Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-29
LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
The African Squadron.

The African Squadron.
The Senate's Committee of Foreign Relation
have made a report wherein, ms we are informe,
by the Evening Bulletin. they recommend the a
doption of resolution, authorizing the Presiden
TO signify 10 Great Britain the wish of this gov
eminent to terminate the sth article of the Ash
burton treaty, by which the L. States stipulated
10 MAINTAIN squadron on the coast of Africa foI
the suppression of the slave trade. The com
nittee pronounce the experiment of putting an
end to the slave trade by keeping squadron on
the coast of Africa, failure. The experiment
began in 1872, during which year the number OF
slaves exported from Africa did not exceed 30,
900. In 1913 il rose to $1,000 in ls46 il was
5000 and in lsi7 $4,000. notwithstanding the
operations Of the conjoined squadrons. In fact
nothing can be clearer than that The slave trade
is almost wholly dependent on the commercial
demand for slaves and that the preventive efforts
of the naval forces stationed on the coast of At
rica have little or M effect in checking it. The
committees report thus counts the cost of keep
ing up these squadrons
Large squadrons have been kept Up during
that period by the two Powers NJ enormous
expense in money, with lamentable loss OF life
and destruction Of the health Of the officers and
men employed in that noxous climate. And whit
has been tn, result J Let the record show. The
British squadron comprises several steamers,
counting in all % e,earrying about 300 guns
and 1000 men. The annual expense of the squad
ron is f706i50, about f3,50JO,0OO This is
the expense proper of the squadron. That of
auxiliary establishments on the coast, connected
with this service and which might otherwise be
dispensed with, is estimated nj G3J0,uoO TO
f50o.0t0. Take the lowest figure, and you have
I,50D.000 to add to the direct cost of the squad
ron. making total annual expenditure of 5000
600. In lo45 alone the number of deaths OF Of
fcers and men was 259, and Of officers aud men
invaded 21l.
The United States have four vessels and eighty
guns on the coast of Africa, being abopt one
eighth of our whole naval force slout; and, the
estimated expense of the navy, afcr dedueting
special Objects such the transportation OF the
mail in steamships, Improvement of navy yards
&c, is SS35l.l7l, tho annual cost Of this sound
r,,n may be fairly calculated at ~SOO,0UO or ST.,
O00o0l per year. This. il will be observed, is
considerably less than the cost per gun Of the
British squadron, which i about sll.7UO
II ii subject Of eougratulation. however. that
for the last four wears the mortality of our off
GERS and men employed in this service bears "A
favorable comparison with that Of other stations.
This The Navy Department attributes to the ex-
iraordinary sanitary measures adopted by the
officers Of the squadron.
France at one time obligated herself to keep
up an equal force with Great Britain on the coast
of Africa, say twenty-slx vessels; but, finding
the engagement too oneraus, she applied Ia the
British Government for modification Of the
treaty. which was conceded, and she now has on
" twelve vessels so employed There are no
precise data on which he expenditure of France
can be established, but, estimating il by the pro-
portion of vessels employed say twelve TO TWEEN
ty-sx. il would he about Si600000, The an
nua joint expenditure of England, France, and
the L. States thus appears to be S7,400oOo.
The committee add that the total result of the
operations of our squadron during twelve years,
has been the capture of fourteen vessels.
The slave trade has been entirely suppressed
in Brazil, and in this hemisphere Cuba and Por-
to Rico are now its only marts. Under these
circumstances, the committee think that our oru-
sers can be employed far more efficiently in the
vicinity of those islands than the coast of Air
ca. We have often had occasion to express views
similar to these, and we hope.that the Senate aud
President will adopt the course recommended by
the committee.