Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-29

| W We publish below an extract from the report
OF the Committee on Foreign relations in the Senate,
on the resolution Of Mr. Sid,ll relative to the abro
CATION Of the Sth article Of the Ashburton Treaty.
That article makes it obligatory upon the two Govern
ments to maintain naval force the coast of Africa
for the purpose of SURPRISING tho African slave
trade. The committee state that the policy of stip-
ulaton of this kind with any foreign power, may well
be questioned on general grounds but they recoms
mend its abrogaton, because an experience of twelve
years have demonstrated the alacy of expecting it
to accomplish the object contemplated. Since the
time this treaty stipulation WIS entered into, the
number of slaves exported from Africa, instead OF
diminishing, has gradually increased every year. Ac-
cordng TO the report of select committee of the
House Of Commons appointed to investigate this
question, it appears that the number of slaves cx
ported from Africa had sunk down in 1872 the very
year of the negotiation of the Ashbur,on Treaty, to
very nearly $4,000. In lsi3 it rose to 55, 900 in
1916 was &c, 600 in 1917 it was $4,000, and was
then in state of unusual activity. The accompany.
ing extract showing the expense which attends keep
ing squadron the African coast is interesting
Large squadrons hare been kept up durng that pc.
rod by the powers expense in money,
with amenable loss OF lite and destruction of the health
OF the officers and employed in that noNious Climate.
TIE British squadron comprises several steamers counting
in all 81 vessels carrying about 500 guns aud 5000 meu
The annual expense of the squadron, f7O6 45O-about
SO 100000 This is the expense roper of the squadron
That of auxiliary establishments the coast connected
with this service and which might otherwise be dispensed
with, estimated 100000 to $500 900. Take the
lowest figure, and you have 5o0 900 add to the di
of the squadron, making total annual e1peud-
of 10000 In ls45 alone the number of deaths
of officers and men e5e, aud OF officers and men
invaded, gil.
The United States have vessels aud so guns on the
Coast Of Africa being about egh of whole rava
force aoat and the estimated expense of the navy
after deducting special obect such the transportation
Of the mail steamships Improvement of Navy Yards
&C. is 1851 Ill, the annual OF this squadron may
be fairly calculated 100000 81 GOO 900 per year
This il will be observed, is considerably less than the
per gun Of the British squadron, which about
Sill 700.
at is subject Of congratua-p however that for the
last four years the mortality Of officers and
ployed in this service bears favorable comparison with
that OF her stations. This the Navy Department atri-
butes the extraordinary sanitary adopted by
the officers OF the squadron.
France at time obligated herseif to keep up an
equal force with Great Britain the Coast OF Africa say
20 vessels but finding the engagements too operous she
applied TO the British government for modification OF
the treaty. which wss conceded and she has oay
twelve vessels employed. There precise data
which the expenditure Of France be established but
estimating it by the proportion Of vessels employed say
IL 20 it would be about 81 SEQ 900. The annual joint
expenditure of England France and the L. States thus
sppsa:z 70 be S7,iOO,O0O"