Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-25
THE SLAVE TRADE.
In SENATE, JANUARY %, 1851.

The following resolution, submitted by Mr. CLAY the
Goth instant, came up for consideration
Resolved That the Committee on Commerce be instructed
to inquire into the expedency OF making more eectual pro-
vision by prevent the employment OF American vessels
ca the expency Of granting sea letters or other ev
dence national character American vessels clearing out
the ports Of the empire Of Brazil for the western coast OF
Africa
Mr. HALE. MI President, wish to say few words
with regard 10 that resolution. II nsrucs the Committee
Ccmerce to inquire into the expedency Of making more
eecua provision by law for the suppression Of the African
slave trade have in this mornings papers pubca-
ton which is said to be made to crafty public curiosity
which reads t"
sThe undersigned members of the s1st Congress Of the
United Sates-beevng that renewal OF sectional conro
very upon the subject Of slavery would be both dangerous
the Union and destructive Of its and seeing mode
by which such controversy be avoided except strict
adherence thereof effected by the Gem
promise passed the last session OF Congre hereby
declare their intention maintain the said settlement invio-
ae and resist all attempts repeal alter the acts aore
said unless by the general Of the friends of the
sure and to remedy such evils f any) as time and expe-
rience may develop.
they further declare that they will support for the Office Of
President Of Vice President Of Senator Of Repre-
sentative in Congress- member Of State Legislature
Of party who is not known to be opposed
the disturbance of aforesaid and to the
renewal FORM of agitation upon the subject oil
Now, sir, it seems to me
Mr.. FOOTE. Is there any question before the Senate
The PRESIDENT Yes, sir, there is resolution.
Mr.. FOOTE. was not aware Of it. ! shall be glad
then to hear the Senator uron the matter. '.@ s
Mr.. HALE 1t to me that this resolution and the
consideration of by the Senate at the present time will be
very likely make the of and those who sustain it
obnoxious to the osacism of the obligation contained in the
publication which haveread And sir, it very certain that
the osacism confined to candidates for the offices of
President and Vice President That is large game, worth
firing also Senators and Representatives in Con-
gres; but it goes down to the State Legislatures Ireaches
all theUnon-rom end Of it to tie ohe-and puts
certain persons under the osracsm of the gentlemen who
ia
ed crafty public curiosity; I; but think the "pubic
curiosity will not be gatfed until it gets the names Of the
sgners think this publication will only excite instead Of
gratifying "pubic curiosity" Now it seems to me that
well consider this subject without subecing ourselves
to the ostracism of this publication.
do know how strikes other Senator's, but looks to
me to he absurd- state this abstract proposition, with
out intending to give any personal application OF the term
to undertake discuss the subject of trade without
going into discussion of the Of which the trade is the
effect There good deal said about protecting the iron
interests Now, how ridiculous should appear il
10 be ostraczsd ead word about iron while discussing
the iron trade to that this resolution opens the
whole subjec. of slavery from beginning to end. brings
in all its aspects before the National Legislature and makes
1t fair and legitimate subject Of discussion here.
Now do not very much for the denuncaons OF this
paper. think have seen the elephant far public
life is concerned shall therefore speak freely, notwith-
standing it may deprive Of the efficient aid Of these
gentlemen to get into State Legislature hereafter.
In regard the subject of the slave trade propose sub
init to the Senate the views of individual who suppose
entitled to weight upon this NATTER and ask the Senate
10 consider the views Of that gentleman in regard to the effect
which the legislation of Great Britain and the United States
have already had upon the suppression Of the traffic against
which this resolution is aimed will read from letter dat
ed ''Silve Bluff, South Carolina, January 2sth 1885,"
signed by gentleman who has been Governor of the State
j. H. Hammond The letter addressed to the late Thos.
Clarkson, OF England and, understand the of the
argument it to show Cakson that he had devoted his
life mistake, and that all the efforts which had been made
by the aboionists, he termed them suppress the
hada
creased its horrors threef.ld will read from the letter
was estimated at the of your agitation,
in 1887 that forty five thousand Africans annually trans
ported America and the West Indies And the mortality
of the Middle Passage computed by FIVE, is ad
med not to have exceeded nine per cent Notwithstanding
your of Parliament the previous abolition by the United
States and that all the Powers the world have subsequently
prohibited this trade the greatest OF them declaring
piracy covering the African seas with armed
prevent it. Sir Thomas Fowe Buxton, coadjuor Of yours
declared, in ls0 that the number Of Africans annually
sold into slavery beyond the at the very least
souls while the mortality Of the Middle Passage has
ncreased consequence OF the taken suppress
the trade to twenty-five or thirty per cent And the one
liberated by British men-owar since the passage act
Judge Jay, an American aboltons that hum
dred thousand or twotbrs have perished between their
capture and liberation Does it not really that Mr.
Grovenor prophet That thoueh nearly all the 'im
possibilities 1887 have vanished and become familiar
facts household customs under the msgic influence of
seam cotton and universal peace yet this wonderful pro-
phecy still stands deng time and the energy and genius Of
mankind Thousand. of valuable lives and Fifty millions of
pounds serlng have been given by
tuitess attempts to overturn it, hope you have lived
too long Tor happiness though have been
to that in spite of all your toll and those OF your fellow
aborer nd the accomplishment of all that agency
could could do the African slave trade has increased three
fold under your eyes-more rapidly perhaps than any
other ancient branch Of that your efforts
suppress have effected nothing than hree-fod in
of is horrors There God who rules this world
all He does not permit his
fo his designs is He who, for his alwise though
often inscrutabe purposes throws "imposbies' in the
way OF our ondcst hopes and exetons Can
you doubt this ?" ~
But the Governor had something to say this
ject. He says
would De lar better than it is for the African f the
trade was tree from all restrictions and left to the mitigation
and decay which time and competition woud surely brno
about kidnapping, both secretly and by war made for
the purpose could be by pre in A;ca
next greatest blessing could besow upon that
would be to transport its actual in comfortable
the Atlantic Though they might be hond
still they would emerge from darkness into I;oh,F.o
barbarsm to civzstion-from doauy to Cbrisi,n;,y;n
short from death to light" "'.' -
Such is the view of that enlightened statesman who b
lived amongst the institution He the opera
ton Of the legislation Of Great Britain and the United states
and he thinks that the greatest blessing could be confer
red upon the African would be repeal those laws and e,
the slaves in comfortable vessels when the trade
would be free from the extraordinary risks to which il now
subjected.
This matter was some time ago before the House of Com
in England and committee of that body reported that
owing the penal enacmens made sgainst the ade the
horrors Of the trade he'd been increased fo the object
greatest number Of slaves in the least possible room
and transport them in the quickest way ports which
they destined
And the Governor does not leave without his views upon
the institution itself with which this intimately
connected He says
''I think, then, may safely conclude, and firmly be-