The daily union., 1856-11-07
RHODE ISLAND.

Eight columns of the Newport Advertiser are filled with
an able speech of Hon Wm Beach Lawrence at the New
port Democratic Club Thursday evening, October l6
We make the following extracts:
Rhode Island ought feel deeper interest in the con-
don of the southern slaves and of their than
other State We are specially responsible for the exist
ence Of African population in the United States Be
fore the revolution our dseries supplied the with
which the ancestors of portion OF the
isting negroes purchasedmany Of them from thell
own fathers and brothers Our ships and capital transferred
them the southern plantations as well as to the Vest In
dies Happening, when in New Orleans, few years ago
to meet the Bishop of Louisiana be told that while in
this city the preceding friend about intro
duoing him a distinguished opponent of slavery when
the latter refused the Acquaintance declaring that be
would not take the hand of Christian bishop who owned
slaves Bishop Polk in reply to this gratutous insult
marked that all his people descendants Of slaves ship
ped from Newport IS the original papers which be still
possessed would show, and that they were, moreover
everywhere known from the intermixure OF Indian blood
there not being enough Africans to supply the order the
deficiency be sad made up from the Narraganset In
disns.
Again between 1904, when South Carolina opened her
market for slaves after II had beep closed for fifteen years
and ls08 when the constitutional prohibition became OPP
erative s9O75 were imported into Charleston 27,7t4 on
foreign account principally English Though laws were
passed early 1884 for the gradual abolition Of slavery
in this State Of the 33I American account sl3s
imported by Rhode Island mainly BY houses at Bris
and Newport These facts ELECTED in discussion
growing out of the prescription account Of his vote In
Of the Missouri Compromise of Mr. VIM Hunter the
distinguished senator in the Congress Of the United
States Of whom Rhode Island has had TO boast and by the
proceedings in general assembly consequent thereon
They will be found reported among the congressional de-
bates Of the period do not refer to this matter for the
purpose of exciting prejudice against those whose fortunes
were created in the prosecution Of trade which, although
now declared by the laws of the United States piracy
then legitimate business authorized by the highest
ECCLESIASTICAL authority Ny object is to appeal to Rhode
Islanders not to make crime on the part of the South
merting expulsion the Union that in return for
vices productive Of ncalculable wealth to the country
race planted by the merchants and capitalists Of this State
their shores and who has been shown, they
longer protected by their present masters could find
refuge nowhere.
What claim has the South made beyond what Is guar
auted by the constitution In the name of common hon
esy how be said that the slave power has increased
since the establishment Of the federal government1 Such
assertion at least contradiction OF the common
ent that slavery Is the OF weakness The very
immigration from Europe most Of which goes TO the free
States exceeds the annual slave Increase The North Ia
the strong the South the weak section regards po-
ca power and every year the disparity becomes greater
Instead of one free and twelve slave States in 1887,
have sixteen free and fifteen slave States Nor s 1t any
great proof of slave encroachmen that five Of the free
States and these among the most considerable formed
from the slave State Of Virginia Again. In the early days
of the republic the South not only protected by the
constitution in the return Of her fugitive slaves and which
had been made the condition Of her cessions but II
then recognised principle Of International law that ct
Of other States well foreigners should be sustained
temporarily soourning in free State This expressly
conceded by statute In several Of the States including
Rhode Island and the law only repealed here by the
adoption of the Digest of 1874 1t admitted by
independently Of statute part of the laws
of nations till decision Of her supreme court to the
rary In 1896 and in the Of 1885, between Gov.
Marcy and Gov Seward for the chief magsracy OF New
York both Of those distinguished gentlemen expressed
themselves adverse to the repeal of the statute Of that State
nor any change made In 1t till ls4l. Gov Seward,
indeed not only considered the privilege within the spirit
of the provision Of the constitution of the United States
with reference fugitive slaves expou 1ded by the courts
Of bis State but to be called for by every consideration of
erpediency.
1t is proper should add said he in answer to an in
uury from the abotonists, that not convinced 1t
would be either vice expedien humane TO declare TO
oar lowczens of the southern and southwestern States
that II they travel FROM pass through the State OF
New York they shall not bring with them the attendants
whom custom or education or habit may have rendered
necessary them have not been able to discover any
good object be attained by any such act OF inhosptay
IL can certainly work no Injury 10 US IL be nu-
ous the unfortunate beings held in bondage to permit