New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17

the African race. He called upon Lord Clarendon
for information upon the subject, bat that noble
man had no information to give him, and no salts
fac ton except vague assurance that Lord Palmer
stsp would do nothing to encourage the slsve-trade
Here the subject was dropped; but The Lo"do"
T;m,, has since published an article strongly advo-
eating the proposed importations because tney
would tend to abolish Slavery and the slave-trade-
an article in which a great deal is said aoous
the laws of trade aud of labor, aud
,bo,t the cultivation Of sugar, but in which we
fod nothing to convince us that the enterprise
would not be- perilcus in the extreme 10 rlgat ana
humanity. Two three Of our own Southern news
naoers have also advocated the establshme OF the
anne traffic. Thus in England, France, Spain, P"r'
tuos and the United States-iG fact, 10 the Prnci'
nal countries interested 10 Western tropical labor
we find a combined effort to set on foot this newly
devised trade in boDes sinews and muscles. Hu-
maDity i, appealed TO- u.t as it was IN defense oi
the introduction of blacks into the Spanish colonies
Africa is to be regenerated by bringing away her
population just as she was to he BY the COLOMBIA
ton scheme Of carrying il back to her,. Under the
new system Slavery is to melt away, just az IL
vas to disappear when the sa7e.trade was abo-
i,hed while in turn the trade itself is to be exter
minated, just as if was to be when the Christian
powers Of the earth denounced it by solemn treaty
Thus il 10 that human self.hDess alTays finds
plausible excuses, whenever it contemp!ates
lew invasion Of human rights. For our own part
we beg leave here distinctly 10 say that the ques-
ton presented to our own minds, in weighing this
plan. is not whether if it could be successfully car
RED out, the sugar estates of Jamaica would again
blossom, or the planters Of Cuba and of South
Carolina secure more and better and cheaper labor;
but whether it will be possible, under the existing
state of things, to make these anomalous importa-
tons without contravening every principle Of JUS
tice and philanthropy.
These laborers are to be free. This implies
great deal If it has any meaning at all, it means
that the African is to embark voluntarily, is to
make his own contract upon arriving in the colony,
is to be paid for bis labor, and is to return when
ever be wishes to do 30, and can do 30 without
breaking legal obligations into which he has vOlun-
tarily entered. In short, he is to be free in
fact as well as in Dape-just as free as the
carpenters and carmen and other laborers of this
city, Otherwise his condition will be one of sav.
cry, with its most revolving features merely masked
OF inconsiderably modified. New, in the first place,
there is an objection which meets US at the very
threshold of the inquiry. We propose to deal with
simple savages, ignorant of the very nature of
contract, precisely as employers in civilized cOun-
tries deal with the employed. This is fallacy the
first, but by no means the worst Ifit be admitted
that these ignorant and naked abOrigines know how
to make bargain, it is perfectly certain that, gov
erned as they are by despotic chiefs, they cannot
make one, even if they should desire to do so.
When once the negotiations are opened, they will
certainly be at liberty to come away, but they GER
tainly will not be at liberty to stay at home. Bought
with rum or with dollars, the latter will not go
into their pockets, even if they have any; nor
will the former serve to cheer their expatr-
alton. The spirits and the specie will fall to the
lucky lot Of that eminent philanthrOpst, the King
of DabOmey. Was it not because it was instiuc-
lively felt that in this way would the negotiations
be carried on that the French ship mentioned above
s,eered directly for Quidah' And yet we propose
to dignity this sided trading by calllngi I" emf
the weak, of limiting, of governing, and of regaat-
ing this business We should very much like to
know how this is to be done upon the western coast
of Africa! BY frigatcs2 SquadrODs have not been
able to suppress the savetrade illicit as it s; will
they be able to secure equity in this new branch of
commerce, legalized as it will be The men who
will rush with the greatest avidty into this new
ha IL al al tr.Aa hard arua
interruptions and half pratical. The native factors
will be the chiefs, who have heretofore profted by
selling their subjects The men who will be the
merchandise are those who have always been re-
garded as merchandise. And out of those materials
it is proposed to construct business which shall
be mild, humane, and beneficial to the black
Moreover, we believe it will be found impossible
to make and honestly keep contracts with masses
of men. In all such Jumping into masses the ind-
yidual must suffer. 1t is not his labor but the la
Dor of the whole drove h. which he belongs, which
is engaged Hence, though he may possess supe-
rior skill and strength, he will he paid no more
than his less competent fellow; and if any discrimi-
nation be made, it does not inure to his benefit, but
to that of his shipper Hence looking at the future
condition Of these emgrants,' even in the French
aud British West Indies in which Slavery has been
abolished, it is easy to see that he rise in
the social scale. His caste will stick to him, and
to bis children. What good effect can accrue to
Jsaica by thus pouring into it flood of barbarism,
and that too just when the native laborers are be-
coming intelligent and willing to work But in
Cuba and Brazil what possible security can be given
that these "emigrants" will remain even nominaly
free They will of course intermix with the en-