Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-29
THE REVIVAL OF THE SLAVE TRADE


The following communication will speak for itself
II is on side Of the question not generally espoused
at the South-but though taking grounds against the
revival of the trade and against the renewal OF
the discussion. the writer his opinion that so
far as the African is concerned the opening of the
trade is not morally wrong. lie deems it, however,
neIpedien at least for the present, nsedessy TO ar
ray gaust the South class OF interests and popu.
lar sentiment at the North which, though strongly in
our favor hitherto might be determined by this mea.
cure TO abandon this position and take anagonie.
tic to u.s. While craving more light on the subjecta
referred to by correspondent, cannot that
any question can arise as to the present npossbity
of making this measure measure of practical i'm.
portauos. On this point our views fully accord with
those er pressed by The Charleston "Mercury.' We
publish extract from that paper at the close Of the
article of our correspondent:
For HE Enquirer.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
Messrs. Editors We regret to zee revived the ds.
cussoaa concerning the slave trade. II il we're mere
ly waste of time and ink, it would not make much.
II it wers simply useless, we should not find fault
But II ia worse than useless lie agitation at the pre-
seat juncture il inopportune and ineIpedient. We
Of the South have every thing to gain, and nothing
sent, impregnable positions We are in the right and
the North THAT part of il opposed to u.s. 10 The wrong.
BY steadness Of purpose and prudence in the choice
Of measures We advocate taking care not to allow
the extremists of the anti slavery school to drive
into the opposite extreme, shall maintain our pre-
sent positions without difficulty; and all the COM
bned agencies Of sbotonism will fail TO destroy q
single bulSark of defence. We have on the other
hand every thing to lose and nothing to gain by
treme Southern measures Admitting the African
slave trade to be in principle, right-admting that
it's renewal would, 10 some parts Of the Southern
country. result advantageously to our citizeus-t
would still bs question of little difficulty rightly
to solve, whether ve prepared TO rase thu dis
tiuct issue on the floor OF Congress. Can We afford
to array ourselves against the acknowledged unver
sal sentiment OF the country for half century. mere
y for the pursuit of the chmerica schemes recently
promulgated With the view to multiply slave abor1-
Are We ready not only TO undertake the crusade
aeainet Northern prejudces, but to convince and
convert the very large minority liz not maortyl Of
our own people, who believe the opening Of This trade
to be an iniqsitous and unholy warfarel What will
be lis effect upon friends and abettors in North
ern States. who have stood by the South in every pr
itcal trial, and have manulIy and earnestly sdvo.
Gated the Southern cause by their speech and aus
tanned it by their votesl Shall va no, ALLEVIATE
class. whose help we.nsed, If We would preserve At
once our rights under the Federal Constitution and
the integrity Of the Unionl |, Is idle 10 talk Of re.
viving The slave trade with the consent and opera
ton of Congress. Disupon is the necessary prelim