The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.

We have from time 20 Tune quoted para
crapbs from Southern newspapers, favorable
n the revival of the African slave trade, as well
as some in faint condemnation of the project
The seyerest censure coming from any OF the
organs of Slavery simply amounts to this; that
they regard the agitation of the subject as cal
culsted to weaken the slave party OF the free
States. and thereby endanger Southern ascend
encv in the Federal Government. The Senti-
mel of this city, speaks of the proposition as
nsilly,n absurd" and ridiculous" as "sheer
folly ia distempered deluson'"
The Sentinel concludes as follows:
nThe idea of roopening the slave trade is
siIlv. ridiculous, and absurd. New England,
which would profit by it, would oppose it. The
| south which owns slaves, would reject the
heather African. 1t is with pain, therefore,
that we are forced to record the fact that one
or two journals in the South advocate q re-
newal OF the import traffic in slaves, like that
which enriched Old and New England seventy
wears ago. We hope that they may pause and
reflect We trust that they may consider that
they are strengthening the arms of the enemies
of the South and sharpening the weapons Of
Northern fanaticism Are these men mad
Have they lost all sense of right? Have they
repudiated every dictate of prudence and dis
cretion Do they not see that they are arm
| ing the hands of the AbOlitionistS, and filing
| their magazines with the most destructive
weapons? Truly, folly is the most fatal Of all
things"
1t will be seen that the editor manifests no
disgust or repugnancc at the idea of reyiying
the horrors of the slave trade, but, like the
Richmond Enquirer and other Southern jour
nals, thinks it inexpedient, and calculated to
strengthen Abolitionism.
We stated yesterday, at the conclusion of an
article on this subject, that the African trade
was not necessary to supply the demands OF
Slavery in the Southern States; but that when
Cuba and Brazil are annexed, the clamor in
favor of continuing the traffic, which already
exists in those countries, would be irresistible
We were not aware at the time, that we were
behind the actual development of public opin-
ion in the South which has already looked
ahead to the supply of labor from Africa, fol
the proposed acquisitions The Charleston
Mercury, it seems, had anticipated US in the
suggestion. We copy as follows
awe are ready to admit that the Southern
ueople do not desire the revival Of the slave
trade; we do not ourselves desireit. Our slave
population is, perhaps, sufficiently large al
ready, in proportion to the white; it is, Chris
tan, civilized, and homogeneous; its natural
increase is greater than that OF the white
North or South; it is nearly equal to the aver
ago increase of the whole white population
though the latter is constantly swelled By an
20 immense foreign immigration, and the former
is diminished by emancipation, and tho lnces
SAINT slave stealing Of the Abchtlonlsts. VIZ
should be reluctant to see new and barba
rous element introduced among this peaceable
homogeneous, and thriving population. We
prefer things to remain as they are.
"But the same reasons do not apply to CE5f
and Brazil Those countries are in urgen
need of an increase of labor, and wo gee tina
no sooner is the cessation Of the slave trade
spoken of with regard to them, than we heal
of a score of projects for supplying the void
in some form, the substance of which is Sla
very, but the name not yet inserted in the cata
loguc of mortal sins by British pharisces."
The Charleston Mercury is the organ o
Southern opinion and, first or last, the views 0
the necessities of Slavery, which hnd.expressiOI
through papers of that stamp, always rule tn
South in the long run. When the settlcmen
of Texas by shareholders, with its prospective
t---ezation to the Union. was first breaches
in South Carolina papers, the idea was regard
cd as too absurd for serious consideration but
gradually the morbid necessities for extension
became so pressing upon the slave interest
that the thing was demanded as a matter Q
right. Texas was settled by shareholders, il
violation of Mexican laws which had abolish
ed the institution, and in a few years, thirt
Of the Mexican Republic was severed from it
rightful possessors, and annexed to the Unitot
States Not satisfied with this acquisition
Slavery demanded another slice; the Mezjcal
war was declared by James K. Polk, Pro
Slavery President and Congress had the weak
ness and wickedness to sanction his gros
usurpation of power.
The result was not altogether go auspiciou
to Slavery as was anticipated. Mexico wa
found to be less cOngenial, in climate and soil
to the institution, than was imagined, and witt
population prepossessed against the ina;itu
ton. The South has since looked more direct
ly southwsrd-to Cuba, Hayti, and Brazil
The acquisition of the former, by fair or fou
means, is regarded as a fixed fact; and it Ii
not doubted, that in due time the Empire o
| VIII w N'-N ~--~ $1,000
itants reduced to Slavery; the valley Of thu
Amazon, if not the whole of Brazil, annexed
and the African slave trade reopened. Such
is the programme of the new political er;
which is foreshadowed by the organs Of pub
lie opinion of the South, and such the platform
on which Northern doughfaces, Wing ant
Democratic, will have to stand in the futur
struggles of Freedom and Slavery. We hav
already seen, in the report of the Commute,
on Foreign Relations, in favor of the with
drawal of the African squadron, that tb
slsve-traders have party in Congress, an,
that they rank distinguished Northern Sena
tors, as well as Southern, among their lead
ers. G..
GEN. WASHINGTON ON SLAVERY.
The New York Tribune, few days since
contained the following extract Of letter g
Gen. Washington, never before published: