Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-12-22

the history of The world pro7es, thai The
nation which has gained possession Of the
trade giih Eastern Asia, has always be-
come wealthy and powerful. The pecu.
liar geographical position Of California
and y Pacific possessions, invites
American capital and enierpris, into this
[ fruitful field To reap the rich harvest,
however, ii is an indispf nsabIe prer,quis-
5 lie, that we shall irsi have a railroad,
10 convey and circulate lis products
throughout every portion Of The Upicn.-
Besides, such a railroad through our
temperate la;ilule, which uould not be
impeded BY the ffosls and SHOWS Of win
Ter, nCr by The tropical heats of summer,
would a;;roct 10 Itself much Of the travel
and the trade Of all nations passing be-
tween Europe and Asia.
Ga tie 21,i Of August last, Lieut..
]. n. Maii!, Of The United States brig
D'lPhin, captured lie SLAYER "Echc,'
formerly the Putnam of New O.lsans.)
near hey Verde, On the coast Of Cuba,
with more than three hundred African
negroes on board. The prize, under the
command Of Lieut.. Bradford OF the UniIed
States navy, arrived at Charleston on
the 9Th August; when the negroes. three
hundred and six in number, were deliv-
cred into the custody of The United Sales
marshal for the district Of S luih Caroline.
They were first placed in castle PInck-
new. All aGerwards in Fort Sumter, Tor
safe keeping, aud were detained there
until the l9h September, when the sur
yiyors. two hundred and sevenly-one in
number, were delivered on board the
Uuited States steamer Niagara, TO be
TRANSPORTED 10 the coast # Africa under
the charge OF The agent OF the United
STATES, pursuant to the provisions Of the
act of The 81 March. 1919, "in addition
to Tie acis prohibiting the slave trade"
/ Under the 81 section of this act, the
President is authorised 10 make such
regulations and arrangements as he may
deem expedient, for the safs-keePIng,
support, aud removal beyond the limits
Of The United States, Of all such negroes,
mulauoes, or persons of co!oT" cIp'ured
by vessels of the United States, as may
be delivered 10 the marshal ct iae district
in'o which they were brought; sand 10
appoint a proper person or persons re-
siding upon the coast of Africa, as agents
for receiving the negroes, mu!a;toes, or
persons of color, delivered from on hoard
vessels seized in The prosecution OF The
SLAVE trade by commanders Of the United
States armed vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose as TO tie
true construction of this act. Ii is quite
clear from lis terms that the President
was authorized TO provide ''fJr lie safe
keeping, support, and removal" OF these
negroes up till the time OF their delivery
10 The agent on the coast of Africa; bat
express provision was made for their
pro ection AMI support after 'hcy had
reached The place of their destinations
Still, an agent was 10 be appointed 10
receive Them ia Africa; and 4 could not
have been supposed that Congress intend
ed he should desert them al the moment
ihev were received, and turn them loose
that iHhospitable coast 10 perish Tor
want Of f1od, or 10 become aglin The
victims Of slave lradc. Had Ibis been
he intention OF Congress, the empty
man; Of an agent 10 receive them, who =
required 10 reside OH the coast, was ia
Necessary, and they might have been
.anded by oar vessels any"herein africa,
ind left exposed 10 The suilsrings and
he fate which would certainly await
hem. .
Mr.. Monroe, in his special message OF
I7ih Mecember, 1919. at the first session T,
.fer the act was passed, announced 10 !
congress what, in his oPpiaion, was lis
rue construction. lie believed it 10 BE- '
lis duty under it, 10 follow these unf,ftI- !
Iares inio Africa, and make provision
Or them there, until they should be able :
0 provide for themselves. Ia commuui- a
This Interpretation Of the act 10
,ongfess, he stated ihat some doubt had
zen entertained as 10 lis true intent and :
meaning, AMI be submitted The question r
D them, SO that they might, ''shou!d il lie :
advisable, amend The same OefI'e 1
proceedings we had under it.
So.hina was done by Congress 10 explain
he, act, and Monroe ~preceed1j 10 carry -,
into oxecHiion according 10 his own in 1
expectation. This. then, bscame the {:
construction. When the ART !
ans from Oh board The Echo were deliv- y
red to the marshal at Charleston, il be- !
ANA nv duty 10 consider what dis q
ought 10 he made Of them n
nder the law. For many reasons, 1t I,
as ~expedient 10 remove them from that @
as speedily as possibly. Although
ne conduct of The authorities and cit!-
ems OF Charleston, in giving ~coun'eDance
, the execution Of The law, was Just !
hat might have been expected from
leir high character, yet aprolonged cor
nuance Of three hundred A~fricans in the !,
IMMEDIATE vicinity of that city, could not a
ave failed to become q source cf iuc9n 7;
and anxiiy 10 its inhabitants z
There 10 send them, was the question. &
here was no portion Of the coast OF v
frica, to which they could be removed hn
ith any regard 10 humanity, except TO =
Under these circumstances, "a "a
! agreement was entered into with Tie =.
OiOllL1lluu SJCtCik VA AiC VI SfB n,
mber last, a copy Ct which is herewith =
ansmitied. under which the Society {
for the consijera:in Of forty h.
re thousand dollars, ID receive these III
frcans in Liberia from The agent Of p,
e Uni;ed States, and furnish them dur Ell
z The period Of one year thoreafler, with BE-
shelter, clothiag, provisions. 4
d. medical attendance, causing iie a%,
i.dren 10 receive schooling; and all, m
children mr. adults, to be in.truc- Eq
in the arts # civilized life, suitable ,ol !
cir condition. This a5greg tie of forty- .
e ihousln md dollars was Lased upoa al ca Z
Of one hundred aud fflv Dol "
rs for each inliyidhalf and as there has (:
considerable mortality among them -
/ may be mere before they reach Afi .
f, the society have asr,ei, in an equi- !,
bic spirit, 10 make snch n dsdnc lot Be
IN The amount. as under the circum nj
may appear just oni reasonable .
ais cannot be hxei until We shall ss y