The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20

tanning such widely different views upon oues
tions Of public policy. But all were most sig-
nally disappointed, and the Convention sepa-
rated, after the whole object which brought
them together had been faithfully accomplished,
with the determination not only to deserve VIC
tory, but to secure it in November. and they
can and ,0iH do 1t. The right spirit is abroad
amongst the people"
A few Old Hunker Wings may refuse to
unite with the Peoples Party, or the Repub-
liean," and prefer to give aid and countenance
10 General Cass and his confederatss; but the
mass of the People will not 60 with them.
Now f9r the other States of the West
THE REVIVAL OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE
PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION IN TIE SOUTH.
Some time since the country was startled by
an article in the Southern Is. CO. Standard, Sc
riously recommending the re-establishment of
the African Slave Trade, under the American
flag. The New York Tribune quoted it, as
revealing part of monssrous scheme of Sla-
very-propsgandism. The Albany atlas ridi-
culed the apprehension of the Tribune, intims
ting that the Federal Constitution is in the
way of such project even were it really en-
tertained. This by the by is mistake The
constitutional provision on the subject prohib-
it's the passage of any act by Congress for the
abolition Of the foreign slave trade, "prior to
the year one thousand eight hundred and
eight" but il does not require it to pass an act
at all on the subject, after that period. The
act then passed by Congress may be repealed
any moment without violating the Constitu-
ton. Our Slavery -propagsting brethren, be-
ing strict constructionists and profound in con-
stitutional lore, of course are perfectly aware
of this.
Northern people are under the impression
that this proposition to revive the African
slave trade is but one of those wild vagaries
which ambitious Southern presses now and
then send up like rockets, just to excite pass
ing wonder, and then go out in darkness. The
Richmond Examiner, for example, was vastly
delighted, when it saw the good people startled
at its recommendation to put Yankee school
masters upon their good behaviour, by occa-
sionally shooting one of them. Most probably
it was Yankee schoolmaster that taught the
young ideas of this very editor to shoot, and
we should not be surprised to be told that no
intends to send his SOD, if he have any, to
Yankee college but what of that The thing
to be accomplished is q tremendous paragraph
that shall excite sensation. This he did,
when he shot the Yankee school master with
goose quill, and he was satisfied.
But, this notion Of reviving the African slave
trade seems to be something more than sky
rocket. From indications in prominent South
ern journals, it would seem to be taking on the
form Of d settled opinion among certain por-
tions of cur Southern brethren. And why net
If it be right to hold human beings as proper
ty, can it be wrong to transfer or exchange
them as property? If it be right and decent
to ship human beings at Norfolk, send them
to New Orleans, and sell them in its public
market, can it be wrong and indecent to ship
them from Dahomey and sell them to the
planters of Louisiana? On the assumption
that the slaves are property, fit subjects for
merchandise, tho prohibition of the African
slave trade is a wrong to those States of the
South in which labor is scarce. II gives an
unjust advantage to the exporting over the i'm
porting slave States. 1t taxes the shareholders
of the Southern slave States, for the benefit of
the slave growers of the Northern slave States
1t is an act of Intervention by Congress against
the equality of the States, and in direct viola
ton of the principle of Free Trade, If we, like
our philosophical contemporaries of the Rich
mond Enquirer, verify believed that Slavery is
founded in Nature, and justified by Philoso-
ply, History, Experience, and Revelation, we
should contend as earnestly against the act
prohibiting the importation Of slaves from
Africa, as against an act prohibiting their i'm
portation into Kansas and Nebraska. We
should regard an opponent of the slave trade
just as fanatical as an opponent of Slavery.
Take this ground of the Enquirer and the rest
of our progressive brethren Of the South, as
sumo that slaves are property, fit subjects for
merchandise, and the action of our Federal
Government against the African slave trade is
absurd, oppressive, inhuman. We import
broadcloth from England, silk from France,
sugar from Cuba, now and then wild beasts
from the East Indies, and Congress sanctions
the trade but when we attempt to carry on a
trade with Africa in that article of which she
has an excess and we, a deficiency, wild men,
Congress ofhciously interposes tells US we are
pirates and, unless we stop, it will hang us
Think of it! Hang free-born American citi.
zens for trading freely in articles of property,
of merchandise, as recognised by our glorious
Constitution We say this is a gross violation
Of the Constitution, and basely inhuman.
These considerations have been pressing
upon the minds. of our Southern brethren.
They are an improbable people-not as though
they had already attained perfection, but they
are pressing forward towards the mark-in
modern phrase, "going ahead" Having left
behind the first principles such as their fathers
entertained about Slavery, and, by philosophical
and photographic researches, convinced them
selves that the world has been laboring under |
most marvellous delusion, in the notion that |
the system was against nature and reason,
their leading minds now boldly characterize
the popular notions about the slave trade, as
"nonsensical," "fanaticaln A new light, they |
say, is beginning to dawn upon mankind end,
in the Same vein we may say, that the time is
coming when the Kings of Dahomey shall be |
regarded as the great patrons of civilization,
and Guinea and South Carolina be linked TO- |
gether by line Of ocean steamers, bearing on |
their broad bosoms the dusky sons Of Africa, |
to the embrace of philanthropic republican |
planters anxious to Christianize them by the
beneficent discipline of the plantation. Such