The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-11-28
The Reopening of the Slave Trade.


The Reopening of the Slave Trade.
We publish below letter addressed to the
Hon. j. F. Marshall, by a citizen of our Dis
trict of intelligence and education, upon the
subject OF reopening tho African Slave trade
The letter was not designed for publication
yet as the subject is one of general interest
and the views of tho write" clear and well ex
pressed, it was thought that the letter might
be submitted to the public without any breach
ofpropriety. The letter il merely suggestive
but it will be found to emLody, in small com.
pnss, the main propositions which arc involved
in the discussion of the whole question. We
nave requested the writer to prepare an elabo.
rate and complete exposition of his views upon
the subject, and promise ourselves the pleasure
OF presenting shortly to our readers, a series of
articles by one, fully competent to dc Justice
to tho discussion.
lhe question OF reopening the Slave trade is
atpresent exciting much interest. The Charles.
ton standard, in series of very able articles,
has assumed the position, that every argument
intended to show the policy of slavery as On
institution, will equally establish the necessity
of keeping up the supply of slaves, by impor-
tation The New York Times which repub
fishes the articles agrees in regarding the prop
ositions as identical. The arguments of the
Standard go to show that the high price of
labor at the South, is the great incubus upon
Its enterprise, and that the price of labor can
only be effectually reduced by the direct i'm
portation of slaves.
The New Orleans Delta assumes the same
h'gh ground and argues boldly for the rcestab-
iishment OF the African Slave trade. Its mo-
ral'ty, it regards as involved in the morality
OF slavery as an institution and its expedien.
cy to be justified by the increasing demand for
slave labor. "As to the morality of the slave
trade, that presents no more difficulty than the
question Of slavery itself One is involved in
the other. Slavery must be defended in its
integrity-in it's origin, in it's sustentation, in
Its Perpetuity-or its defence should be aban
zeal and candid mind If it was wrong IN its
origin, it is wong in its perpetuation. But if
it was right, on the contrary, to introduce it
if good consequences to both white and black,
and to the material interests of the country
have flowed from its introduction-then it is
just and benefcient to nourish, invigorate and
it. If the latter is the correct
view, as it must be to make slavery dcfensible,
the African slave trade ceases to be question
of morality, and becomes one solely of cxpe-
diency, and, therefore, the South has a right
to an increase of slave labor as long as there
is an increasing demand for it"
According to statement of the Richmond
Enquirer, Great Britain, imports fifty millions
of grain annually; France, once an exporter,
makes less than enough for home consumption !;
and the whole of Western Europe depends for
about one-half of her food and clothing upon
slave labor. Yet with an infatuated blind
ness they are busy in liberating negro slaves !;
and diverting agricultural labor from lsgiti-
mate employment at home to digging ores in
Australia and California. Tie consequence ia,
that unless African slavery is speedily increas-
ed and extended, Western Europe is ruined.
We see it prophesied that the reopening
of the slave trade, will be hailed, by q
general illumination in Boston. The Slave
trade has been, is now, and will be carried on
by Northerners. Revive the Slave trade, and
you extend the sphere of commercial enter
prize at the North, and give ansenlarged opera
ton to the system of supplying negroes to the
South with one hand and stealing them away
with the other. This has been the course at
the North from the beginning, and we suppose
will continue to the end:
OCTOBER %, 1866,
Dear Sir My object in addressing
you these lines is to request you, to exert
yourself in getting up, when in Columbia.
a memorial to the next Congress, asking
the reopening Of the Slave trade. Slavery
my dear sir, is peculiar, and I might add
a unique element in American society
and especially is it quite indispensable to
Southern civilization. It is the salt o
Republicanism, and without it. we would
assuredly degenerate into some Of the form!
Of European government. AS the bes
type of labor for our own climate, know
that you will appreciate it as beaven-sen
agency in the growth and culture of th,
great staples Of the country. Slavery ex
lists Of right and of necessity, because i
harmonizes with the teachings both of nat
ural and revealed religion. The psycologic
tal and physical confornaation. clearly indi
ttcstes that the mission of the negro upo,
i esfth is that of slave. All monarchie
lmhst, from their very nature, exist upor
'lsldsses;; ); but our Reppblie must be foundet
Iupon races. Would TO God that I ma.
live to see the daa. when curry freensa,