Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-17

BE.stt
date we had, in report Of Committee of Parla-
ment, an enumeration of the treaties which Great
Britain has contracted for the of the At
Tican slave trade, statementef the sums which she
has expended for the purpose, and OF the OBJ
stacles which have rendered both her engagements
and her expenditure to some extent abortive 1t is
instructive document, exhibiting at once the per-
tnacty with which the British government puTsues
its object its insolent contempt for the dignity of m
dependent States, and its complacent assumption of
exclusive righteousness and refinement. In one
clause read that these efforts in the cause of hui
manty continued through so many years, are hon
orable to the nation, and their results afford strong
inducement to perseVere until the iniqutous traffic
shall be entirely abolished This paragraph is pre-
ceded by an enumeration of the treaties for the sup
preston of the slave trade 1t appears that there
were in 1880 "a treaties in force between Great
Britain and foreign civilized Powers for the suppress
sion of the slave trade 10 ofwhich give the right of
search and mixed courts IL give the right of search
and national tribunals and two with the United
States and Franco grant right of search, but do
contain mutual obligation to maintain squadrons on
the coast of Africa. There were also at that time AZ
treaties for the suppression of the slave trade exist
ing between Great Britain and native chiefs on the
coast of Africa.
Since May, 1850 two treaties have been concluded
with civilized Governments under which captured
vessels are to be adiudicated upon by tribunals of
their own countries and % more treaties with native
chiefs of Africa for the suppression of the slave
trade.
But these engagements have in many instances,
been disregarded. The report makes out against
Spain especially of utter disregard of the most
solemn engagements 1t accuses the home government
as we'll as the Captain General of Cuba of guilty con-
nivance with the slave dealer and of riotng in the
wages of national perfdy. "Your committee are OF
opinion that history does not record more decided
breach of national honor than is established against
Spain" The report proceeds to menace Spain with
the withdrawal of the British protectorate of Cuba,
and to nsinuate that the most efectua mode for the
suppression of the slave trade would be to suffer that
island to fall under the dominion of the United States
uDbFaQS
tratng the philanthropic efforts of British abolition
lists at the very time that the English government
was endeavoring to procure from the United States
guarantee of the Spanish dominion in Cuba This
looks very much if the British government meant
to demand reparation of Spain, in the event of its
refusing to discharge its treaty obligations.
With the matter in dispute between England and
Spain we but little concern The following clause
of the report is of especial interest to this country
The great number of American ships trading to the
Havana, and the abuse ofthe American flag, increase
the difficulties of Her Majestys cruisers that sta
ton IN the visiting of suspected vessels; and it APP
pears, that some more cordial cooperation the
part of the United States would materially assist
the efforts to abolish the slave trade in that quar-
ter. "
In 1924, the United States yielding to suggestions
more in consonance with sentiment than sound poll
Cyl concluded convention with Great Britain for the
suppression OF the slave trade. The StpuatlOnS of
this treaty imposed upon the United States the duty
OF maintaining squadron the coast of Africa, at
vast expense and with great hazard both to the
health of the and the safety of the vessels But
this is not the worst. By that convention we recog
nized the right of British supervision in the waters
of the American SEAS and gave the British govern
ment pretext for Intervention in the affairs of
Cuba, which at present threatens to result in
friendly collision with this country. But it seems,
from the above extract, that the American govern
ment has been remss in the performance of its du-
ty and has suffered its flag to be abused by the slave
traders; and we have the menace of demand for a
more cordial cooperation the part of the Uni
ted States. We trust, ifany such demand be made,
that government will seize the occasion to abro
gate unwise, vexations and abortive ention,
and to its original and legitimate position of
exclusive guardianship of American interests.
1t is singular coincidence that the very number
of the Times which contains the Indictment of Par
Lament against Spanish slave traders, publishes
remonstrance against British save-traders!" 1t had
been conceded in Parliament by the Under Secreta-
ry of State that the transportation of coolies to the
British colonies was attended with every crcum-
stance OF atrocity which gives horror to the African
slave-trade. Whereupon, Mr.. Andrew Agnew de-
nounces the inconsistency and hypocrisy of his coun
try: o,ooooo
sion of the African slave trade; express in
dignaton warmly against our American brethren,
on reading pictures of their domestic slavery, al
most to endanger the growth of friendness of feel
ing between the two countries; deluge Parliament
with petitions praying for inspection of nunneries
with the English and manly feeling that we will not
be parties to the most helpless being by any
possibility immured against her will; and shall we,
by silence connive at the conducto of British Mer
chants who by their endish practices disgrace that
honorable name and almost make us regret that the
pillory no longer exists, the fitting place where
such scoundrels should be held up to the detestaon
and scorn of their countrymen, who have been COM
promised as well as scandalized by their unholy
trade? Where is national pride? Where is our
anti-slavery zeal? How can we hold up our heads
when we read that "the American Consul at Annoy
had Indignantly denounced this conduct on the part
of our merchants?
cit appears we are becoming slave-traders as well
as slave-owners; our African squadron, negotia-
tons with Brazil and Spain captures, our adj
dresses and petitions all part of solemn and
wicked farce. ;" Rich Eng.
ELOQUENT EXTRACT. The following beautiful COM
parison is from lecture delivered at St Louis by
Thomas F. Meagher:
Gone fair morning towards the close of the sum-
mer, 1 stood in field that overlooked the Hudson
1 struck with the glowing ripeness of the fruit
which waved around me, and broke into an express
sion of delight 1t seemed to me the most glorious
that earth could bring forth.
THAT seed, said one who stood by, came from
Egypt 1t has been buried in the tomb of kings and
laid with the dead for three thousand years. But
though wrapped in shroud and wrapped within pyr-
amids, it dies not 1t lived in the silence-ved in
the darkness-ived under the mighty mass of stone