The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-05-28
THE REVIVAL OF THE AFRICAN
SLAVE TRADE.

Southern Commercial Convention at Mont
gomery, Alabama, we perceive that number
of Southern journals are also discussing the
subject with most remarkable unction.-
For example, take the following extract from
a late Washington letter to the Charleston
Mercury
From all accounts the French are carrying
large numbers of apprentices" from the
coast of Africa to their West India colonies.
If it is lawful for them, and the English and
American war vessels do not interfere with
them, why should it not be Lawful! for us!-
There are immense quantities of rich land in
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
and the other Southern and Southwestern
States, lying in waste and wild condition,
which only want slave labor applied to them
to enable them to feed and clothe millions
Why do not the enterprising planters of the
South bestir themseves-for they can, with
out molestation, and without violating sin
gle law npon the statute book, enrich them
selves and their section, and give employ
ment to Northern vessels, by importing ap-
prentices to their plantations! The thing
must soon Commemorative will have the
energy to give it trial first!
"Why not lawful for us?" For the simple
reason that the existing laws of Congress
upon this subject stand in the way; and be-
cause the jurisdiction over this business, in
every shape and form, belongs to Congress,
and not to any enterprising individual, or
company, or State, or Southern Convention
of any sort. Before any company, or State,
or combination of States, can lawfully enter
into this business of the importation Of Afri-
can apprentices they must have the follow
ing sweeping restrictions repealed by act of
Congress, to wit
That from and after the first day of Janu-
ary, 1908, it shall not be lawful to import or
bring into the United States, or the Terrific
ries thereof, any negro, mulatto, or person of
color, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of
such negro, mulatto, or person of color, as
slave, or to be held to service or labor. (Act
March 2, l807)
1t will thus be seen that this brief but
comprehensive Congressional interdict Of
1907 will render unlawful not only any at
tempt to import African apprentices, but also
any attempt to introduce Asiatic coolies of
any description. Thus, in the interval to
the repeal of this act, should any attempt be
made to naugurate in the South the business
of the importation of Africans or Asiatc
coolies, as slaves or as apprentices, it will be-
come the duty of the President to enforce
the law. That is all, but for all practical
purposes that is quite enough.
But who are these Southern agitators, so
clamorous and enthusiastic in their appeals
for the revival of the African trade? They are
not the 100000 Shareholders of the South,
for they know that any large infusion of ne
gro laborers from Africa would seriously de-
preciate the cash value of their existing slave
property, and that this would probably be
only the beginning of the mischief. AS they
now exist, the relations between the whites
and the slave popolation of the South are
perfectly harmonious, and peiecty under
stood between the two races. But throw in
to any saveholding community there lot
of wild Africans, and is it not probable that
their contact with the native negroes will de-
moralize the latter to a great extent! and, in
proportion to their infusion among the ma
tive slaves, may we not conclude that this de-
moralzation will be increased? There is a
great difference between the slave holding
system of our Southern States and that of
Cuba. In the one case it is patr;archal
system, comprehending the most harmon-
Gus relations of protection and dependence;
in the other it is despotic and merciess sys-
tenn, the mortality of which among the ne
groes can only be supplied by the African
trade, and can only be indemnifed by the
rich tropical products of Cuba.
But this agitation Of the revival of the Af-
rcan slave trade is mere scarecrow, mere
device of desperate and reckless Southern
politicians who are not shareholders, for
sectional party purposes. The Southern
shareholders, as u class, have had as little to
do in getting up this agitation as the New
York merchants. But the Northern niger
worshipers are taking up the matter with the
same avidty as the Southern political niger
drivers; and from the progress they have al
ready made on both sides, It is very likley
that within year or so we shall have an ex-
citing brush upon the subject between the
anti-slavery dirt eaters and pro-slavery fire
eaters in Congress.-N Y. Herald.
JUSTICE DONE AT LAsT.-Most of our rea-
ders will remember that few years ago, Col.
James Collier, Collector a! San Francisco
during Gen. .Taylor's administration, was BRAN