Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-27
AMERICAN coNsULs AND THE SLAVE rRApE.
Mr. Clayton, (whg) OF Del, offered the following reso-

AMERICAN CoNsuLs AND THE SLAVE TRADE
Mr. Clayton, (whig) OF Del. offered the following reso-
luton -
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations he
to inquire into the e,pedency Of providing by
law Tor such restrictions upon tho power Of American
Consu residing In tho Spanish West India Islands to
issue sea leters the transfer Of American vessels In
those Islands as will prevent the abuse Of tho
trade.
MIR. Clayton said that since se tho slave trade had
earfuy increased In Cuba Previous that tue Il had
been almost exclusively 10 Brazil During tho past and
present year. thousands Of negroes had been
om both the east aud tho coasts Of Africa to Cub.
The trade had been principally carried on in Anne
vessels with American captains aud crews aud thus sbu
sing and dsgrscug flag. This had attracted the
attention Of the civilized world Good men at the South
as well as tho North deporcd this Internal trade and
would go as far OF the North, to break II up-
These vessels oil built in the United States carried
cargoes to Havana, and were sold the captain being
nomtnay the greatest Instead of returning To
the United States Tor register they give up the
old one and receive from tho American Consul what Ia
called sea letter, which is practically new register
with new cargo of empty casks and the vessel properly
fitted the captain sails for the Of Africa His
sea letters protect him from search British or French
cruisers, and the chances are but In a thous-
sand that he Is captured before he takes his COM
plement Of Africans, and his return to Cuba
The facility which these letters afford to yes
sells to engage In this traffic requires attention.
the Senate former occasions concerning the supposed
design OF Spain to Acauixe Cubi. The speech OF the
Senator from Louisiana had made deep Impression on
his MUD Since then he had given the subject his ut.
ention, aud from present information before him. he was
forced now to doubt the Of the judgment TO
which the Senator bad arrived At all events f Cuba be
AtricaniZed IL will be done by Of American ves-
sels and American crews for other nation affords the
same facilities, for selling ships in foreign ports aud not
by consent or encouragement from the Spanish Cuban
authorities We had the Dario Of Havana Of lat. date
lin
One OF them required registration OF all slaves in Cuba
with view OF ascertaining II any additions had been
made to their number from abroad. in violation Of ex.
stng treaties The agents OF the government, in their
searches easily detected the recently imported African
from those raised on the island What the duty of
the officers! These negroes free. Though kidunp
ped, they had been slaves aud wholly uuac>
quainted with the Spanish language. The auhoritic,
treated them rs free, but, for their preservation
bound them out as apprentices year. This doubtless
a spoken OF by tho Senator from Louisiana
where the Captain General took Of the apprentices
himself
Mr Slde (dem) Of Is said he had not referred to the
setting free binding apprentices those who had
been found upon the island n violation Of treaties but
had referred to the direct contemplated by the
Spanish government to large importation Of bar
baran Africans not slaves but apprentices. He
had shown that by regulations for their transportation
Cuba, four negroes allowed to be brought each
ton OF the vessel Such means he had shown, was a re-
vival Of the slave trade in all its horrors.
Mr. Clayton SIN thought the Senator mistaken In the Ha
ton into free aSofer, Consisting Of spaniard, cane.e
Coolies and Indians from
peeng Africans He would deplore effort Aeanize
as much lie knew calamity which could beal
Cuba great that No act could be conceived suicidal
for Spain herself The United
Cuba Spain Engat ts0Oo0oo lie did
philanthropy OF Spain England would
merely to emancipae slaves Cuba Cuba the
-four and other products OF old Spain.
ul'uri.'s of Spin had monopoly the trade with Cuba
noa OF the greatest obstacles cesson
Of Cuba This interest all Spain. admnistra
could day who would
the monopoly trade with Cuba This
motive would resist the Afe animation o: Cuba
nothing farther
than to the slave, Cuba, which would
immedia loss TO her Of the island
Mr. Weller objected this discussion a pending
before the Committee Foreign Relations
OF that committee He had practice
Senate introduce resolutions for the
them but thought practice honored
than in the Observance
Mallory highly adverse to the In
Of Spain Aficanire Cuba He then
commercial Cuba Spain
things which Cuba
the when she should had herself unable
said the African slave trade could
the knowledge OF the authorities The
among great Cuba, that number con
slnty augmented By Importation the population
died odt long since.
Mr. making his resolution
had lie hspd
time be annexed the I'm ted States
when that would ought take place he could
occasion for t
the slaves Cuba the Unei States the
land He had heard by IN.
spanish Minister Caideron that in the
attempting tare Cuba by violence Spain
the Minister the possibility
that Cuba would ultimately become Of the United
Rea ion nd ute