Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-24
The Captured Africans.


Our readers are aware that the African negroes found
on board SLAYER which was captured by an American
vessel of off the coast of Cuba and taken to Charles
ton, to be reransported to their native land The
government has accepted the offer of the American Col
onizatOn Society to take charge of and maintain these
negroes in Liberia for year, for the of $4,000
1t might have been imagined that the citizens of Charles
ton would have endeavored to obtain possession of the
blacks, as that city is known to be the very hotbed
where terminate all projects for the revival of the slave
trade. Here was an opportunity, probably at a small
immediate risk of reinforcing the involuntary labor of
the State by the addition of several hundred abebodied
negroes The circumstances eminently favorable
to such an attempt. South Carolina is the most ultra
saveholdng State in the Union, ard her theories rea
tive to slavery bOwshot in advance of most of the
other Southern States Had she been willing, therefore
to venture upon collision with the federal government
suitable occasion could not have been selected
But the people of the Southland especially of South
Carolina-are lovers of law and order. Whatever might
be their private sentiments they had idea of adopt
ing any measure in open infringement of existing stat
utes The acts of Congress left but for the
government to pursue viz to reship the to A
ca. This was the plain aid evident meaning of the law
and this the people of Charleston understood and pre-
pared to obey 1t is true that suggestions made
touching the inhumanity and impolcy of consigning
these slaves to life of barbarism and suffering when by
placing them permanently in the South they would be
both civilized AMI christanized- True that the opln
ions of eminent ursconsuts and magistrates were asked
that it might be clearly ascertaned whether the existing
enactmens presented alternative the return OF
the negros to Africa. But for armed resistance vo
lent demonstrations attempts to seize the slaves by force
nothing OF the sort was even contemplated. When
the law defnitivey and conclusively made
known, all idea Of opposition was abandoned.
We agree with Baltimore contemporary when it says
that the quiet in which this exciting has
been met in Charleston the entire acquiescence in exist
ing laws, the absence of any thing like excited disor
derby demonstrations and the sentiments of the most in
fuential of the Southern press that have spoken on the
subject show sound and healthfu state of feeling and
furnish the cearest possible reutation of class of SLAM
ders upon the South, well proof of how little real
influence extreme and violent measures have even there
where they have been most freely and openly expressed
The excitement the cashng of State and national ur
sdctions even the possible conflicts of physical force,
which seem to have been anticipated and almost hoped
for in certain quarters will all turn out to be unfounded
surmses. The General Government will be left free to
follow out the dictates of duty untrammeed and unOp
posed Calculated all the circumstances are to create
the highest excitement in that community and to tread
upon their preudices if not to touch their interests the
conduct of the citizens of Charleston is worthy of the
highest encomums.
How immeasurably superior is the observance of the
law in Charleston to the desperate and tumultuous efforts
to violate it in Boston? With all the feelings OF the people
enlisted in behalf of slavery with golden opportunity
of setting the laws at defiance, at least for while the
people of Charleston calmly permitted the cap
tured Africans to be placed in charge of the United States
authorities and withdraw from their shores. A few
years ago. Boston was thrown into state of insurrec
ton her streets made the theatre of turbulence
and riots her leading citizens melted the mob to rebel
on while troops of United State soldiers guarded the
Court House and prison all because in coformity to
act of Congress- equally stringent and binding with
those relative to the slave trade single runaway slave
who had made his way to Boston, reclaimed by his
master. Let US hear no more prating about Northern
obedience to the laws Southern proclvty to sedon
The reverse is the truth We of the South respect and
observe law at all times. The North assumes the right
to obey Or disregard Congressional enactments just as
they happen to square conflict with her peculiar no
lions. Fancy five hundred runaway negroes arriving IN
ship at Boston, and the United States Marshal claim
ing them in accordance with the act providing for the
return of fugitive slaves to their ownersis any one
verdant enough to imagine that Boston would surrender
them We trow not-New Orleans Bee, 18th.
From the Marion S. c.. Star.
TIE CoTroN CRoP.-The present indications through
out the District decisive that the cotton crop OF the
present. like that of the two preceding years. will prove
short one. Several causes cOnspe to foreShadow tn
event. and they have been sufficiently operative 70
render it certain The most prominent of these IS tnV
drought which, commencing in the latter part OF Juy'
prevailed until recently almost universally, in the D
trict. Under its influence the most promising he'dS
rapidly sickened and changed in color till they presenter
scorched and desolate aspect Another DESTRUCTIVE
element which has gone hand in hand with that just
named is the rust This cause of premature decay has
up this time, operated the most extensive ravages IL
these pernlcous influences must be added the lice an
grasshoppers which, anticipating the causes menloneu
appeared in the fields during the Spring and pepareu
the way for the disastrous result touching its COZ
summation Under these circumstances it seems Deyo"
question that the cotton crop of this District for m
present year, will not exceed half of the average y
what do you mean, you little rascal?" said an m
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