The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-09-17
From the Charleston Courier.

|
our columns, edtOrialIy, with elaborate dis.
cussons on this question, because we have
never regarded it as having attained sufficient
magnitude or dignity to warrant such a
course. The opinion is still unchanged, and
we mean not to depart from our course far.
ther thar to make the position Of the COu-
rier fully understood, especially as, in defer
ence 10 the freedom of discussion, we have
admitted several articles on the subject, in
conflict with our own views. The course of
one of our associates in the legislature and
otherwise, in opposition to the revival of the
slave traffic, has been sufficiently marked and
decided TO place his position in the premises
beyond all question, and his position is that
of the proprietors of the Courier.
In order TO have no further room for dis
satisfaction or doubt, (some indications of
which have reached u.s. as to our course or
views, we propose now to put on record the
grounds of our uncompromising opposition
to the revival of traffic, which the undivided
sentiment of the civilized world, (our own
country, and especially the Southern section,
taking the lead,) has long since stamped and
stigmatzed with utter reprobation and alb
horrence.
| " GIG sHc IeNNdi VI Tue olhNc tIuue pi"C
ticable, (Which we hold it not to be under
our existing Constitution and legislation, and
in the present state of public sentiment
throughout the Union, and especially at the
North, likely to be perpetual,) we set our
faces against it for the following reasons:
l. The slave trade is inhuman and brutal
zing, and we would not stain our national
flag, or our Southern escutcheon by reopen.
ing it. The recent arrival of captured sla-
yer in our port is full of evidence and speaks
volumes to this point. Cupdity and avarice
stow away and pack their human victims, by
hundreds, spoon fashion, in a single vessel,
without regard to decency, morality, cleanli-
ness, health or life, and numbers, in the midst
of stencil and filth, frequently, if not neces-
sarily, perish from disease. The poor Afri
cans are not rs well cared for as are dogs,
horses or other brute freight; certain per
centage of mortality among them is counted
on us matter of mercantile calculation; and,
in case of storm, or danger Of shipwreck, or
shortDess of provisions or water, they are
mercilessly thrown overheard, and with less
scruple than mere goods and chattels would,
in like case, be committed to the deep. II is
vain to say that were the traffic licensed and
regulated, these evils and atrocities would
cease to characterize it; they are inherent in
its very nature, and, for proof of this melan-
choly and revolving truth, we cite the histo-
rcal and conclusive fact that all "the horrors
OF the middle passage" occurred in their
worst form, when the slave trade was licens-
ed by every civilized nation. The recent dis
closures of expressions and atrocities, prac-
tised in emigrant ships, illustrate the subject;
and we have lately published the testimony
of Gen. Gadsden that he has been an eye
witness of scenes on board of the Missis-
sspi slavers, in the conduct os the inter-
State slave-trade, Congressional interference
with which, however Objectionable the prac-
tice, in many of its features, should be the
knel of the Union,) scarcely inferior to the
horrors of the middle passage. We have ac-
cidentaly met with an illustrative passage,
on the subject, in the annual message of Gov.
David II. Williams, to the Legislature of this
State, in November, 1885, which may be ap-
rropria,ely cited here:
at is not possible that your deliberations
/ on these subjects can be concluded before
that remorseless and merciless traffic, which
brings among us slaves of all descriptions
from other States, and which is a reproach to
our morals and an outrage to our feelings,
shall press on you for correction. 1t is time
the course of ceaseless cupidity, alike regard
less of country and consequence, should be
arrested, high time that our streets and high
ways should be freed from the crowds of suf-
fering victims that are constantly dragged
through them to minister to Unsuitable ava
rice. The lights Of humanity-a wise policy
the prayers of the just, all require that the
delightful avocatons of domestic life should
be no longer detiled by the presence Of con-
viets and malefactors.
The fact is that the slave traffic is, in IL
self, brutalizing and debasing. AS general
rule, the master and crew of SLAYER, as is
shown by those now in our port, are lit to
become cut-throats or pirates. We have no
sicky sensbilites on the subject OF slavery.
We hold slavery, MS IN existing institution
in our land, TO be defensible, economically,
morally and scripturally, and to be maintain
ed with our ife's blood; we believe, too, the
condition 0f the enslnved African in this cl-
yilizcd and Christian country to BE infinitely
better than that in his native land; but still
we say, God forbid that the slave trade should
ever again be prosecuted under the iiag OF
the Union or the flag of the South.
Q. The revival of the slave trade would
deterioratc, barbarize and heathenze, or su-
persedc. our now civilized and Christian
slaves, by an unceasing and ever-increaslng
infusion of native Africans, and introduce the
insurrectionary element among our now or
derlv and contented slave domestics ana
pensantry. .H,,
g. The revival of the slave trade would
brutalize ourselves. Were il cheaper to i'm.
mort than to cure or rear slaves, instead OF
multiplying and replenishing the earth, as
our happy slaves now do, they would be an
nually decimated as they were formerly in
jamaica and Brazil and still are in Cuba, and
the places of the dead supplied by new i'm
por,ations of the raw material, and Uncle
Toms and Lagrees would be no longer faou-
lous personages in the South. For proof oil
this. see the obsolete colonial legislation
AGAINST cruelty 20 slaves, too revolving ana
disgusting TO be specially mentioned, yet un-
repealed on our statute book. As corol-
larry. too, would cease the patriarchal charac-
TOR of the slave institution, compensated Tor
its admitted evils, by the widespread relation
Of humane and attached masters aud subor-
dnate and attached servants. =,
A. The revival Of the slave trade would
speedily nbolitionize the border Southern
States, by rendering slaves of no value, and
the institution an incubus among them.
q The revival of the slave trade would
ruinously impair the value of slaves, and de-
slroy the culture of short staple cotton IN
tho Atlantic Cotton States, and bnid up at
their expense the prosperity of the South
western States. The new and fertile lands
of that region, cultivated by imported Arr,
cans, bought for song, would render short