The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1858-03-27
THE AFRICAN APPRENTICE ELL.

The IIouma Ceres. Of the Goth instant contains the
following in relation to the defeat Of this bill in the
State Senate:
The bill for the importation of twenty-five hundred
indentured Africans after having been adopted by
the lower House Of the State Legislature, passed sue
cessully through second reading in the Senate with
every prospect Of final adoption was lost in that be-
dy through the trcachciy NJ the decisive moment Of
one of its original and most ardent supporters act
ing as is intmated in obedience 10 imperative or
ders from the GmariM at Washington. Having on
previous occasions earnestly advocated. through these
columns, the policy Of the proposed scheme Of Airi-
can immigration ~ an inlliatory step towards the
systematic and nndsguiscd revival Of the African
slave trade II was Wh profound regret and disap-
ponment that we received the Intelligence Of the de-
feat OF that measure i'll the State Senate. We had
hoped for Louisiana the honor Of leading the way III
the march Of progress towards policy which the
necessities of Southern interest and the genuine phi
lantlrOpic spirit Of the age must eventually and
with the power Of destiny force upon us. We had
hoped that our Legislators shaking or the trammels
of Federal influence would have united in inaupl-
rating new era of craftsmanship which would tend
to increase the wealth and the power Of the South
and re-estabsh chat equilibrium between the sections
which Federal legislation can never 0chieye--which
nothing but State enterprise and individual energy
can BRING about The policy has been temporarily
defeated but must triumph in the end for ii is the
Will Of the majority. The people will not shrink
from chtcring boldly upon tie path of progress, no
matter with what imaginary dangers, tmorous Sp
"N'ih "
pered by the satisfaction of being able TO record the
fact that both Of the members from Tclrebonnc-thc
Hon. f. S. Goode in the Senate and the Hon. J. B
Robinson, in the Iiouse-were firm and unhinchinq
in their support of the bill. Our people may indulge
n legitimate pride in their representation at Baton
Rouge by men who would do honor to any lcgis
lative body.
To return to the subject of these remarks ii strikes
lis, that whatever views may be entertained as to the
eXpedicncy Of reViying the slave trade in the legal
and modified form in which it was presented to the
Legislature, those who oppose it may deem it
of questionable policy should have been at least will
ling to see the experiment tried on a small scale.
The importation Of twenty-five hundred blacks into
the State would be in It's consequences but very
small matter, and would produce none Of those ter
rible evils which its opponents predict-whe on the
other hand, had the proposed bill become law Elk
perence, that touch-stone Of wisdom, would have
pronounced upon its merits, and we should have
known by its operation and practical effects, its
good or its mischievous tendencies We trust that
those members Of the Legislature who so firmly and
stood up to the measure will not abandon
the contest because they have been once defeated
and by one vote but will give it another and sue
ccsSfu trial at the next session