Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-06-27
AFRICAN SQUADRON.

AT hlSiN SQUaDhON.
The rumor that proposition has been submitted
TO the Senate for howithrnwal OF the Squadron from
the coust of Africa is verified by the publication of
the report Of the Committee.
The report is brief but conclusive. The committee,
after recng the circumstances and nature oi the en-
ga.emcn by which, under the treaty ofiS4s United
States obliged themselves to maintain squadron on
the coast of Africa for the suppression Of the suvo
trade, aegc that such spulations contrary to tho
policy OF tho government, and in general unwse and
nexpelient They then proceed to show that the cli'
cugenent keep naval force on tho coast OF lirca
hls been particularly inconvenient to this country,
involving heavy expense and exposing officers anu
soldiers to the hazards Of u deadly climate. Inc
United States have four vessels and 81 guns on the
Coust of Africu being about one eighth OF our whole
naval force nfoat; and, Ms the estimated expense OF
the navy after dcductng special objects such Us the
transportation of the mail III steamships improve
ment of Navy Yards, &C., is SS,35l,7l, the annual
cost of this squadron may be fairly calculated at
$500 900, or 100000 per year. The joint nnnunl
expenditure of England, France and the United
States exceeds seven millions of dollars.
The Committee illustrate the utter iuefiiccncy OF
the squudrons notwithstanding this great expense and
IL dcplorabc loss OF life, by quotation from report
in Parliament which furnishes somc statlstcsrespcct-
ing the slave trade.
Mr. HUT, the Chairman of the Select Committee
of the House OF Commons appointed to investigate
this question: stated OH the 10Th of March, 1850, TINT
the number of Slaves exported from Aricu had sunk
down in 1872 the very year Of the negotiation OF the
Ashburtou Treaty, TO very nearly 10000 In 1913 ii
rose to $4,000; in 1916 it 10000; in lSi1 1t was
81. .OUO. and was then in state OF unusual activity
Sir CHARLES IIoLruAN, who commanded for several
wears Oh the coast Of Africa, and who Is one OF Tic
most distinguished officers of the British Navy Oh
his examination before the Select Committee, thus re-
piled to the queries propoundcd to him:
"Was the iurce under your command in a higl
state Of discipline, generally speaking!
Were your views carried on, by tho officers un
| der vour command to your entire sats!ac,ion!
Entirely So -,
"Whut wcs the result of your operations; did Vol
succeed in stopping tho Sarc-lrade
NO"
Did YOU cripple it to such M extent as Is III you
opinion calculated to give to the slavc-lrHdc per
niancnt clcchs'
| "No."
..Do Won consider that the Sluvc-Trude has beer
generally regulated by the strength and efficiency o
the british Squadron on the coast, or by the commcr
cal demand for slaves!
II consider that it is entirely dependent upon the
commercial demand Tor slaves, and has little or iiu
connection with the Squadron.
"Yuu think that the prescn, system IL open TO many
grave objections Oh Utler accounts, and that It VIII
not succeed!
.'Experieucc has proven the present system to be
futile"
The total result of the operations OF our squadron
durn; twelve years, has been the capture Of III rcs-
sells.
The committee suggests that if it be determined 10
keep up the squadron it be more cllcclually eili-
ploycd in the vicinity OF Cuba and Porto klco' the
only remaining marts OF the slave trade
The committee conclude with protest asaiis, the
inference that it is their purpose to relax IN any de-
gree the stringcncy Of legislation agans the slave
trade The abrogation Of the Sth urtice OF the treaty
OF Washington, viii not impair the obligation which
we contracted BY the treuty Of Ghent; "to use "ur
best cudcavors to promote the desirable object OF the
cntrc abolition of the slave trade" The report is
o,proved by Messrs. Mason, Slidel Clayton, Doug
la, and Weller.