Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-05-07
DAILY APPEAL.
FRIDsY MOANING, .....,.. nay !, 1855
THE SLAVE Trade
SECRETARY ckss TO LORD NAPIER.
DEPARrmEET % STATE,
wAsHISoros Aprii 10, 1858

4 i
for the determination Of this government
J While concur with your lordship in tn
opinion that the Efforts Of your govorumeu
have been increasing for The extinction Of thi
trsfic, still I must be permitted 70 say that D.
hope Of the hearty cooperation OF tse nave
Z forces Of the United States might safely hav
been entertained without app ssl'ng 20 The eN
ample OF Great Britain. Tie officers Of th
navy nf the Uuitsd States need no eucomiuu
from me, nor shall pronounce one upon them
But assure your lordship that when assigue
10 the iTks9m task of watching long, desolat
J and unhealthy coast, they will perform thei
duty aud honorably aHd efficiently withou
needing any other motive Of acttoa but tha
which a sense Of duty inspires. Such devotion
to the service Is part Of their character, su'
OF the history OF their country.
The United states have not been less auxiou
than Great Britain for the determination o
this commerce in enslavsd Africans, and the
have given the most substantial proofs OF thi
disposition BY acts both Of legislation and o
/ administration. If the American GoveTnmen
was not The first, it was among the FIRST, &,
prohibit BY legal enactments, and % prevent bl
severe punishment. the longer continuation o
this trafic, which bad become repugnant T.
the opinions and feelings Of the age. Lor,
Brougham, in debate in the British House o
Lords, when this subject was referred to, hon
orably ard truly remarked that {" il should b
borne in miad that the United States, AZ th
very earliest period they were enabled to do q
by the Federal Union, bad adopted the aboli
tion Of the slave trade, and were in fact to-
frst to make 1t piracy for any Of lis subject
to carry it oH."
But the best method Of eascting the object Il
a practical problem Of very difficult solution
I The obstacles ia its way were at first over
looked in the saEguine expectations whici
were INDUCED Of immediate success EXpe
Tience has come TO test The measures proposed
and they have been found inadequate to th'
extinction Of she evil so much 50 that m th'
opinion Of your government its present activity
demands increased exertions on the part of th'
United States With d view to accomplish th'
object. Those eXertions, It is suggested
should be directed TO the coast Of Africa, Il
order to render the blockade more effsctual, an,
especially to examine and deal with vessel
bearing he American flag and suspected Of be
ing engaged in this trade.
This system of a joint blockade for som,
wears. and the benefit it has produced, bears ~,
reasonable proportion, regret to say, to thl
expenditure Of life and treasure it has cost
But this failure need not discourage th'
anxious hopes Of Chrisiendom. There is an
other method of proceeding without the dan
gers and difficulties aud ineficiency which be
set a blockade, and which is sure 10 succeed Il
adopted and peTsoyeTed in, ard that is-to cl9sl
the slave msTts of the world, or rather tie
island Of Cuba, which is now almost the Onll
region where The slave dealer can find 4 mar
ket. II these unfortunate victims could not b
fo.d, they would rot be bought To shat IN.
ports Of Cuba 10 their eEfraEcs Is 10 shGt thi
ports Of -7frica 20 their departare dAd 10 e.
fsei this Eolhiag tgoala seem 70 Be I5aHiing bui
the cordial cooperation Of The Spanish Coz
eTHmeHt. The example OF the United States Is
sufficient to show that, however extensive a
country NAV be. itcsn be rendered inaccessible
10 this evil BIZ a sound state OF public opinion
Z and BY rigid laws TigiGly executed The intro
ductiOu OF a slave into this country IL a fact
which ] believe the present generation has
not witnessed and Brazil, also, with her long
line OF maritime frontier, has succeeded by her
legislation, and bv the faithful execution cf Jt,
in rescuing herself frem the repr0ach Of par
ticipating IN this great crime, as we'd national
as individual; aud Il is due 70 the honorable
course Of the Imperial government 70 state
l that on the application Of the United States,
] il has lent its aid towa rds procuring evidence
necessary for the conviction OF persons pros
. ecuted in this country for the Oftsnse Of slave
! trading.
The conventional arrangements which exist
I between Great Britain and France aud Spain
I for their mutual cooperation in the suppress
sion Of the slave trade are very impeTfectly
I known to me. but it is understood that Spain
I has entered into engagements with Great Brit
I ain, If not with France, also, that she will use
her best exeftions to prevent the importation OF
slaves into her dOminions. his pledge, Il
! given, has certainly not, been redeemed, though
! il is difficult 10 believe that the Spanish gov
ernment wOald resist or neglect the firm rem0n'
/ strances Of these two great Powers, or eyen oi
Great Britain alone, if she alone has the right
BY treaty stipulation 10 demand Of Spain th'
faithful performance Of duties which she bal
voluntarily assumed. Upon fhe coarse Of ih
Spanish zOUernalent far more depends than up0T
tkc most rigorous blockade Of ne -gfIcdH coast
The United States have no suggestions q
make respecting the most expedieut measures
to adopt in Africa with a view to aid the oper
ations Of the squadrons employed by our re
spective governments, or instead Cf them
should the conviction Of their inadeqascy &
effect the desired object induce the discontinu
ance Of their services. But other means hav
been suggested BY persons intimately acquainl
ed with the slave coast, and who have watch
/ ed the slave trade operations, and which on-
encouraging prospects Of success, If adopted
These suggestions relate to the extension an
improvement Of the free colonial establish
ments in that region, so as to create barriers a
I the most exposed points, and also to the con
. struction Of small military posts or bloc
houses, garrisoned from the acclimsted popu
laiion, a. or near the places to which the eours
Of the trade has been directed, ami where th
means Of interchange have been found.
, The negotiatoTs Uf the Ashburton treat
. seen 10 have been among the few Who doubte
! the efficacy OF blockade for the sIppIessio
Of this trade. Their provisions, as snowa b
the ninth article OF the treaty have been stTib
ingly confirmed BY experience:
.. Whereas, notwithstanding all efforts whic
Z may be made on the coast Of Africa for sgT
pressing the slave trade, The facilities for cal
E rying on that traffic and avoiding the viEIlanc
= Of cruisers by the fraudulent use Of higs an
other means, are 50 great, aud the temptation
! for pursuing it, while a market can be four
9 for slaves, 90 strong, - that the desired resu
may be long delayed unless al markets be sn
against the purchase Of African negroes, Il
parties 70 this treaty agree that they will Unt
IN all becoming representations aud reuol
strarces with any and all Powers within whoi
dominions such markets ere allowed TO eXis
and that they will urge upon all such Power
the proprisiy and duty Of closing such msrke
Z effsctuallY, at once and forCver.n
J The obstacles in the w ! Of the suceessf
e operation Of the blockade system have be'
rendered sufficiently obvious by TIE experime
D. that has been made. The extent and ineent
tious Of the coast, the inssiubTity Of the c
mate, the psucity Of the civilized settlement
: and the want Of cooperation on the part Of u
native population, together with the measur
resorted to BY the slave traders, render it dl
: fcult, almost impracticable, indeed, beTme'
cally to close this long sea margin, occupyiI
the tropical regions Of the continent.
! But there are other causes in operation ten
2 ing to affect the hopes heretofore 90 general
. INDUCED Of the success of bl0ckading squa
4 rons upon the coast Of Africa. The saI
S state OF things which has stimulated this ira
into renewed activity BY the increased prot
. 49, cod ma q led 8
: upon public opinion in Europe, and may le
to relaxation in the measures for It's suPprs
> sion. The deficiency Of labor in the tGophic
: possessions of England and France, and {
consequent falling of in their valuable pi
/, duets, now constitute subject Of anxious
y quiry in both countries.
io The IsmentabIe condition to which those on
= rich and houTishing colonies have been Teduc
ID under expectations that have not been realiz
at and the Incidence and distress Of the eman
. patel population, present matter OF grave
D feciion IS well for the statesman as for
philanthropist. Means are In progress
- remedy the evil by the importation Of lahore
y but OF theif precise nature, aud Of the ext
10 which they have been or are proposed 70
= carried, the information which has reached
- IA not as definite as is desirs bic Iudepeude
iv Of the supplies procured in ether quarters
the globe, il is known that measures with
o. view have been taken no France aud nave
the appreciation Of the government, for furni
g. ing their colonies with iaborers BY . Afri'
- emigration.v as it is called and that not o
% freesnen' may be engaged, but those =" d
- who hsv been previously slaves
II "A known that communications upon {
&c spbisct have passed between the British
- French governments, and that the forI
:. would not object to the French scheme vi
The wants Of British colonies are being supp
T. by the coolie trade" It is also known !
, the British government, spPrehendipg
70. process Of supply might prove an +" inoii
Of obstszfs " to the extinction Of the save tTi
I has proposed to the government OF France
r. substitute 8 Indian emigration for African e
grstion,o and that this suggestion is no
subject Of discussion between the two Cove
q, ments. Whatever guard may be t1re
nd around this plsB Of agricultural Teiiai, D
=. still a doubtful experiment. necessarily elr