New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-08
AS We Expected

AS we expected, the proposition of Gov. Adams, OF
South Carona to reopen the slave trade, is meeting
condemnation in the most important Southern quar-
ers We have little doubt the sentiment Of opposi
ton will become all but universal with leading jour
nasts Of the South as as the subject is brought
home to them for consideration
The Richmond Enquirer Of the 2Sth ult., is lying
before u.s. 1t is, beyond all question, the most inlu
entail Democratic journal in the South, and is sup
posed to represent, in great measure the views and
sentiments Of Gov. Wise. We have no doubt the sup
position is well founded and if there are those who
incline to the opinion that the Governor will not have
good deal to do In regard to shaping the policy of
the next administration, we are entirely at fault if
they do not find themselves mistaken.
The Enquirer, while paying high compliment to
the Governor of South Carolina, and to South Caro-
linians generally, most Of which we cordially concur
in and readily endorse opposes the proposition to re-
open the slave trade, and in lengthy article combas
and reutes the arguments Of the executive of the Pal
metto State in favor thereof We have only room for
the conclusion Of the article and to it we earnestly
invite the attention Of our readers: r.,
According to the theory of Gov. Adams, the rcla-
ton Of supply and demand in the article of cotton is
to be reversed in the progress OF events AT first the
demand is to exceed the supply by much to pro-
shall increase the supply far beyond the demand To
avert SO dreadful catastrophe he proposes that the
South possess itself Through the agency Of the slave
trade) Of slavelabor sufficient to supply the world
with cotton. The Governor loses sight of the fact
that large proportion Of the slave labor Of the South
is employed in other industry, and that this surplus
of slave labor will be devoted to the production of cot
ton when the production of cotton comes to demand
such enormous remuneration The diversion Of labor
will tend to preserve the due proportion Of supply
and demand and no doubt the natural increase Of the
negro population will be equal to the progressive ext
gencies Of the cotton cultivation. If not, India and
Algeria may exc out the needed supply, though they
can never produce in such snperabundance as to drive
the cotton OF the South from the markets of the
world.
Since Gov. Adams fails to demonstrate a neces-
sty for the revival Of the slave trade may discuss
the measure as matter of policy.
And here we encounter the obvious and incontesti-
bic act that the revival of the African slave trade,
legal commerce, is political impossibility. Our
own laws condemn the traffic; and there is no chance
Of their repeal. The laws of the civilized world de-
nounce the severes penalties Of piracy against it and
they, in any event. beyond the range of our con-
troll. Is there anything in the tone of public opinion
in this any other country which warrants the idea
that we may procure the reestabisment of the slave
trade as legitimate branch of commerce? Is the
thing possible Certainly, this inquiry touches the
most essential point OF the controversy, and yet Gov.
Adams entirely ignoresit.
It being apparent from the mere statement of the
proposition that the revival of the slave trade is a
moral impossbtity, there is need of any farther
discussion Of the subject The States of the South
are not yet prepared to defy the public opinion and
provoke the positive hostility of the foremost pow
ers of Christendom; and as the attempt to reopen
the traffic in African negroes would inevitably draw
this penalty upon US, may rest upon the conclu-
sion that the policy is mpractcabe, and will never
be subjected to the test of experiment
But we have word in Illustration of the impro-
pety and folly of discussing the revival of the
slave trade, as an object of Southern ambition and
enterprise Can any man fail to observe how much of
stimulus and strength the mere agitation of the
scheme, imparts to the antislavery sentiment of the
North? how much Of odum and resentment it pro-
evokes against the aggressive spirit of " slavery
propagandism ?? to what extent it impairs the moral
security of the South and so njurously affects the
stability of its institutional 1t is idle to deny that
slavery is condemned by the public opinion of the
world The States of the South are cut off from the
sympathies OF the most despotic well the most
popular governments of Europe. Whether from
honest conviction orthe suggestions hypocrisy they
all join in the clamor against us. Even Spain, in
whose domnons slavery exists affects sort Of moral
antagonism to the South. Is it the policy of the
South still further to embarass its position, still
seornully to defy the opinion of the world-to infame
the zeal and multiply the number of its enemies
And ALL too, in pursuit of an mpraccabe enterprise
and an equivocal advantage? II not then let us stop
this talk about reviving the African slave trade.