Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-05-29
From tho Fsliciana Democrat.
THE AFRICAN APPRENTICE B1LL.-1Ts C0NsIlIU
\ TONALlTY AND ITS

G.. W. REEs-Sir: The bill introduce
into the last Legislature known as tn
I African Apprentice Bill, is now engaging
as it should, the serious attention OF 1b
people Of this State. 1t is a question
deep and absorbing interest, and shout
be calmly aud dispassionateIy discussed
free from personal or party consideration
and as YOU have invited both its friend
end opponents to discuss the subject thre
the columns of the 'FeIiciana Democrat
| take occasion as n of those oppose
to it, to present some Of the reasons, VIII
I think the measure Taught with naugh
but evil to Southern interests. To sucl
as are in favor Of it for personal, poIitl
cal or mercenary considerations, l q
pect to have no influence with whatever
but the honest, candid, and impart'a
reader, [ hope at least, to win bis respec
if l do not convince his judgment.
Although the Senate Committee o
last session in their report upon the bill
above referred to, affirmed that no con
s%,itutional or legal objection existed
against it, yet l believe, that a fair ant
impartial examination Of the question
will convince almost every one, that thai
bill, is amonabte to both, and not only
so, but detrimental in every point u
view, to which it may be subjected to
ia Investigation, as a measure Of Southern
policy, or to individual or State interests.
The Constitution Of tue United States,
article 9th, section first, provides that the
Emigration o: importation Of such per-
son as any of the States now existing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be
prohibited by Congress prior to the year
D thousand eight hundred and eight"
etc. Does not this imply, that so soon
as the Congress shall put a stop to such
importation, after 1908. that then the
Constitution itself is against it! The
Congress has passed laws declaring, that
ut shall not be lawful after the passage
of that act, (which was in 1879 to i'm
port or bring in any name whatsoever,
into the United States or Territories
thereof, from any foreign Kingdom, place
or country, any negro, muIatto,. or per-
son of color, with intent to ho'd, sell, or
Of any such negro, mulatto, or
person of color, as a slave, or to be held
to service or labor" etc. 1t therefore
follows, as a necessary consequence, that
Constitution from that date, is in
spirit, if not in letter, directly IN oppo~
,ilion to it. The meaning Of the Con-
stitution, amounts to this, hat prior to
1903, it would tolerate the slave trade,
out afle: that time, as soon as Congress
pass a law forbidding it, it would
10 go no longer. The greatest advo-
Gates Of this apprentice bill, do not pre-
end to Say: that the Constitution of the
United States now does not forbid the
slave trade, as it existed, prior to
1903. They contend that this appren-
ice system, is not the slave trade which
be Constitution forbids.
The advocates of the apprentice svs-
EN-, know full well, that they are al
empting to do indirectly, what they adj
nit the Constitution forbids their doing
They know and every one
snovs, that this apprentice bill, of the
asst session is the African slavs trade in
The friends of that measure
lave too much goo3 sense to be %instru-
mental in briu yiug into this State a class
free Africans, which would be detri-
mental to every interest therein. They
ave no such object in view. They in-
end to evade the Constitution, laws and
reaties Of the United States, and nothing
These pretended apprentices are
o be slaves. Indeed, some 0 fthem have
aid as much. They were to be bound
lot less than fifteen years, but might be
Or any length of time beyond that
Nho ia so blind as not to sea, that as the
'arga'n would be altogether exparte, that
would be fixed for, at least ninety-nine
ears! Would not this be slavery, to all
ntents and purposes, although they
night be termed apprentices. 1t would
e the same thug under a diferept
Then the prohibition under tie
constitution, laws and treaties, applies in
all force, against the apprentice bill, for
Constitution authorizing the enact
lent of that particular, or any other
Nv, so 0 o as it is passed, and becomes
ach, under the forma!i,ies which the
Constitution prescribes, it is then, The
law Of the land, and is as bind
g upon the States, the parties to the
'fmation Of the Constitution of the
n!ted States, as that instrument, is, it.
'lf. It refers directly back to the Con-
tuition. and takes root into it,
IN