Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-18
REMARKS OF MR.. CLAY ON THE SLAVE
TRADE
In SENATE WEDNESDAY. Ian. Is.

TRADE.
In SENATE WEDNESDAY, Jan. Is.
Mr. DIokINsoN,p presented three memorials from ct-
1 1es OF New York asking modification OF the patent
laws; which were laid on the table.
Also memorial from publishers Of periodicals inltbe
Guy ol NeW ork asking that periodicals may be
overlooked IN any law which may be passed by Con-
gress, and asking reduction of the rates of POSTAGE
on such publications; which was laid on the table
Also, petition from jeremiah II. Winney, asking
to be allowed an increase Of pension; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Pensions.
MIR. CLAY. Mr. President, | have several petitions
winch desire to present. Two of them are of the
same Tenor ana effect signed by a large number OF
that, being anxious to remove from our and The GREAT
est cause OF dlscord and to secure the future welfare
harmony, and permanency OF the Union-having in
view an object upon which they believe the great BODY
OF an parties and OF every section OF the country can
unlte-hey respectfully pray that Congress will pass
olll providing means to remove from our county all
that portion OF the African race who are both uIiuo
and ready to emigrate to Africa that suitable prov
be made tor their real wants for one year aitp their
arrival IN Africa and greater nducemen tor Their,
10 emgrate that bounty OF land be given them
their arrival, upon which they may, with Industry and
economy, support themselves; and make such other
provision as may be most desirable
have another petition which has some analogy TO
that, ana which take particular pleasure ia present.
ing both on account OF the distinguished and respec Bile
source whence emanates, End account oil 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 Governor bv every
member OF its Senate, by of the members of the
House, by great number OF ex-senat os
eX-lnembers OF the House OF Representatives and by
many otthe ierati fthe State heads Of colleges and
by a vast number OF citizens in private life.
ms petition earnestly invites the attention of Cor
gfess to measures Tor the more eectua suppression OF
me African slave trade. In their peion in vivid ard
frighul coors, but think exaggerated colors they
depict the horrors oil that trade. They state that the
measures which have been adopted by the three great
powers, the United States, Great Britain and France to
suppress that trade by ofkteping stationary soua-
drons upon the coast of frca, have totally failed
ihey say and am happy to be able to CONTRA that
statement from the records oil the American COLOMBIA
ton Society, that the only eiectual remedy for HE
suppression OF the slave trade has been found be the
establishment OF coloneiupon the western coast of Al
rca mat there are colonies now occupying about one
third OF the western coast of Africa and that where
ever they have been planted there an entire and abso-
lutte suppression of the African slave trade so ar as that
coast Is concerned. They therefore pray that liae
OF steamers may be established, or a line of sail g
packets tor the purpose of augmenting the inhabitants
OF the colonles IN view OF the object which they dies ire
to see accomplished, the successful suppress ION of tie
American sove trade.
MIR. President, will the Senate pardon me if | add
lew observations on the general suhject A document
was ald before the Senate few days ago, containing
correspondence between public iunctonares at 10
Jaheiro and the Department OF State 1t well deserves
the careful perusal of every member Of this BODY |
have gwen 1t such perusal 1t appea;s from that doc
ument that, Notwithstanding all that has been done BY
the three great powers to which have before referred
the slave trade is perhaps carried as great extent
IN the empire OF Brazil it has been; that during
the years lS4647-'4S and 40 within the single pro-
vince OF Rio Janeiro, 10000 slaves were impor ed
have no data before me from which to the num-
per per imported INTO the other provinces OF the Brazilian
Empire or into the island OF Cuba, but believe the
number viii be as extensive as those imported into the
province OF Rio Janeiro.
But these petitioners disclose other facts, which no
American can read without profound regret They saw
that this trade in slaves which is carried from ports
OF Brazil to the coast OF tica, is hey carried on by
American vessels, and that in the course of four five
years past ninety three American vessels have cleared
from the ports OF Brazil to the coast OF Africa and that
most OF them returned although some were captureGJ
laden with cargoes OF slaves. The mode in which
they accomplish the object isworthy of some notice.
he American vessel is bought INTO Of the Brazil
Ian ports but she is to be deve ed in African port
She sails under American colors and is laden with pro-
visions and other appliances adapted to the prostcu.
ton OF the African trade, and passes over the ocean
without moestaon, because we have, very properly
perhaps, refused to the British the right Of search and
nave not allowed it to be exercised by any foreign
rover Whatever. The vessel sails under the American
flag though it is laden with articles beyond all question
adapted and only adapted to the slave trade She ar.
rives safely of the African ports. In few DAYS
after her arrival the capita goes shore meets ith
the agent who is to receive the vessel and returns and
proc aims to the that the vessel has been sold
that her crew is 10 be changed-that the American
flag isto be pulled down and another no isted III
order to cary cargo OF slaves back Brazil; and
these poor American seamen often left to perish on
the niloptabe coast OF Africa for of the means
10 return 10 Their own country and are often compelled
ing the only means by which they can get back TO
their own country.
Sir, it has been suggested that certain regulations of
commerce should be made, which, with other reasons
willnduce me, before take my seat, to move the re-
ference OF this petition to the Committee on Commerce
The petitioners propose that the grant osea letters be
withheld from vessels clearing from Brazil 10 the At
rican They declare that there is no trade what
ever other than that connected With the slave trade.
and that there 10 therefore no other motive for an A
nercan vessel clearing out OF Brazilian port for the
COAST They and that
mere should he refusal henceorward grant any set
letter or other document enabling the ship to sail I'M
uer me American flag from these ports TO the coast
Oh AREA They also recommend other regulations
which will not detan the Senate by stating for th}
purpose OF exemptng our navigation from any partici
patton in that odious traffic.
Mr.. President, believe it is the Judgment of the
British public, as think it is of the American public
that the keeping tsquadrons upon the oAirica
with view to the suppression of the slave trade is
failure, or, at all events that is attended with an en-
ormous amount ofexpense, and with vast and nhu-
man sacrifice efhealth and lite which is not Justified,
not compensated by any value which these sQuadrons
renaer lor the object IN vlew-the suppression OF the
African slave trade. So strong the conviction OF
the British mind in relation to this subject, that un
derstand it with the utmost difficulty that Lori
Palmerston prevailed on Parliament 10 continue tue
Keeping up oil these squadrons year or two longer
We not only keep up by the eighth article Of the
treaty OF Washington, squadron amounting TO at least
eighty guns on the coast oil Africa but also keep up
in reference to the same object, large and extensive
squadron upon the coast OF Brazil have iesored
to the proper OF information but am sure that
am safe in saying that we expend The coasso
Brazil and Africa not less than, perhaps, halt mlon
OF dollars, independent of that sacrifice of human life
which has taken place in consequence of the employ
ment OF our forces there. will say, is said in
this petition, that 1t has been total failure for believe
there have been occasional captures but then there has
been greater degree of stimulus given to the trade.
doubt very much whether there would be less loss
OF African life, ii there were no attempt whatever TO
suppress the slave trade by means Of these squados
an there Is consequence OF keeping them; leedt
OF which is merely multiply Adventures 10 send cut
more ships, to run more chances, to take risks,
order TO secure the object of transporting the slaves
The Brazs or to Cuba from the coast OF Africa. SmI
believe there isao eileetua remedy for the suppression