The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-24

4 49, rsS'x ~ ysktp .0Ats R0tEuSX &tAtk1A
nan, who has lived amorg the institutions and
known the operation Of the legislation of Grea,
Britain and the United States upon it--that the
greatest blessing tint couId be conferred upon
the United States world be the REPEAL of these
laws and let the slaves come over in.comforta
Die vessels, whsn they World be freed from the
extraordinary s1tiefngs to which they are now
subjected. Thus you will see that this was all
SAID 10 be Ia consequence Of the penal enact
ments which were made against the trade, ioI
The only effect was TO increase its horrors; for
the object was TO lake the greatest number OF
4 slaves in the least possible ROOM to be trans
ported TO the ports to which they were destined
The governor does not leave us without his
views upon the Institution itself, with which
this matter is so intimately connected. He says
II think, then, may safely conclude, and
firmly believe, that American slavery is not only
not a sin, but especially commanded by God,
through Moses, and approved by Christ through
\ his Apostles. And here might close its de-
fence; for what God ordains and Christ saueti-
fies should surely Command the respect and toll
Grafton of man, gf g
There may be weak place in this argument
but cannot see it. If TO transport savages and
cannibals from their native shores, and bring
them under the operation Of God-ordained and
Chrst-sanctifed institution--if that be it, MS the
governor snys, ask, where is the humanity and
the philanthropy that il expending itself in egs-
lation, the only practical tendency of which is to
increase the horrors OF trade which is itself in
creasing! | think it is time for US to consider
well what we are about and see if the authority
which have read has not some foundation in
| it, and if we have not been proceeding upon a
| mistake.
The honorable senator from Kentucky, [Mr.
Clay,] if understood him Alright, remarked, on
1 the occasion of presenting petition from the
ellie of Rhode Island.the other day, that in his
judgment tho only eifectual way to put stop
to the African slave trade, was to colonize the
shores of Africa with free blacks, and christian
lie them there. Now, it strikes me that there
can be much more effectual way than that.
You may send the fleets Of the world there
you may send the blacks of the world there
you may send the armies OF the world there
but SO long as there is foreign market that
| will pay the risks for these slaves, Just so long
they will be transported, and the only ehectual
I. way in which the slave trade can be rooted out
| and DESTROYED is to destroy the market When
there is no longer any use for slaves, the save
trade will die Of ITSELF Then, and not till then,
may we expect to see a termination or de-
crease of the trade.
\ Now, let me say one word in regard to these
petitions for restricting the horrors Of the Afri
can slave trade. have noticed that every time
that the North has been pushed to the wall upon
this question OF savery--every time they have
! yielded until concession was exhausted-then,
and not till then, some pious and worthy gen.
/ tleman Of the North has been seized anew with
spasElOdic horrors of the slave trade and that
philanthropy finds vent against the foreign
slave trade altogether. think that it is little
strange, and little singular, that these gentle
men have lain still so long, and have seen, and
felt and appreciated so little all the horrors of
the slave trade unit, everything which slavery
asked Of the North had been conceded in the
last session of Congress. / will confess that,
for one, while ! will not depreciate the motives
of everybody, here or elsewhere, | have little
sympathy and little respect for that philanthropy
and that humanity which seek no occasion of
manifestation until such time when the battle
has been comparatively lost, and them instead of
mourning over the defeat which the friends of
| freedom have suffered, their philanthropy and
| humanity find new vent against that which it
is safe for everybody to curse-that is, the for
eign slave trade. | hope that we will take no
such measures. tell the honorable senator
tell the Senate-that this will renew agitation
it cannot but be so. | confess that, for one,
am not willing, as an humble member of this
Senate, to sit here while denuncatons are pour
ed out upon srcrybod who undertakes to agi-
tate this subj d6t--to consentthat everybody that
: enterains the opinions different from mine may
agitate as much as they please upon colonial
ton, the slave trade, and everything else, and
when anybody else 8 eaks, who do net come
within the purview of those who have signed
this denunciation, then it is agitation.
Sir, the Senate knows, and the country knows,
that there are those who have different views
upon this subject know and you know very
well, that this subject of colonizing Africa by
! free blacks has been, at one time and by one
set of men, held up as a substitute for abolition
Us a something to put an end to slavery; and
at other times, by other men in other places, it
has been held OUT as the great safety-valve by
which slavery is to be perpetuated. Now, ]
want to know, if these measures are to be in
troduced, and the government is to take measures
in this way what the government looks at. Is
it in favor Of colonization And if so, do they
look at it as a remedy for slavery, or as some
thing TO sustain it, to extend and to perpetuate
| it, and render it more safe, and slave property
more valuable 1t is a fact, capable Of demon
straton here now, that this famous scheme Of
colonizng Africa with the free blacks of this
country has been presented to the country in
both of these aspects. The agents of this so.
ciety, when they come North, are as pious and
meek men as you ever saw, ard constantly hold
this out as the great remedy for slavery, and
! by helping this institution you are giving the
most eilectual aid you can give to the emancipa-
ton of the slaves and the destruction OF slavery
Well, sir, have read the addresses that are
made in the other end Of the Union, and find
it held up there as the great conservative ele-
ment OF slavery-sometbing to free them from
their free blacks---a nuisance TO the slaves--and
in that way render the most efficient aid TO the
cause of slavery. Now, il the government is to
starr at this time, when agitation is so dangerous
and the denunciations are so heavy, want to
know which kind of colonization is to be had in
the Senate. Are we to have that kind which is
to operate favorably to emancipation, or are
we to have that kind which is to be the great
conservative element Of slavery itsefl
The PRESIDENT. The senator Is aware
that the colonization question is not under dis
cussion Mt all.
Mr. HALE. ask pardon Of the Chair; ]