
and by great number of exgovernors. and
by many Of the lterat OF that State heads OF colleges
and by many private persons This petition, SIR, earn
esty invites the attention of Congress to take measures
for the efecual suppression OF the African slave
trade In their petition, frghtful but think not
aggerated colors, they depict the horrors Of that trade
They state that the measures which have been adopted
United States combnedto suppress that trade, by means
of keeping stationary squadron upon the coast OF Afrl-
ca totally failed of accomplishing that object They
say that the only eectua remedy-and, sir, am happy
be able confirm that statement from the records OF
the American Colonization Society-thus far, the only
eectua remedy for the suppression OF the slave trade
has been found to be the establishment OF colonies upon
the western of Africa that these colonies
cupy about third OF the western coast OF Africa and
far they occupy that coast and wherever they have
been planted there has been entire and universal sup
preston of the African slave trade, SO far that Por
ton of country is concerned They, therefore, sir, pray
that line OF steamers may be established, line OF
sailing packets for the augmentng of the inhabitants OF
the cOloues with to the fuTtherance OF the object
they desire to see accomplished.
Mr. President, will the Senate pardon for avaling
myself OF this occasion to add few observations upon
the general subject Sir document laid before the
Senate few days ago-I think it is No. 6-contaning
the correspondence between our public funconares at
Rio de Janeiro and the Department OF State well de-
the attentive perusa of every member of this body
and have given such liaPpears from that document
three great powers which before referred the slave
trade carried to perhaps greater extent in the
empire OF Brazil than has been before During the
years 1885, lsa7, 1913, and ls49, within the single pro-
vince of RIO de Janero, 900 slaves imported The
number imported into the island OF Cuba do not know
have data before to show. But believe that
the number is greatly diminished. II is equally
tended in other portions OF Brazil besides the province OF
Rio de Janeiro
This document also discloses other facts which no
American read without profound regret Il shows
that this trade in slaves still carried TO all parts OF
Brazil from the coast OF Africa chiefly by American
sells In the course Of four FIVE years past. ninety
three American vessels have cleared from the ports OF
Brazil for the coast of Africa, and most OF them
turned-seyeral of them were cap,ured-but the most
of them, however, returned laden with cargoes of
slaves. The mode in which they accomplished that
object is worthy OF some notice. The Ameri-
vessel is bought in OF the Brazilian ports but
she is TO be delivered in African port. She sails
under American coors laden with provisions and other
appliances adapted TO the prosecution OF this Arican
slave trade She passes over the ocean without moesta
on because have very properly perhaps, refused to
the British the right of seachnot admitting it TO
be exercised by any foreign power whatever in regard to
vessels sailing under the American flag, although laden
with articles beyond all question adapted only TO the slave
irade-and the vessel in safety in African port
WE'LL few days after her arrival. the captain goes
shore, meets with the agent who is to receive the vessel
delivers her papers 10 him. and then returns and pro-
claims the that the vessel has been sod that her
is to be changed her flag-,he American fag-pued
down. and another one hoised in its place, in order
carry cargo OF slaves back TO Brazil and these poor
American often left to perish on the nhospa-
Bile OF Africa for want OF to their
country, and often compelled 10 engage in the nayi
cation oil the slave vessel the only TO get back
to their own country
Mr. President it has been suggested by some Of those
who have had great experience in the operation OF this
effort suppression OF the slave trade ha, certain regu-
laiions of commerce should be made and that, among
other reasons, will induce me, when conclude The few
remarks that have TO make 10 make proposition TO
refer the whole subject 10 the Committee Commerce
They propose that the grants of letters to vessels
clearing the ports OF Brazil 10 the African shall
be withheld They declare that there trade What
there other than that connected with the slave
trade, and there could be motive otherwise to prompt
American vessels go to the African coast They
therefore recommend-our consus and other gentlemen
recommend-tha there should be refusal henceforward
grant any sea letters other document enabling ship
TO sail under the American ag from those ports to the
coast OF Africa. There other measures also sug.
gested, in order TO carry into effect the purposes OF
freeing our commerce and protecting navigation from
any participation in this odious trathc. But will not
take up the time OF the Senate by noticing them.
Mr.. President, | believe II is the judgment OF the
British public, as believe too, IT is the Judgment OF the
American public that the keeping up OF squaJrons upon
the coast OF Africa, with view TO the suppression OF
the slave trade failure, at all events that II is
attended with enormous amount of expense, vast
and inhuman sacrifice OF health and life not justified and
not compensated by any value which these squadrons
have rendered to the object which the parties have IN
view the suppression oil the African slave trade so
strong do think the conviction upon the British mind
in relation this subject TO be, that understand that 1t
was with The utmost difficulty that the British Premier
Lord Paners,on, prevailed upon the British Parliament
to continue the keeping sp OF these squadons year or
two longer. We now keep up, under the eighth article
of the treaty OF Washington one squadron amounting to
eighty guns least upon the coast OF Arca and we also
keep up, in reference to the same object large and ex
pensve squadron upon the coast OF Brazil suppose
though have not referred TO the proper sources Tor IN
formaon--but am quite am safe III saying that
we expend upon The two coasts of Brazil and Africa not
less than half million of dollars, independent OF that
sarrfce of life which takes place in consequence oil the