Washington sentinel., 1854-06-28
THE SLAVE TRADE.

pr;ety of withdrawing that portion of om
squadron from the coast of Africa, which is
kept there under the Ashburton treaty, for the
purpose Of suppressing the slave trade. We
perceive now that the subject is attracting pub
lie attention, and we trust that due notice win
be given TO Great Britain that our ships will
be withdrawn. If our commerce in that quar-
ter needs protection, vessels can be sent there
TO protect it; but let their movements be regu
Lated by our government, and not by treaty
stipulation which we have the right to termi-
nate.
We do not believe that our squadron is Of
any use on the coast of Africa, so far as the
suppression of the slave trade is concerned. Il
comprises large portion of our naval force ;
and the station is to the last extreme disagree
able and unhealthy. Comparisons have been
made between the mortality amongst the
officers serving on the coast of Africa and those
serving at other points and on leave of absence,
in order to create the impression that the low,
wet, and filthy fens Of Africa are not injurious
experience tell different story. 1t may
be that but few die in the African squad
ron but this is owing to cautious sani-
tary regulations which tend, in very great
degree, TO prevent the efficiency Of the squad
ron. live are rightly informed, it is regarded
as most perilous thing to stay on sore dur.
ing the night, and that it is prevented " mos,
stringent regulations. Yet it is at mig. t that
slavers approach the coast and leave it with
their cargoes. Besides, when men are taken
sick, they are sent home to die somewhere else
of the diseases they contracted in malignant
climate.
But, as we have said, there is no use in
keeping up our squadron on the coast of Afri-
ca. 1t accomplishes no good result there.
All accounts-both English and American
agree that the slave trade has increased most
rapidly since the Ashburton treaty was ratified
Thus far the attempt to arrest it, by watching
the slave coast has had no other effect than
to systematic the slave trade and make it
more sure and certain. The enormous ex-
pense which has been increased by the Ameri-
can, English and French governments, has
produced no beneficial effect. After all thai
outlay the three governments cannot say that
they have prevented single negro from being
made slave, except by forcing on him worse
doom. On the contrary their efforts have led
to the organization Of the slave trade, and
greatly increased the number of those who are
annually carried by savers from the coast OF
Africa. Such useless philanthropy looks to us
like canting hypocracy.
If our government has ships to- spare for
this service, let them be employed where they
can do soae good. Take them away from the
coast of Africa and place them near the slave
marts. Let them watch Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the coast Of Brazil There they may do some
thing to check the slave-trade, and at the same
time look after important commercial interests
Besides, they will be at the disposal of our gov
ernment, and can 60 wherever the public in.
terests may require them to 60 As the case
stands now, the African squadron--comprising
q large portion of our small navy--is tied up
by a treaty stipulation. No matter what the
public exigencies may be, it must remain on
the coast Of Africa, for the public faith requires
that every ship that returns must be replaced
by another. If it be right to keep squad
ron on the African coast-if it be absolutely
necessary even, to keep squadron there
still we contend that our government should
notify Great Britain of our purpose to with
draw our ships. Having done that, we can di
minish our force or increase it if we see fit
We can then act freely. We can then place
our armed vessels where we choose to place
them, and distribute our navy according tc
our own will and pleasure, without subjectine
it to foreign entanglcments.
Independent Of all these things, we think
that the African squadron ought to be with
drawn. We cannot perceive how our interest.
require that a portion of our navy should b.
used to countenance, encourage, and sustain
that species of the slave trade which is carried
on by English officials. We spoke of this
branch of the subject in our article published
hst january; but 1t may not be amiss to men
ton 1t again. inasmuch as the subject is begin
ming to attract public attention.
An American man-of.war which captures a
SLAYER filed with negroes, finds itself in an IN.
pleasant situation. True, the vessel can be
sent home, condemned, and sold as a pr;ze
but then the negroes, what is to be d, ne with
them? They cannot be carried TO Cuba and
Porto Rico. What is to be done with hem
Why they must be carried back to the coast Of
Africa and turned loose on the shore as a new
supply to baracoon, awaiting the next SLAYER
This is the reason that American cruizers arc
more anxious to capture SLAYER before she
has her cargo aboard than to capture her after
the negroes have been shipped. The ship i,