Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-03
Tie Revival of the African Slave Trade.

The deliberations of Southern Conventions
of late years have been regarded by sensible
men with pretty much the degree and kind of
Interest that the bystanders feel in contemplate
ing miscellaneous dog-fghts in country vii
lage No one cares who owns the dogs, nor
what provoked the quarrel The interest con-
sists simply in watching the fluctuations of the
struggle, and in seeing the combatants roll
over each other in the dirt it ceases the mo-
ment they are separated. But as dog-fghtS
sometimes result in more serious controversies
among their owners, so these southern conven-
tions occasionally make demonstration which
has me other element besides its absurdlty
to attract attention The debate on the re-
opening of the slave trade, which we quote in
in another column. is one of this class. The
Convention was composed of about one hum
ired men, representing every slave state, we
believe but Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri
and Texas. On the second day of the session
the following resolutions, offered by Mr. Bry-
an, of South Carolina. were reported for dis
cussion by the business committee, and on the
fourth day they were passed
Resoircd That in the opinion this Convention the
eighth article of the treaty of Washington ratified the
10th of November 1872 ought to be annuled under the
provision of the first clause of the ele cnth article of said
treaty. ,.,.,.
by the President of this Convention to the senators and
representatives i'll Congress from each State here repre-
sened with the request that be laid before the legisa
lures of their respective states for their consideration
The vote on its adoption stood 81 to 21.-
The Convention had previously voted down an
amendment offered by Mr. Sneed of Tennes-
see, to the effect that in their opinion, it was
contrary to the settled policy of the country
Z" to repeal the laws prohibtory of the African
&" slave trade This declaration received but
forty votes
Here We have, then, distinct expression of
a settled purpose on the part of this Conven-
ton, and of the people they represent, to make
Il revival of the African slave trade cardinal
question of southern policy. BY it they pur-
pose to test the soundness of their representa-
tves in Congress, and whatever influence they
can exert, either through state or national
channels, is pledged to the repeal of all restric-
tions upon the commerce in human beings.
The question now arises Will this vote of
the Southern Convention have any effect, and
what, upon the action of our government? 1t
will be remembered that q resolution similar
in purpose to this, was first offered about three
years ago in Congress, by Senator SIidell, of
Louisiana. He has for years held the most
intimate political relations with Mr. Buchanan:
he alone was clothed with power to define that
gentlemans position on the kansaS-Nebraska
bill, when it became a subject of controversy
between the PennpSlranian and the Washing
ton LaiOn, and to him was confded the deli
cate task of arranginSr for the vote of Penn
sylvania at the last election. His influence,
therefore, with the President was supposed to
be potential. The delegates in the Southern
Convention from his state were unanimously
in favor of the resolution that passed. Will
he as one Of the Southern senators to whom
those resolutions were addressed, feel called
upon to renew his motion next winter, and if
so, will it become an administration measure
At present there is every prospect of as
much q" sectional work being cut out for the
President in Kansas, as he will be able to at
tend to this year, and it is too soon to make
up an issue to unite the South upon for a
Presidential nomination in 1860 1t is not
likely, therefore, that Mr.. Buchanan will choose
to meddle with this subject at present When,
however, it becomes necessary again to con-
ciliate the South, this, unqueStionably, will be
the direction from whence northern concessions
will tend. 1t will not surprise us to find the
coming crop of Presidential aspirants, who
have not profted by the lessons of the rast
year or two, joining in full cry against all re-
strictiOns upon the African slave trade and
we are likewise fully prepared to expect from
the next National Convention of the admins
tration party, pretty unanimous endorsement
of the resolutions of the Southern Convention.
There was another resolution adopted by this
Southern Convention, which bears more or
less directly upon the subject we have been
treating. We refer to their recommendation
that Southern legislatures should pass laws
exempting property" to the extent of one
slave from attachment for debt This is one
of the natural results of the recent elections in
Missouri, and the colonization movement in
Virginia, which have forced upon the slave
holders the necessity of Strengthening them
selves by connecting peculiar privilege with
the possession of slave property Erening
Post.