The republic., 1851-02-17


bs commlndsd BY an oficsr n tho navy. accom-
panied BY ioux midshipmen. who are to b. accom-
inodsted suitably 70 their rank without charge to
the Governmsnt. The Secretary shall alwsys have
the right 70 place two guns OF heavy calbre ON
each ship to exercise necessary control over thsm,
and in case Of war to take them for the exclusive
use Of the United States ON paying the value for
them.
The coutractors are required To sipulate to carry
at each voyage many euaigrsnts. consisting Of
free persons Of color, not exceeding twenty five
hundred for each voyage, ~ the American Coloni-
zation Society may choose 70 send. The Coloniza-
tion Society il to pay ten dollars for each emgrant
twelve years Of ago, and five dollars for each
one under that age. These sums to include al
the carriage of baggage and the daily supply Of
sailors rations. The contractors also agree to car
ry FREQ Of expense each ship such agent agents
- the Government or the Colonization Society may
see ht to place ON board.
Two of the ships arc TO be finished within two
years and half, and the third within three years
after the execution of the contract. The Govern
ment i 10 pay forty thousand dollars for each and
every trip to exact ample security for the faithful
performance Of the contract, and to take lien
the ships for repayment of the money advanced.
The contract s to exist for fifteen years after the
completion of the ships.
From this abstract. readers will be able to
inform themselves correctly of this scheme for the
furtherance Of the ends Of beneyolence and COM
mercs The line will not only greatly develop the
resources OF the African coast, and extend the
cause Of colonization, but il will also accomplish
what cannot be accomplished by any other means
than colonization, the destruction of the infamous
African slave trade. The colony Of Liberia has al
ready abolished the slave traffic for three hundred
and fifty miles along the coast, and by planting
colonies other portions of the coast, the piratcal
SLAYER may be banished from the entire coast II
there were no other and no moro forcibIe reason
why the Ebony line should be Established this one
consideration would be ample. The four great OBJ
jects 70 be secured tho colonization of Africa by
free colored emigrants from the United States, the
christiansing and cviizing OF tho native African
tribes, the extinction Of the African slave trade,
and the building up of large and very important
commercial relations with Africa.
The official documents communicated by the
President to Congress in December last, in relation
to the traffic in slaves between Brasil and Africa
in american vsssels, have been published, and are
full of interest. Mr.. Tod, our minister to Brazil,
communicated the intelligence to the Government
From lis statement it appears that forty 1--WE thou
sand slaves are imported into Brazil direct from
Africa every year. large proportion of the poor
creatures perish on the passage, and they who es-
cape the horrid death between decks are doomed TO
greater sxcesses than are metcd out to beasts OF
burden. The greater part of this dsgraceful and
pratical traffic 10 carried in vessels built in the
United States, and protected by the flag of the
Union. Tho number of American vessels which
sailed from the port Of Rio for the coast of Africa
between the lst of July, 1884, and tho st Of Octo.
ber, l849, period Of little more than five years,
was ninsty three, which IL average of more than
eighteen vesssls year, or one and half month
OF these vessels, all except five sold or de-
lvered ON the coast of Africa, and have been en-.
gagged in bringing over slaves. Many of them
have becn captured with their reekng human, car
goes on board
To break up this traffic, the governments of the
United States, England, and France severally
agreed to keep up squadrons of vessels on the Afri
can coast. In defiance of all the vigilance of all
these cruisers, the internal traffic is still carried
ON. So signnlIy have these vessels failed to break
up the unholy traffic, that many good men are in |
favor Of their withdrawal, because their presence
induces the slavcrs to resort to dsguises and STRAIT
agems which cause the death Of moro slaves than |
are liberated by them.
The only means which has been found eflicacious
against tho internal traffic in slaves on the coast of
Africa il in colonzing the coast with free blacks
from the United States. These emigrants view |
the trade with feelings Of horror, and will make |
any sacrifices to limit or extinguieh it. Wisdom,
therefore. indicates the colonization OF emigrants
from the United States the coast Of Africa as the
true and only successful policy that can be adopted
for the suppression of the slave trade. Six thou
sand cmigrants have already abolished that trade |
for q line of three hundred and fifty miles along
the coast, including several of the most notorious
of the old slave stations If one. half of the money
4 r.
States with little effect were expended in pur-
chasing the African coast and planting colonies Of
colored people along 1t, the long wished for object
Of tho philanthropic heart would be consummated |
in the final and complete extirpaton of the most |
disgraceful and heart-rending trade in the annals
Of commercial villainy.
Commission ON Claims against Mexico.
FRIDAY. February II, 1851.