Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-18
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Is, 1851.
IN SENATE.


Mr.. DICKINSON presented three memorials from citizens
Of New York, asking modification of the patent laws
which were laid on the table, ,....#
Aso memorial from publishers periodicals in the city
Of New York. asking that periodicals may not be overlooked
in any law which may be passed by Congress- and asking
reduction of the rates of postage such publications which
was laid on The table.
Mr.. CLAY Mr.. President have several petitions which
desire present Two of them Of the and
effect signed by large number Of citizens of the State Of In
diana. The petitioners say that being anxious
from our land the greatest of dscod and to the
future welfare, harmony and permanency Of the Unionhav
ing in view object upon which they believe the great body
Of all parties and Of every section Of the country
they respectfully pray that Congress will pass bill providing
means to from country all that portion OF the A
who both willing and ready emgrae to Africa;
that suitable provision be made for their real wants for
year after their arrival in Aica and greater induce
them on their arrival upon which they may, with industry
and economy support themselves and make such other pro-
vision as may be most desirable. ..
have another petition which has analogy to that
and which take particular pleasure presenting both
count of the distinguished and respectable whence it
emanate and account of the prayer Of the petition. 1t is
petition from Rhode Island and is signed by large portion
of the elite of that State by the Governor and Lieutenant
members of the House, by great number of exgovernors
exmebes Of the House Of Representatives, and
by many of the erat of that State heads Of colleges and
a vast number of citizens in private ife ....
This petition earnestly invites the attention Of Congress
for the eecua suppression of the African
slave trade. In petition, in vivid and ghu coors, but
think not exaggerated coors, they depict the horrors Of that
trade They that the which have been adopt
ed by the three great Powers the United Sae Great Britain
and France suppress that trade by Of keeping sta
onay squadrons upon the coast Of Africa, have totally failed
They say, and happy to be able to confirm that state
ment from the records of the American Colonization Society,"
that the only ectua remedy the suppression Of the slave
trade has been found be the establishment Of colonies upon
the western Of Aea that there colonies
cupyng about onehd of the western coast of Africa and
that wherever they have been planted there entire and
absolute suppression Of the African slave rade far that
coast concerned They therefore pray that line Of steam
may be established, line Of sailing packets, for the
purpose Of augmenng the inhabitants Of the colonies in view
of the object which they desire accomplished the
cessful suppression Of the African slave trade.
Mr.. President, will the Senate pardon me if add few
observations the general subject! document laid
before the Senate few days containing correspondence
between public unctonaes at Rio Janeo and the De-
parment Of State It well deserves the careful perusa of
every member Of this body have given it such perusa
appears from that document that Notwithstanding all that
has been done by the three great Powers to which have be-
fore REFERRED the slave rade perhaps carried to great
tent in the empire of Brazil it has been that during
the years ls46474s and 49, within the single province
Of Rio Janero, 900 slaves imported. have
data before from which state the number imported into
the other provinces of the Brazilian Empire, into the
island Of Cuba, but believe the number will be extensive
as those imported INTO the province Of Rio Janeiro.
But these petitioners disclose other facts which ne Amer
can can read without profound regret They say that this
trade in slaves which carried from ports Of Brazil to the
coast Of Africa chiefly carried by American vessels and
that in the Of four years past ninety three Amer
can vessels have cleared from the ports Brazil to the coast Of
Africa and that most Of them returned ahough some were
capured laden with cargoes Of slaves The mode in which
they accomplish the object is worthy Of some notice The
American vessel Of the Brazilian ports, but she
sto be delivered in an African port She sails under American
coo and laden with provisions other appsnces adapted
to the prosecution of the African trade and passes over the
ocean without molesaon have very properly per-
haPs refused to the British the right of search and have not
allowed TO be exercised by any foreign Power whatever
The vessel sails under the American flag though il Is laden
with articles beyond all question adapted and only adapted
to the slave trade She arrives safely in one Of the African
pors ln few days after her arrival the captain goes on
hore meets with the agent who to receive the vessel and
returns and Procams to the that the vessel has been
sod-ha her be changed-that her American flag is
to be pulled down and another hoste in order to carry
cargo Of slaves back to Brazil and these poor American sea-
are often left perish the nhosptabe coast Of Africa
for want OF the means 70 return their country, and
often compelled TO engage the navigation Of the slave
sell as being the only means by which they get back
their country.
Sir has been suggested that certain regulations Of
merce should be made, which, with other reasons will in