The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
REOPEN THE SLAVE TRADE-SHUT OUT
WHITE LABOR-PREPARE FOR DISUNION.
From the Message of Governor adams to the
South Carolina LEGISLATURE.

From the Message of Governor adams to the
South Carolina Legislature.
"The object for which you were recently
convened in extra session has been determined.
The popular voice has declared in favor of the
party of our preference. The past admonishes
us to reserve the full measure of our rejoicing
to the day when the avowed policy of the party
shall have been honestly carried out; when
justice skall be re-established, and tranquility
be restored to the country. Then, indeed, will
the victory be one worthy of the strongest DEM
onstration which patriotism can indulge. So
far as the result may be regarded as a rebuke
to that Northern party, whose principle of CO.
hesion is hatred to the South, we share in the
general satisfaction. Considered in reference
to the vital issue between the North and South,
| fear that it will be q barren triumph-that it
will prove to be, at best, but a brief respite of
feverish exhausting excitement, destined to end
in embittered feeling and distracted counsel
among ourselves.
slavery and Freo-Soilism can never be rec
onciled. Our enemies have been defeated
not vanquished. A majority of the free States
have declared against the South, upon a purely
sectional issue; and in the remainder of them,
formidable minorities fercely contended for
victory under the same banner. The triumph
of this geographical party must dissolve the
Confederacy, unless we are prepared to sink
down into state of acknowledged inferiority.
We will act wisely to employ the interval of re-
pose afforded by the late election in earnest
preparation for the inevitable conflict. The
Southern States have never demanded more
than equality and security. They cannot SUBJ
NIT to less, and remain in the Union, without
dishonor and ultimate ruin
Returning again to the subject of Slavery, the
Governor says
"The outward pressure against the institu-
ton of Slavery should prompt US to do all we
can to fortify it within. Diffusion is strength
concentration weakness. Our true policy is to
difuse the slave population as much as possible.
and thus secure in the whole community the
motive of selfinterest for its support. / have
no doubt of the inherent ability of the institu-
ton to maintain itself against all assaults It
is the basis of our political organism, and it
would not be difficult to show that the poorest
white man among US is directly concerned in
its preservation but the argument of selfin-
terest is easy of comprehension and sure of &C.
ton. l recommend the passage of law ex-
emptng from sale (under contracts to be here
after entered into) at least one slave. Such an
immunity would stimulate every one to exert
himself to possess his family at least of prop
erty in some degree above the casualties of
quire the property, 80 will you widen and deep.
en- the determination to sustain the institution
The Governor next proceeds to argue in favor
of the re-opening of the African slave trade.
We quote from this portion of his message as
follows:
1t IS apprehended that the opening of this
trade will lessen the value of slaves and ulti.
mately destroy the institution. Iii sufficient
an swer, to point to the fact that unrestricted
immigration has not diminished the value of
labor in the Northwestern Confederacy. The
cry there is the want of labor, notwithstanding
capital has the pauperism of the old world to
press into the grinding service. If we cannot
supply the demand for slave labor, then we
must expect to be supplied with species of
labor we do not want, and which is, from the
very nature OF things, antagonistic to our insti.
tutions. 1t is much better that our draws
| should be driven by saves-that our factories
should be worked by slaves-that our hotels
should be served by slaves-that our locomo-
tlves should be manned by slaves, than that we
| should be exposed to the Introduction, from
any quarter, of population alien to us by birth,
training, and education and which, in the pro.
cess OF time, must lead to that conflict between
capital and labor, which makes it 80 difficult
to maintain free institutions in all wealthy and
highly civilized nations, where such institutions
as ours do not exist In all slaveholding
States, true policy dictates that the superior
race should direct, and the inferior perform
all mental service. Competition between the
white and black man for this service NAV
not disturb Northern sensbility, but it does not
exactly suit our latitude
Irrespective, however, of interest, the act
| of Congress declaring the slave trade piracy
| Is brand upon US, which / think it important
| to remove. If the trade be piracy, the slave
must be plumber; and no ingenuity can avoid
the logical necessity of such conclusion. NV
| hopes and fortunes are indissolubly associated
with this form of society. l feel that would
| be wanting in duty if l did not urge you to
withdraw your assent to an act which is itself
direct condemnation of your institutions.
| But we have interests to enforce course of
| selfrespect. / believe, as have already sta
| ted, that more slaves are necessary to the con.
| tinuance OF our monopoly in plantation pro-
ducts. l believe that they are necessary to the
| full development of our whole round of agri.
cultural and mechanical resources that they
are necessary to the restoration of the South
to an equality of power in the General Gov.
eminent, perhaps to the very integrity of the
slave society, disturbed as it has been by causes
which have induced an undue proportion of
the ruling race. To us have been committed
the fortunes of this peculiar form of society
resulting from the union of unequal races. 1t
| has indicated Its claim to the appreciation of
an enlightened humanity. 1t has civilized and
christianized the African. 1t has exalted the
| white race itself to higher hopes and purposes,