The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-17

count of the peculiar class of opinions which
that distinguished statesman was supposed to
represent. Mr.. Calhoun said
Congress, at an early day-as soon, in fact,
as it could legislate on the subject under the
Constitution-passedla laws enacting severe PEN
alties against the African slave trade. That
| was followed by the treaty of Client, which
declared it to be irreconcilable with the prin-
| ciples of humanity and justice, and stipulated
that both of the parties-the United States and
Great Brtain-should use their best endeavors
to effect its abolition. Shortly after, an act of
Congress was passed declaring it to be piracy,
and q resolution was adopted by Congress re-
questing the President to enter into arrange
ments with other Powers for its suppression.
| Great Britain, actuated by the same feeling,
succeeded in making treatieswith the European
maritime Powers for its suppression; and, not
long before the commencement of this negotia-
ton, had entered into joint stpuations with
the FIVE great Powers to back her on the ques-
ton of search. She had thus acquired q gem
eral supervision of the trade along the African
coast so that vessels carrying the flag of every
other country, except ours, were subject on
that coast, to the inspection of her cruisers,
and to be captured if suspected of being en-
gagged in the slave trade. In consequence ours
became almost the only flag used by those en-
gagged in the trade, whether our own people or
foreigners although our laws inhibited the
traffic under the severest penalties.
"In this state of things, Great Britain put for
| ward the claim Of the right Of search as indis-
pensable to suppress a trade prohibited by the
laws of the civilized world, and to the execu-
ton of the laws and treaties of the nations
associated with her by mutual engagements
for its suppression. At this stage a CORES
pondence took place between our late Minister
at the Court of st. James and Lord Palmer
ston on the subject, in which the latter openly
- 1osc ~ - g
which was promptly and decidedly repealed on
our side. We had long since taken our stand
against it, and had resisted its abuse bel
igerent right at the mouth of the cannon.
Neither honor nor policy on our part could
tolerate its exercise, in time of peace, in any
form, whether in that of search, as claimed by
Lord Palmerston, or the less offensive and rea-
sonable one of visitation, as proposed by his
successor, Lord Aberdeen. And yet we were
placed in such circumstances as to require that
something should be DONE"
The question remains with US, whether any
thing shall be done. Action, immediate and
earnest action, is demanded, if for no other rea-
son, in order TO preserve our faith and honor as
a nation. We are committed against this trade
by an irreversble record. The Christian world
is committed against it. The instincts of our
common humanity arraign and condemn 1t as
the most atrocious of crimes, and call for its inn
mediate suppression. ..
From the catalogue Of human wrongs, this has
been singled out for ignominy and extinction by
the judgment of the world. From thattribunal
by which its doom has been pronounced, there
is no appeal.
Towards the contamination of great object,
so devoutly to be wished, the Republic is pledged
to no undistinguished part. The glory of first
branding the traffic and initiating the policy for
its suppression is ours. If we are true to our
selves, we shall labor to deserve the chief plau-
dts of the world in the hour Of final success.
1t is a law of the chase, that the huntsman who
starts the game is entitled to be in at the death
Let the Republic which inaugurated the en-
terprise, lead the nations in the pursuit, and to
the fame of its beginning add the brighter lustre
fits close. a... 80
Instead of vigorously and earnestly employ
ing the means and remedies we already have, or
devising new and more effeetual measures to
suppress the evil, we seem at least to stand in
the way of its suppression. That the foreign
slave trade has of late largely increased, and is
now principally prosecuted under the cover of
the American flag, is notorious. This has been
lately charged by the Government of Great Brit
ain, and not denied by our own.
The note of Lord Napier to Gen. Cass, of the
oath of December last, contains, on this subject,
a notifying statement of facts, and noble and
generous appeal He says:
at has been my duty, under the instructions
of her Majestys Government, to draw your at
tention verbally, on several occasions, to the
present activity of the African slave trade, to
the fact that it is now chiefly prosecuted by
the criminal and fraudulent assumption of the
United States flag, and to the incommensurate
means which are employed for its suppression
6" have also, in an official letter of the 10th
of September last, conveyed to you the hope
of her Majesty's Government that their ncreas-
ing efforts for the extinction of this traffic may
be supported by the hearty cooperation of the
naval forces of the United States.
" Since l had the honor Of addressing you,
additional evidence has transpired of the abuses
to which have alluded. have been directed
by the Earl of Clarendon to make a written
{ communication to you Of certain particulars
hereafter stated, and deem the occasion proper
for presenting at the same time such general
view of the subject as the materials at nv
command afford, and which, trust notwith-
standing its incompleteness, will furnish the
{ United States Cabinet with ground for serious
deliberation, and for repressive measures of an
energetic character.
"The demand for slaves in the Cuban market
is supplied by vessels constructed, purchased,
and often possessed and fitted out in the ports
of the United States. The number of ships so
employed cannot be exactly ascertained, but in
the opinion of competent judges it is consider
able, and increasing
" The accompanying extracts from the official
correspondence of her Majesty's consular au-
thorities in Cuba and The reports of the British
functionaries on the coast of Africa, which
have also the honor to enclose are submitted
to the attention of the Government of the Uni
ted States in the belief that similar information
has not reached them from any other quarter
"The vessels engaged in this branch of the
slave trade, which alone possess any vigor or
extension, whether owned by American cti-
xens by colonial Spaniards, or by foreign resi-
dents in the Union whether issuing from the
harbors of the United States or from those of
Cuba, have now embraced the almost universal
habit of hosting the colors of the United States
for the purpose of sheltering themselves against
the scrutiny of the British cruisers"
The Secretary of State of the United States
admits that he has no doubt but that "his lord
ship is correct in the statement that the Ameri-
can flag has been frauduenty assumed by the
vessels of other nations engaged in the traffic"
but gives in his long and elaborate reply no as
surance or promise to the country or the world
that any very effectual measures will be prose-
cuted, at least during this Administration, to
arrest the evils complained of, or prevent the pi-
ratical prostitution and use of our flag.
There is, in my judgment, nothing wanting to
secure the complete destruction and overthrow
of the slave trade at once and forever except the
cordial and earnest cooperation of the United
States with the maritime Powers of Europe in
such reciprocal measures as the wisdom and ex-
perience of the past have shown would be both
effective and feasible for the Accomplishment of
the end proposed.
Some plan provided for by treaty with Great
Britain and the other principal European Powers,
and conceding on our part the mutual and equal
right of visitation and search, is believed to be
indispensable for the removal Of this gigantic
and inveterate wrong.
That such reciprocal right might successfully