Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-03
THE SLAYER ECIIO-A PROBLEM AND ITS
COROLI,ARIES

r.
THE SLAYER EClIO-A PROBLEM AND ITS
COROLLARlES.
For tho first time in the history of the country a
vessel has been "lAken in the act" of savs iradDg
Other ue stons connected with the slave trade have
arisen ON various occasions, but never beinra have
the questions presented by the capture of The Echo
been introduced practically into American politics
| What shall be- done with the cargO7 The lave ot
Congress plain aud explicit; but are the require
| ,nrns of said lava practicable To contscate the
vessel; TO fine the owners thereof twice the amour,
Of hs value of ,hs vessel; 10 hang the captain and
even the crew all tllase are susceptible OF prsc
cal solution. But 10 return the negroes TO Africa, nj
ths expense OF the United States, il difficult prob
lem. Ths law Oi Congress doubtless contemplated
the return to tho place of their tribe or friends, II
barbariuus can have friends but not merely the re-
turn of the negroes TO Africa. without placing them
there under some authority strong enough to protect
them
II this, then, is iha meaning OF returning them It,
Africa We would ask how ia it To be accomplished
Who knows from what part ot The coast they were
taken II the Captain o he Echo should tell, truth
fully The part of the ccaet Irom which they were
taken and The Government were TO return them 10
the exact point o shipment 1t would only os mat they
might become slaves To The fret masters that could
apprehend them. The Law of Congress contemplated
the return of the negroes to the tribe from whence
they taken, aud not merely TO the continent oil
Africa else it would hs fts far worse even than
Cuhan slavery, aud a condition the most depioraole
thnt can BIZ imaged. But can they br returned 10
hs tribe from wheucs they were taken! We ina
gine net. They may br turned loose upon the coast
Of Africa. but would that be act nf humanity Oh
The uart of q le Government To throw them delihe
ra.ly into u country. where death would be the fate
that awaits them, would be no act of kindness To
thess Africans. This difficulties that surround this
question: from the outset of no ordinary character
England sells the slavel, captured from raders, into
an apDrea,,ce bnndaga the most hypocrtcal and in
famous system Englleh cupidiiy ever devised The
! difficulties which We are now enumerating have nj
ready been seen by the Brtsh Government; and ever
alive to the opportunity for turning dollar, che DE-
vs-a the apprentice syslem-a scheme the induce
nen,a of which prompt TO working the negro to
DEATH during the term OF years, TO escape the cost oil
carrying him back to Africa.
sts in equal force sale for ie, which s The prac-
cal effect OF the English system How many cap
urea negroes has England returned to Africa VIZ
confess this question presenis problem oil d'incui
solution. II return the negroes TO Africa is perhaps
to be An accessory before the tact' to their deliberate
murder. costly and troublesome the mort doubt
tuI humanity, one for which we shall pay heavily and
| u,ilI hp (fOVprnInpDt
thanks whatever. ii they could be returned to thell
native tribes, humanity might urge plea 10 pehat o
the faithful execution q; thu laws but in view OF the
difficulties attending The finding ot their nallvs fribts
the certain death or subsequent eae agsin to slaver'
in the event OF their not finding their native tribe al
invest the problem with many difficulties. 1t appear
| to ia then that to return them To Africa il oil yer!
| doubtful humanity "a The negr"r'. TO llberaie lhsn
| i'm South Carolina and Inhks Tree negro bhrbarians II
certainly 0u oi The question There remaln', there
fore but one other solution and that is to select mas
tar- nr them and make u lahnrars Of the now IL
| moran. bgrbariana And hs view Of the case find
favor with tho New YORK Times" The Times
says:
| Another interesting point involved in tho transac
,i,u !. IN. uure disposition oi ,hs blacks Had Cap
tain sit left the SLAYER captain for trial al Charles
ton and carried the slaves 10 Boaon he wonld hav'
| proceeded with better Judgment. Whaf WIN ne
| States Rights doctrines and her laws lmprlsonhI
and selling free negroes brought within STATE llml's
!; will bs a marvel il these poor wreiches do not hnI
that slavery in South Carolina which they so narrow
IL escaped in Cuba. half million dollars worth o
! labor thus brought TO the community; an army o
| SarbaIiaus and pagans thus frawn WITHIN Inc scop
-, c,vz.,inn snd a comprehensive Christianity no
tur-d loose IA they nigh, be at the North, helpless
unraucht, untitled for liesr:Y. eu' sn'r'n'sd 10
wholesome and prniracied discipline, educating then
and their poaterity for freedom If they happen TO com
by IL hereafter: these advantages VIII imprrss tne
selves 20 deeply upon the conscience ot South caro-
ns that there danger il will never let ths colore
| Israel 90 Should the Federal Government contes
the matter which it il not likely to do, ih're can
no parity in the controversy. Possession Will De Oh
the aide Of the Carolinsns and the negroes will no
he forthcoming Altogether, the case ia an important
| int.resting snd entertaining one. We ahall obts
from il, brlors We get through new lghts upon ou
foreign and domestic relations
What better could be done Tor these poor barba
riaDs, non that they are herei We would not, 10
one moment, countenance the opening OF the African
slave trade But an experiment may be made out O
the Echo cargo, that will be OF great service II
solving the practical usefulness and good OF African
Missions The great blessings of civilization an
Christianiiy are now open for these barbarans, an
pagans turned Iooss in the wlds Of Africa to becOm
again the slaves of some king Of Dahomey," who's
palaia residence shal DO ornamented by their skulls
While The blessings of Christianity are unfolded
the bsrbarans,n useful experiment may be made: thei
capacity to receive religious instruction in their nd
tive state, may now be fully tested, and the practices
us.luness of African Missions now fully demon
sirated or exploded with the strctes' impartiality.
let upright and high minded men be selected 70
their MASTERS and by their reports let the Mission
to Africa be fully tested. Valuable lives are now an
nualy sacrificed the African Missions, and To
most contradictory reports Of The success atendin
the efforts find their way back 10 this country an
England. The capacity OF the wild African can nov
b. fully tried under the most impartial and uprigh
men. BY all means let the experiment be made.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SINKING
FUND.
or all the irksome tasks imposed upon journal