New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-05
THE AFRICAN APPRENTICE BILL.


The African Apprentice bill, which passed the
Louisiana House Of Representatives by an over
whelming majority, and which came very near pass
ing the Senate, is thus referred to by the Monroe
(0uachta) Register of the 2sth ult. Here it may be
well enough to add that the Register is an able and
influential Democratic journal.
We have not room for the entire article, and are
constrained therefore, 10 content ourselves with pre-
senting such extracts as are Of most moment. The
Registers article commences IN this wise:
we publish elsewhere today the African Emigra-
tion Act together with the report thereon OF the
4 sneeai committee to whom it was referred. Some
weeks before the adjournment Of the Legislature this
hin passed the House OF Representatives by iarge
majority. The opponents Of the measure claimed
that the House were surprised into the passage Of the
Act without being fully appraised Of its interest and
! meaning So well satisfied were they that upon
more mature delibeaSian the House would have re-
eced the BILL that Mr.. Hodge, of Shreveport, intro
dnced resolution requesting the Senate to return
the bill TO the House. The resolution was voted
down by even larger majority than that by which
the bill was passed.
True, quite true. We have the best authority for
stating that the bill was stronger in the House on the
day OF its indefinite postponement in the Senate than
1t the day of It's passage through the House.
Further along the Register observes:
The matter had not been discussed before the
people, and it may have appeared like Representa-
tives debating to their constituencies what laws
shond govern them, rather than expressing the pre-
vously avowed wishes of the people. We say, then,
that the advocates Of the bill ought to be satisfied
with the position. which. in spite OF the btterest and
most malignant opposition, they have attained.
The matter will, we understand, be thoroughly
discussed before the people in due season. Cen
w. NJ. Kidd, American, Henry Gray, Democrat, and
Others among the ablest and most Influential members
/ r.t al
measure before the voters of North Louisiana the en-
suing sumner and fall and that they expect to Gerry
the voters almost en- masse with them we have stable
grounds for believing. The oboquy and opposition
to which the supporters of the measure in question
we're subjected an inquiry into their mo-
lives, or an examination of their arguments, and
without even, we presume, perusal Of the report of
the select committee of the Senate to which the
whole matter was reierred-at the hands of certain
journals will not, We imagine, deter any one from
voting and expressing his opinions next winter 1t
was rather sorry sight, however, to see gentlemen
Of at least as much responsibility in every point of
view, morally intellectually and politically as their
assailans. yillifed without investigation and CON
demned without hearing. But rs they are not ere
cted yet, we opne they will not decline investi-
cation Of their motives, and that they will compel
Fearing before they are through. a
Then the Register proceeds to say;
With the distinct disavowal Of committing oursef
TO this particular project Of Brigham and his asso
ciates we are glad to see that the sentiment Of the
Legislature Of Louisiana is nearly committed to
the policy Of securing an increased supply of South
ern laborers. t
House. and before it discussed in the Senate,
and heard quite number OF its opponents declare
themselves IN favor of direct revival were it prac
teal, Of the African slave trade. They opposed this
BILL because they feared it was covert attempt to
do BY ndirectiun what the Constitution and laws of
the United States forbid.
We are satisfied, that were the naked question
stripped of all constitutional objections, put to the
people OF the Southern States-do the interests of
the South demand additional supply of african
laborers they would vote most emphatcaly and
Enthusiastically, let them come
With the question Of, how are we to remove the
constitutional objections have at present nothing
To do We would advocate neither this bill that
The simple question to be put to the people OF the
South is Do need more laborers For ourselves,
answer yes. And since the staple productions Of
the South, cotton sugar rice and tobacco, can only
be raised successfully by negro laborers, let Us have
them.
The subjoined two paragraphs, taken in connection
with the source whence they emanate, are entitled
in our humble opinion to the serious consideration of
all large shareholders:
ruinous The rich only able to possess them. Let
us have and reduce the price, that men OF mode
rate means may also become the owners of slaves
and thus form the very strongest buwark for the pro-
lection Of the institution. The Of large sugar
and cotton estates, with their thousand slaves may
and doubtless do, oppose any plan which will tend
to reduce the pree OF negroes. Bat by men of mode
rhte means, it will be hailed as an omen of better
day for the South Let things go on as theyare now
tending and the days Of this peculiar institution of
the South are necessarily few. The present tendency
Of supply and demand is to concentrate all the slaves
IN the hands OF the few, and thus excite the envy
rather than cultivate the sympathy Of the people,.
One hundred thousand slaves imported direct from
Africa. landed upon our shores and sold among our
people, would do more to perpetuate the institution
than were every Southern State to pass a law ex-
empting one or more slaves from execution. Such a
law as that, to majority Of our people, would be
like placing in sight, yet ont of reach of poor
starving criminal, prouson Of the richest dainties
With these extracts and comments we bring this
article to close. We do not agree in all the views
OF our ouaehita contemporary but still have thought
it no than right just and proper to spread all
the valuable information on this subject that came
within our reach, before our readers We shall con
tinue to do so hereafter.