Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-12-18

The progress Of events since the commence
ment of yOnr last session, has shown how
soon difficulties disappear before firm and
determined resolution. At that time, such
road was deemed by wise and patriotic men
TO be visionary project. The great distance
to be overcome and the intervening noun
tains and deserts in the way, were obstacles
which, in the opinion of many, could not be
surmounted. Now, after the lapse of but .
single year, these obstacles, it has been dis
covered, are far less formidable than they
were supposed to be; and mail stages, with
passengers, now pass and repass regularly
twice in each week, by common wagon
road between San Francisco and st. Louis
and Memphis, in less than Is days. The SER
vice has been as regularly performed as it was
in former years between New York and this
city.
Whilst disclaining all authority to appro-
pirate money for the construction of this road,
except that derived from the war making pow
er Of the Constitution, there are important
collateral considerations urging US to under
take the work as speedily as possible.
The first and most momentous of these is,
that such road would be powerful bond of
union between the States, east and west Of
the Rocky Mountains This is so self-evident
as to need no illustration.
Bnt again, in a commercial point of view,
consider this the great question of the day.
With the eastern front of our republic strech-
ing along the Atlantic, and its western front
along the Pacific, if all the parts should be
united by safe, easy and rapid communication
we must necessarily command very large
proportion of the trade both of Europe and
Asia. Our recent treaties with China and ia
pan will open these rich and populous empires
to our commerce; and the history of the world
proves that the nation which has gained pos
session Of the trade with Eastern Asia, has
always become wealthy and powerful. The
peculiar geographical position Of California
| and our Pacific possessions, invites American
capital and enterprise into this fruitful field.
To reap the rich harvest, however, it is an in
dspensible prerequisite that we shall fres
| have a railroad, to convey and circulate its
products throughout every portion of the
Union. Besides such a railroad throughout
our temperate latitude, which would not be
impeded by the frost and SHOWS of winter,
nor by the tropical heats of summer would
attract to itself much of the travel and the
| trade of all nations passing between Europe
and Asia.
THE CASE OF THE SLAYER ECHO.
On the 21st of August last, Lieut.. j. N.
Maffit, of the U. S. brig Dolphin, captured
the SLAYER Echo, (formerly the Putnam, of
| New Orleans,) near CapeVerde on the coast
of Cuba, with more than 800 African negroes
on board. The prize, under the command of
Lieut.. Bradford, of the U. S. Navy, arrived at
Charleston on the 9th. of August, when the
negroes, 306 in number, were delivered into
the custody of the U. S. Marshal for the Dis.
trict of South Carolina. They were first
placed in Castle Pinckney, and afterwards in
Fort Sumpter, for safe keeping, and were de-
tanned there until the 10th Of September, when
the survivors, 271 in number, were delivered
on board the U. 5. steamer Niagara to be
| transported to the coast of Africa, under the
charge of the agent of the U. s., pursuant to
provisions of the agent of the act of the Sd of
| March, 1919, Sin addition to the acts prohi-
biting the slave trade.
Under the Second section Of this act the
| President is authorized to make such regua-
tions and arrangements as he may deem ex-
pedent, for the safe-keeping, support and re-
'uoval beyond the limits of the U. S. OF all
| such negroes, mulattoes or persons of color, !"
captured by vessels of the q. S., as may be
delivered to the Marshal of the district into
which they are brought land to appoint q
proper person residing upon the coast OF At
rica as agents for receiving the negroes,
| mulattOeS, or persons of color, deliverable
| from on board vessels seized in the prosecu-
| ton of the slave trade by commanders of the
U. s. armed vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose to the true
| construction of this act. It is quite clear
from its terms that the President was au-
thorized to ptovide "for the safe keeping
| support and femOval' Of these negroes up
to the time of their delivery to the agent on
the coast of Africa but no express provs-
ion was made for their protection and support
after they had reached their place of destin-
| alton.
Still an agent was to be appointed to receive
them in Africa and it could not have been
| supposed, that Congress intended he should
| desert them at the moment they were received
and turn them loose or that inhospitable
coast to perish for want of food, or to be-
come again the victims of the slave trade.
Had this been the intention of Congress, the
| employment of an agent to receive them, who
Is required 20 reside On the coast, was unnec-
essary, and they might have been landed By
our vessels anywhere i'll Africa, and left ex-
posed to the sufferings and the fate which
| certainly awaits them.
Mr.. Monroe, in bis special message of the
17th December, 1919, at the first session al.
ter tho act passed. announced to Congress
what, in his opinion, was the tue cOnstruc-
| tion. He believed 1t to be his duty under j,
to follow these poor unfortunates in Africa,
and make provision for them there until they
should be able to provide foy themselves. In
communicating this Interpretation of the act
to Congress, he stated that some doubt had
been entertained as to it's true intent and
meaning, and he submitted the question to
them, so that they might, should they deem
it advisable, amend the same before further
proceedings are had underit."
Nothing was done by Congress to explain
the act, and MIR. Monroe proceed to carry it
into execution according to his own interpre-
| tation This, then, became the principal con-
struction. When the Africans from on board
the echo were delivered to the Marshal at
Charleston, it became my duty to consider
what disposition ought to be made of them
under the law. For reasons, it was expedient
to remove the Echo from that locality at
speedily as possible. Although the conducs
of the authorities and citizens of Charleston
in giving countenance to the execution of the
law was just what might have been expected
from their nigh character, yet prolonged con-
tinuance Of 800 Africans in the immedi.
ate vicinity Of that city, could not have
failed to become source of inconvenience
and anxiety to the inhabitants.
Where to send them was the question.
There was no portion of the coast of Africa,
to which they could be removed with anv re
gard to humanity, except to Liberia. Under
these circumstances, an agreement was enter
| ed into the Colonization Society on the 9TH of
September last, a copy of which is herewith
transmitted under which the society engaged,
for the consideration $45 900 to receive these
Africans in Liberia from the agent of the
United States, and furnish them during the
period of one year thereafter with comfortable
shelter, clothing, provisions and medical atten-
dance causing the children to receive school
ing, and all, whether children or adult, tr be
instructed in the arts of civilization, suitable
IL Al -.