Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1858-12-25
Arkansas and the Slave Trade.


t& -----l----
The question OF the slave trade has been
mooted in the Legislature Of Arkansas.
The Camden Ark.) Herald of,he I'd inst.
says:
We notice in the Legislative proceed.
ings that Il resolution instrnc'ing our Sen.
a,ors and requesting our Repre- entiv"s in
the Congress ofthe United States, 10 op.
pose the rc.opening of the African slave
trade, has been introduced into each
branch OF the STATE Legislature, respect.
lively, and laid on the table, only Two Sen.
ators and fifteen Representatives voting in
the negative. In other words, the Legis.
Iaiure has refused 10 pass resolution in.
sir,c'ins or requesting our Senators and
Representatives TO oppose law for that
purpose, should such be introduced into
Congress.
This vote, we apprehcnd, rather sign-
ficant!y indicates the state. of public SEMI,
,nem prevailing in Arkansas. That State
is bounteOusy endowed-iis soil is fertile
its climate saluLrious-and all il re.
quircs to make it one of ,he wealthies
and most populous Commonwealhs in the
South is an adequate supply Of suitable
labor. That is its great wan,--ils onl,
want.
Further along The Camden Herald
which is one Of the most respectable pa
per in our sister State-observes X
Now slavery is either right or wrong
4 A large majority Of The Northern peopl,
are waging relentless war upon the in
stitution. William II. Seward. the arch
traitor and leader Of the ianalical host. has
marked out, with fearful dstinctness, the
programme for his followers. They ain
at nothing less than the complete and tota
overthrow Of the system of slavery through
out the Union. Appealing to a highe
law, they distinctly avow their determine
ton to ,rampe upon the Federal Consli'u
ton and utterly ignore the rights Of the
States. They have enlisted under tn,
black banner Of treason, and nothing save
the bayonet will serve to stay them in the
mlrderons and unhoiy crusade. Rapid,
. increasing in numbers, power and influ
f ence, we cannot doulb that in few years
at most, they will possess the ability Il
carry their designs into execution. Fore
warned as we are, il will be our own iaul
it we are not prepared for the issue whe,
tshall BE- forced upon us. Under thes
circumstances, and in view O; The probable
ultimate result, we conceive thai it woui
be emnenlIy just and proper tina, our Leg
ish'u5e should declare, in ~ .apgropria''
tina, The law declaring the slave trade pi'a
cy is Unjust and oppressive; that any at
tempt by Congress 10 prohibit slavery il
t the Territories or States, would be con
sidercd an act Of aggression upon the right
OF the Southern States sufficient to j,,sli
u, armed resistance upon their part, and tina
the election OF a black Republican Presi
dent hostile 10 the existence OF the insriil
{ ton, would he such an overt act as To wa,
rant the State OF Arkansas in resumn
the powers by her delegated 10 the Ger
eral Government, and in assuming the pr
siton Of an independent Of severe sn' ns
ton.
i, We don't feel inclined to make any con
!. men,s upon the above u, this moment, b,
n will simply content ourselves by remarl
: ing that if one description Of slave trade
:, wrong, all descriptions of slave trade al
' wrong. including the slave traffic be,wce
o the Southern States.-N.e o. Crescent.
S