The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-30
rrfH ArRIoAN REpEMprrorfsrs,

pOrtution OF African rcdenptonists into the West
lndia Islands, hc declared ho had received no
official Information on tho subject. It was
scarcely to bc expected, In matter Of this kind
that Louis Napoleon would instruct his rcprcsen-
tative at the court Of St. james TO give formal
notice to the British ministry OF his intention to
sunction measure of the propricty of whicl, he
himself was alone entitled to Judge. France aud
England huve both tried Cooiic labor, but the
success has no, justified the expense incurred
Tho West India planters complain bitterly Of tho
restrictive laws imposed upon them by the Homo
Governments while Cuba, with the connivancc
Of the authorities, continues to import large car
goes Of African slaves
They, therefore, ask that the slave trade shall
be etlcctually suppressed or that they shall be
permitted TO inti oiuce African imlniTr,uts into
the islands at their cost upon such terms as
may be agreed upon between the contracting
rartes. The French West India planters inhab
itng Martinique and Demerara have made n SIM
liar appeal to Louis Napoleon. Lord Palmer
ston, III reply TO the dcputation that recently
waited upon him, promised to give the subject
that attention its importance deserved, and high
hopes were entertained by the committee that
the action Of the Government would be f,vora-
be. But notwithstanding the vigorous support
gwen to the scheme by the London Times n
strenuous opposition to it has arisen both in and
out Of parliament.
Lords Shaftcsbury a,l Brougllam have lenoun-
ccd II, una The ahti-slavcry association, many Of
whose members were ut first disposed to counc-
s.''iSe VIZ UP Ill arms IL. ct
there ID much truth in the assertion of the West
India planter, that free labor cannot compete
with slave labor, and that the restrictions inpos-
ed upon them by Parliament are ruinous to their
interests.
They also plauSibly argue that, by importing
African rcdcmptlonIss, commerce in slaves will
bc efectually broken up and slave property it.
sell rendered comparatively worthless. But it
Will bc along time before the English public will
consent to the adoption of an cNpcdicnt which
IItun Al 4
coast, and an encouragement Of the now almost
obsolete man hunts by the chiefs Of the interior.
LOUIS napoleon, however, is not so fasilious
lie has no Exeter Hall to conciliate and regards
Inc whole Question as one of cheap sugar. Phil
anthropy may declare itself horror stricken Mt n
renewal Of the slave trade under the plea of ell
couragIng Immigration, and may very rcasona-
bly, charge that, after ten years Of enforced labor
very few of the redc,npionists will he found
ulive. And there's no doubt whatever that those
planters, who hold them i'll service will yet as
much work out of them, during their limited pc
riod Of ownership, as they possibly cau
But, since slavery was abolished in the British
and French West Indii Islands, the plantations
have run TO weeds. the planters reduced to
beggary, and Europe is still dependent upon
slave labor for her supplies Of sugar and cotton
The remedy proposed i'll England has been adop-
ted by France.
We learn by late adviccs that "ihc contract
recently entered into by the French Government
Africans to Guadalonpe and Martinique, was, it
seems, signed by the French minister OF marine
and foreign affairs the ono part, and NlAI
Regis ofMarsci!!cs, of the other part on the l3tI,
OF March last. II sipulates that the latter are
within three years, or If possible, in less time
to transport 5000 blacks TO Gau,laloupc and as
many to Martinique, there to work under all en-
gaSemcnt for ten Years, ut the wages of -
francs 100 ccmtinncS) month, out Of which each
negr imported has te pay, Mt the rate of two
fh,b ei,st of b,s r
RI =. which IS Estimated at 20O francs. NM Re-
g's undertake to employ in this service large
steam vessels capablc of containing 500 passcn-
gers, and Tor each adult immigrant, male or fe-
,naie' they are TO receive 500 francs e20 ster-
ling. One of these steamers has we are assured.
already sailed"
, IL Will be noted that under the above contract
tho cost of each African laLorer imported into
Guadalonpe and Martinique is not to exceed one
hundred dollars while the stipulated wages of
the redemptionsts is put at S237 1-2 month.
at tic present cost Of slaves for life, this small sum
Will give the advantage TO those who hold men
for limited term; and if sufficient number of
captives can be obtained on these conditions the
ola fashioned slave trade will die for want of
patronage In the meantime, iowev cr the Coun-
chGenerul of Martinique has thrown a dash of
coid water OH the contract entered into between
NJ M Regis and the French Government. II las
Pctittoncd the Minister of Foreign Affairs to ex.
erclse his reserved authority, and nnnul tho con-
liberal engagements with Coolic emigrants, and
higher premium to such as will consent to
bind themselves to new term OF service or
the morality of the new scheme, it is perhaps as
well to say as little possible.
Tho London Times may approve of IL ms
ineans Of regenerating the waste lands of the
tropics, and the planters may declare that its en-
1orcement would be blessing to the African
race; Look atit, however, in any light we NAV,
tbs but another phase of slavery. 1t is con-
1easlon that, however, much slavery in the ub-
stract is to be abhorrcd necessity compcls its re-
cogniton in some shape other. 1t Is undouLt-
edty most mortifyng that statesmen of ability
should thus be obliged to retrnce their steps, and
vol organization of the old traffic under the
fi'msy cover Of new name. We are disposed
y. 10 regard this movement as one OF much more
than ordinary Importance. 1t foresha adows new
policy in future with respect to the African race
"A policy, too, which eventually may have n
serious effect upon the perpetuity of Slavery in
o"r own Southern Statcs.-:Baltimoro Patriot.
1Ae Cotton Crop Of 1857 and '5s.-A week
or OF ten @ days ago, communication appeared in the
N. Y. Journal Of Commerce, posl-nurked Mon,
A