The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28


growing sentiment in the South in favor of
tho revival Of the African slave trade; and
among the facts illustrative of that position We
cited the following paragraph from the. Rich
mond Enquirer, which we deemed conclusive
of the editors prediction in favor of the trade:
| "We are glad to see this question thus agi-
tated the odium cast upon Slavery by existing
Federal laws should never have been submitted
to by the Southern people, and the sooner it is
This paragraph followed various statements
going to show that men in different parts of the
South we're insisting on the repeal of the laws
against the slave trade, and, much to our re.
greet, We we're compelled to draw the inference
that the Enquirer had become an unqualified
advocate of that nefarious traffic. What other
inference could we draw? The language was
explicit and pointed, and seemed to leave no
loop upon which to hang doubt. But, after
all, it seems that We were mistaken, for, day
or two subsequently, the editor reprobates the
idea in unqualified terms. In replying to q
country paper, called the Blue Ridge Repubii-
can, which seems to be champion of Mr..
Letcher for the office of Governor, the Enqui-
rer says:
The Republican informs US, with triumph.
ant air, that Mr.. Letcher will not hesitate in
joining q separate Southern Confederacy, when
ever it shall be erected, and the present Union
| dissolved, for the sole purpose OF reopening the
African slave trade. This certainly exhibits
an eminent attachment to our sister States of
the South; but, in our humble opinion, it is
very doubtful whether it indicates an equal de.
gree of partiality for the patriarcha institution
of Slavery as it exists in Virginia. As We
view the matter, such q eonsummation would
eventuate in the complete degradation and de-
moralization of the institution of Slavery, as
we'll as in serious depreciation of the value Of
slave property. But we believe that the Re
publican does unintentional iriustice to Mr.
Letcher. We cannot think that he is an advo.
cate for the reopening of the African slave
trade. We venture to say that he considers
such policy as disastrous as we believe it to
be. And if so, he certainly would hesitate, he
certainly would stop 10 weigh doubts and alter
natives, to consider the question az affected by
all the then existing clrcumstanees,lt to count
the cost moral and pecuniary, of attaching the
fortunes OF Virginia to those of separate slave
trading Confederscy."
We confess that We are utterly incapable Of
i, reconciling the above extracts with each 9th
er, issuing from the same press within ON,
, week. In the first, the Feds ral laws asains
the slave trade are said 70 cast "odium upor
Slavery" and "sheuld never have been sub
mitted to by the Southern people" In tn,
second, the editor regards asthe policy of re
opening the slave trade as disastrous ."
If the two propositions be not in direct con
aict, then it requires greater skill 10 dialectic
than we possess to reconcile them. We nigh
. split hairs, or chow the difference 'twixt tweedle
, dunn and tweedle-dee, but this Virginia " at
strac ion is above our comprehension.
If the Federal laws which forbid the slav
trade are repealed, its revival, with oil its "di,
e astrous results, would seem to be paturs
! and necessary consequence, unless the Enqu
, rer proposes to restrain the practice BY mors
suasion F" Society, with the aid of laws an
/, gibbets, has never yet succeeded in restrainin
II evil practices, even such practices as are nc
4 more gainful than honest pursuits. Million
4 have been expended by Great Britain and th
Il United States in the suppression Of this yer
l. traffic, and with Indifferent success, 30 far
II Cuba is concerned; and yet the Enquire
l. while regarding it as disastrous" proposes
y legalize it out of regard to its cousin german
j Slavery in the United States. The best 20
ton of society is generally better than the law
e but it is equally true, that the worst portion
y worse than the laws; and whatever crime ,
' injustice is permitted to go unpuaished will I
j. committed in the open face of day. The d
= nsat;c slave trade in lepaEzed in all tba al. :,
1t holding States, and, although inhuman and j
e famous in itself, and even regarded With dist
g vG by the better class of Southern people,
te is prscticed without scruple by hundreds
re men, because it is higkly lucrative. Pub
a. opinion, so far from suppressing, sustains