Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-06-12
POLL TgoAl.
Letter on African Emigration,

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May %, 1853
SIR: 1t appears froin your letter of goth
April, ,,12hS, apnlicafion hns haar, ,.so d..
to you by Messrs. II. la6tte & Co., mer-
chants, of Charleston, S. c., "to clear the
American ship Richard Cobdcn, w. f..
Blacl1, master, burthen $50 31-95 tons, for
the coast of Africa, for the purpose of TAX
ing on board African emigrants in accord
ance with the passenger laws, and return
ing with the same to a port in tile United
States"
You ask the opinion of the Department
upon the propriety your granting or re-
fusing the application.
The question is an important one, and ]
have delayed an answer to your letter until
could give the subject proper examna-
ton
The form in which this application is
presented, involves the question in some
embarrassment, The object of the appli
capts must be either to import Africans, to
be disposed of as slaves, OF to be bound to
labor or service or else to bring them into
the country like other 3migrants, to be en-
titled on their arrival to allthe rights and
privileges of freemen. In either of the
two lirst named contingencies, the object
would be SO clearly and manifestly against
the laws of the United States, as to leave
no room for doubt or hesitation. deem
1T proper, however, to call your attention to
the provisions of those laws, as they indi-
cate very clearly the general policy of the
Goyernmcnt on the subject of African i'm
portation.
Prior to the LIST ef January, 1908, the
time fixed by the Constitution when Con
gress would be authorized to prohibit such
importation, the acts of I'd March, 1894
G.347) and 10th May, 1900 (2.70,) were
passed. These laws indicate the strong
opposition felt at that time to the African
slave trade. The subsequent act of I'd
March, 1907 (2,426,) and 2oth April
1913 (8,582, )and 18th May, 1920 g 600, )
show not only the promptncss with which
the power was exercised by Congress- of pro-
I hibiting this trade to the United States,
butthey also bear evidence Of the stern
purpose of enforcing their provisions by Sc
we're penalties and large expenditures
The legislation of the elaveholding States
prior to 1905, exhibits the fact that the first
steps taken orits suppression were inaugu-
rated by them.
There is no subject upon which the stat
ute books OF our country afford more con
elusive evidence than the general opposi.
ton everywhere felt to che continuance Of
che African slave trade.
BY reference to the acts Of 1894 and
1900 against the slave trade generally, it
will be seen that Incorporation was confin-
ed to slcocs 60 nonsipe. The,frst section
of the act of 1894 provides, @That no cit
izea orscitizens of the United States, or for
eignorj or any other person coming into OF
residing within the same, shall, for himself
or any other person whatsoever, either as
master, or factor or owner, build, fit, equip,
load or otherwise prepare any ship or YES
eelsagithin any port or place of the said
United States, nor shall GAUGE any ship OF
vessel, within any port or place Of the said
United States, nor shall cause any ship OF
vessel TO sail from any port or place within
the same, for the purpose of carrying on