The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-17

the treaty of Washington, quadroaS moantinaa
to at least eighty guDs Nj the csaet of Africa
but We also keep vMjSaN rsfeHaje to,the sans
OBJECT large apd Intensive S4nadroa upoe the
coast OF Brazil ktage not Wsogted tothe proper
sources OF information but / am sure that I am
saie ~ saying that we expend upon the two
coasts Of Brazil and Africa not less than, per
haps, half million of dollars, independent OF
that sacrifice of human life which has taken
place in consequence of the employment of our
forces there. will not say as is said in this
pSfitaon, tnf 1t has been total failure, for be-
lieve there have been occasional captures but
then there has been greaier degree OF stimulus
given to the trade j doubt very much whether
there would not be less loss Of African life, if
there were no attempt whatever to suppress the
slave trade by means of these squadrons than
there isin' consequence Of keeping them the
result ofwhich is merely to multiply Adventures
to send out more Ships, to run more chances, to
take more risks, in order TO secure the object of
transporting the slaves TO the Brazils or to Cuba
from the coast Of Africa. Sir, believe there is
no effectual remedy for the suppression of the
slave trade but the occupation in Africa of the
coast ITSELF and stopping it Mt the Threshold
when it begins. BY the eighth article Of the
treaty Of Washington, to which have referred
we were only bound to continue that squadron
for period of five years. The FIVE years have
long since expired--in IS47; and yet we con-
| tinue this squadron down to this time. Now,
without reference to any of the subjects which
have thought proper to present to the Senate,
without regard TO the suppression of the slave
trade, without reference to the great interests Of
colonization, think, as amere measure of fnau-
cial economy, it is worth considering whether
| W. ohalI thu Hy.,o of
in such an inhospitable climate, at such vast
expense, and reaping so little benefit from the
operation
Mr.. President, l own that the subject of colo
nzation, important as think it is for the sup
preston of the African slave trade, commends
itself to my mind by some additional considera-
| tons. Although may be thought extravagant
| in my view, declare that of all the projects of
the age there is none to compare with that great
il project of transporting the free people Of color
I in the United States with their own consent to
: the coast Of Africa. What is to be done with
t them! What has been done with them, ask
again Even here, under our noses, within this
District, in the of the last ten years they
g have doubled in number. States are passing
Y the most rigorous laws to exclude them from
their territory. Some States, indeed, are intro
f. ducing into the fundamental law, the Constitu-
j. uoH, pToNiSlOH apditISL Vic IcCepIlOu Vi any
r free people of color within their borders What
( is to become of them | ask again, in the name
& of humanity and of Justice! | see no other
s remedy than that of sending them back to the
1 land whence their ancestors were TAKEN and
can conceive of no portion of the population OF
the United States which will not be benefited
by such transfer of the free people of color from
the United States TO Africa The whites at the
J North would be benefited, the whites at the
. South would be benefited, the slaves would be
3 benetited-the poor creatures themselves would
be benefited; for, instead of remaining in o
country where they never can be elevated to
? high social and political condition with the
whites, where they must forever remain de-
graded, corrupt and dissolute class, if carried to
the country their ancestors they may rise into
an Importance which they can never attain here
, Every conceivable interest will be promoted
commerce will be promoted; civilization will be
) promoted religion will be promoted, by the
, transfer Of the free people of color with theil
own consent from the United States to Africa
And what interest, what portion of the popula
! tion of this country will be injured by such
? transportation of these persons None, non,
. whatever
/, will not detain the Senate longer upon th
0 subject. j should be extremely glad il senators
: would turn their attention 10 the Executiv,
document to which have referred, and woult
I give some consideration to the suggestions which
: | have made
All. Mr. President if we would only re.
nounce these unhappy subjects of agitation
+ which have distracted our country too long and
so greatly--if the people of the North would
only allow the people of the South to manage
their own domestic affairs in their own way---if
they would only reflect that if slavery is frauoht
with evils, the evils are not felt by those at the
North, but are confined to where the slaves are
if we would only cease to agita;e each other,
and agitate our country, and cndanger our
Union ITSELF by continuing these unhappy sub
jects of controversy and strifr, and all come to-
gethcr upon this great common object, in which
the free States are as much interested as the
slave Statcs-and unite all our energies in di-
rectng the free people ofcolor from the shores of
America to that place where they can enjoy real
freedom, and pursue their own happiness, what
glorious result would il be for our country
Sir, beg pardon for having kept the atten-
ton Of the Senate so long. | move that the
petitions, without reading, be referred TO the
COMMITTEES On Commerce.
They were so referred
The petition on the subject of the slave trade,
which was signed by the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, members of the State senate, fifty
four of sixty eight that constitute the State
Legislature, the chief justice and three associate
judges of the supreme court of Rhode Island !;
+. Maryland, President of Brown University |:
the United States district Judge, ex-district
judges, ex-members Of Congress, ex-United
States senators, cx-Governors, &c, was as fol-
lows:
"The subscribers, citizens of the State of
Rhode Island, would respectfully but earnestly
entreat You to take into early consideration the
subject Of the African slave trade, and adopt, rs
speedily as practical, some eiiectual measures
for it, suppression. Of all the atrocities that
men have ever inflicted upon their felow-crea-
lures, we believe that nDne--either past or pre-
sent--wi compare in enormity with those
which the poor victims Of this horrid traffic are
at this present moment subjected to. Whilst |
sensible that there many subjects that re-
quire your attention. we yet feel assured that if
all the evils which properly belong to your cog
nizance could be brought palpably before you,
in panoramic array, that the dreadful cnormiIies