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


table .,,
Gals in the city of New York, asking that peri
odicals may not be overlooked in any law which
may be passed by Congress, and asking reduc-
ton of the rates of postage on such publications
which was laid ON the table.
Also, q letter from Jeremiah III Winney, ask
ing to be allowed an increase of pension which
was referred to the Committee on Pensions.
Mr.. CLAY. Mr.. President have several Pc
titions which desire to present. Two of them
are of the same tenor and effect, signed by a
large number of citizens of the State Of Indiana.
The petitioners say that, beng anxious to re-
move from our land the greatest cause of dis
cord, and to secure the future welfare, harmony,
and permanently of the Union--having in view
an object upon which they believe the great
body of all parties and of every section OF the
country can unite--they respectfully pray that
Congress will pass bill providing means to re-
move from our country all that portion of the
African race who are both willing aud ready to
enigrate to Africa; that suitable provision be
made for their real wants for one year after their
arrival in Africa; and rs n greater inducement
for them to emigrate, that bounty of land be
given them on their arrival, upon which they
may, with industry and economy, support them
selves; and make such other provision as may
be most desirable.
have another petition which has some an
alogy to that, and which take particular pleas
nre in presenting, both on account Of the distin-
guished and respectable source whence it ema-
Mates, and on account of the prayer of the petit
ton. 1t is petition from Rhode Island, and is
signed by large portion OF the elite of that
State; by the Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor, by every member of its senate, by most
of the members of the house, bya great number
of ex-(sovernors, cx-senators, ex-meulbers OF the
House of Representatives, and by many of the
lterati Of that State heads of colleges, and by
vast number OF citizens in private life
This petition earnestly invites the attention OF
Congress to measures for the more effectual sup
preston of the African slave trade. In their
petition in vivid and frghtful colors, but think
not exaggerated colors, they depict the horrors
of 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 keeping sta
tiOnary squadrons upon the coast of Africa, have
totally failed. They say, and am happy to be
able to confirm that statement from the records
Of the American Colonization Society, that the
only effectual remedy for the suppression ofthe
slave trade has been found to be the establish
ment of colonies upon the western coast of AZ
RIGA that there are colonies now occupying
about one-thrd Of the western coast of Africa ::
and that wherever they have been planted there
is an entire and absolute suppression of the AT
rcan slave trade, so far as that coast is concern
ed They therefore pray that a line of steamers
may be established, or a line of sailing packets,
for the purpose of augmentng the inhabitants
of the colonies, in view Of the object which they
desire to see accomplished the successful sup
,ruosiou If thu African alava trodp
Mr. President, will the Senate pardon me i'll
add few observations on the general subject
A document was laid before the Senate few
days ago, containing correspondence between
our public functionaries AT Rio Janeiro and Inc
Department of State II VOL deserves the care
iu perusai of every member Of this body ! have
given il such perusal. 1t appears from that
document that, notwithstanding all that has
been done by the three great powers TO which !
lave before referred, the slave trade is perhaps
carried on TO as great extent in the empire of
BAIL as il ever has been that during the years
lSi6-'47-4S and 40, within the single province
of Rio Janciro, $4,000 slaves were imported.
have TO data before me from which to state
the number imported into the other provinces of
the Brazilian Empire, or into the island Of Gu
ba, but believe the number will be asextensive
as those imported into the province of Rio ia
nciro.
But these petitioners disclose other facts,
which no American can read without profound
regret They say that this trade in slaves which
is carried on from ports of Brazil to the coast
of Africa, is chiefly carried on by American yes
sells, 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 (athough some |
were capturcd) laden with cargoes Of slaves
The mode in which they accomplish the object
is worthy Of some notice. The American YES
sci is bought in some Of the Brazilian ports, but
she is TO be delivered in an African port She
sails under American colors, and is laden with
provisions and other appliances adapted to the
prosecution of the African trade, and passes
over the ocean without molestation, because |
we have, very properly perhaps, refused to the
British the right of search, and have not allowed
it to be exercised by any foreign power what |
ever The vessel sails under the American flag, |
though it is laden with articles beyond all ques-
ton adapted, and only adapted, to the slave
trade. She arrives safely in one Of the African
ports III few days after her arrival, the cap
tain goes on shore, meets with the agent who
IL to receive the vessel, and roturns and pro-
claims to the crew that the vessel has been sold
that her crew is to be chnnged--that her
American flag is to be pulled down, and another
one hoisted, in order to carry cargo Of slaves
back to Brazil and these poor American sea-
men are often left to perish on the inhospitable
coast OF Africa, for want of the means to return
60 their own country, and are often compelled
to engage in the navigation of the slave vessel,
M being the only means by which they can get
back to their own country.
Sir, it has been suggested that certain regua-
tions Of commerce should be made, which, with
other reasons, will induce me, before take my
seat, to move the reference of this petition TO |
the Committee on Commerce. The petitioners
propose that the grant of sea letters be with
held from vessels clearing from Brazil to the
African coast. They declare, that there is no
trade whatever other than that connected with
the slave trade, and that there is therefore no
other motive for an American vessel clearing
out Of Brazilian port for the coast OF Africa. |
They consequently recommend that there should |
be refusal henceforward to grant any sea let |
Gee or other document enabling the ship to sail
under the American flag from these ports to the |
I II