The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-06-24
IMPORTANT LETTER vROM sECRE-
TARt COBB.
The Revival Of the slave Trade.

hPh, 1000, Inat bppilC1ttOD na5 Deen maze
10 you by Messrs. LATTE * Co., merchants
OF Charleston, Is. C.,) "to clear the Amer.
can ship Richard Golden, w. r. Black,
master, burden $50 1896 tons, for the coast
Of Africa, for the purpose Of taking on board
African emigrsnts, In accordance with the
United States passenger laws, and returning
with the same TO port OF the United
! States"
You ask the opinion Of the Department
upon the propriety Of your granting or re-
fusing the application. The question il an
important one, and have delayed an answer
to your letter until could give the subject
a proper examination.
The form in which the application is pre-
scnted involves the question in some embar.
rassmcnt. The object Of the applicants
must be either to import Africans, TO be
disposed OF ~ slaves, or 10 be bound TO labor
or service, or else to bring them into the
country like other ernigrants, 10 he entitled
on their arrival TO all the rights and priyi-
leges Of freemen Ia either OF the two first
named contingencies the object would be so
clearly and maniicstly against the laws OF
the United States AS to leave no room for
doubt or hesitation. | deem il proper, how
ever, 70 call your attention TO the provisions
Of those laws, as they indicate very clearly
the general policy Of the government on the
subject Of African importation.
Prior to tho lst OF January, 1908, the
time fixed by the Constitution when Con.
gress would be authorized to prohibit such
Importation, the acts Of I'd March, 1894,
Q.3i7,) and 10th May, 1900, (2.70 were
passed. These laws Indicate the strong op-
position felt at that time to the African
slave trade. Tho subsequent act OF "a
March. 1907, (242G,) and 10th April, Isis,
(3A50,) as well as the acts Of 80 March,
1919, (3.532) and the 18th May, 1920,
(3GO0,) show not only the promptness with
which the power was exercised by Congress
10 prohibit the trade 10 the United States,
but they also bear evidence Of the stern pur
pose Of enforcing their provisions by severe
penalties and large expenditures. The leg
islation Of the slave holding States prior 10
1908 exhibits the TACT that tho first steps
taken for its suppression were inaugurated by
them.
There is no subject upon which the stat
ute books OF our country afford more con.
elusive evidence than the general opposition
everywhere felt to the continuance Of the
African slave trade
BY reference to the acts OF 1894 and | 800
against the slave trade generally, it will be
seen that their operation was confined Ia
net of 1894 provides
That no citizen or citizens Of the United
States or foreigner, or any other person coming
into or residing within the same, shall, for him.
! self or any other person whatsoever, either "a
master, factor OF owner, build, III, equip, load,
| or otherwise prepare any ship or vessel within
| any port on place OF tbs said United States, nor
| shall cause any shp OF vessel to sail from any
| port or place within the same for the purpose
| OF carrying on any trade or traffic IN ,larss 10
any foreign country; or for the purpose OF pro
curing from any foreign kingdom, place or
country. the inhabitants Of such kingdom. place
or country, to he transported TO any foreign
country, port or place whatever TO be sold or
disposed OF az adrss and II any ship or vessel
shall be 80 fitted out AS aforesaid for the said
purposes, or shall DO caused TO sail ~ aiore
said every such ship or vessel, her tackle, fur.
niture, apparel aud other appurtenances, shall
be forfeited to the United States, aud shall be
liable TO be seized. prosecuted and condemned
in any Of the circuit courts or district eoar, for
the district where the said ship or vessel may
be found and seized"
The language Of the act OF 1900 ia the
same in this respect. Both contemplate, in
general terms, the prevention OF the trade
~ darcS When, however, in 1907. and
subsequent thereto, Congress undertook to
prevent the importation Of slaves into the
United states, the language OF the law was
made more stringent and comprehensive.--
| The first section OF the act OF 1907 pro.
yidcs
THAT nom and after the iirstdsy Of January.
one thousand eight hundred and eight. Il shall
not be lawful 10 import or bring into the Unit.
od states ar the Territories thereof, from any
foreign Kingdom, place or country, any negro,
muiattO, ut person Of color, with intcut 10 hold
sell or dispose Of such negro, mulatto or per.
son OF color, as slave, ~ TO b. Add TO 'srr,cs
o. idbVg,
This law not only seeks TO prevent tie in
PRODUCTION into the United States of dare,
from Africa but any negro mu'at,o or per.
son OF color, whether introduced ~ slaves,
~ 10 he held 10 service oI labor. Whether or
no, the wisdom oi our fathers topSaw at
that carly day tha, cilorts would he made.
under pretended apprentice system TO re-
new the slave trade under another name.
cannot undertake To say but the language
Of the law which they lcit TO Us on the stat
ute book leaves no doubt Of the iAct that
they intended to provide in the mos; unc-
quivocal manner, against the increase Of
that class OF population by immigration
from Africa. No one coald have then con.
tcmplatcd IN object for which African cmi.
grants would I've brought 10 this country
which is no; clearly guarded agaius, and
Forbidden by the law 10 which aN row re,
icrring.
1t Is only Ucclssary TO adj that ,abs,-
qucnt acts on the subject contain t. Ame
language This view Of the sUbiec. is
strengthened hy reference TO the provisions
Of the act OF 18th Of February lsos
(e.20j. The frst section Of ;ha; aci - As
follows
THAT from and after The tgsi IAy ,. Ann.
he II. M IA .stgF az can't an a. any sh.g