The Yazoo Democrat., 1858-10-02
WHO ARE THE PIRATES.

Under this caption, correspondent OF the
Charleston Mercury, presents the following
striking suggestions. He says:
The seizure of the Echo in the Spanish
waters, naturally leads to consideration OF
the powers under which Lieut.. Mafit acted
The Act of 1920 was intended to- sup.
press the slave trade in the United States,
but not to interfere in the concerns of other
countries. Under that Act The President is
vested with no authority to order the seizure
ofsuspected vessels, when such vessels are
manifestly not bound for any port in the
coufcderacy The seizure of the Echo, there
fore, does not appear to be justified by the
Act of 1810-20 BY the Treaty of Wash,
ington (lS42) the Government pledges it.
self to maintain squadron on the coast of
Africa for the purpose of suppressing the
slave trade. BY what authority does Mr..
Buchanan send squadron to the coast of
Cuba for the same purpose When our
flag was exposed to daily insults from Brit
ish cruisers, our own vessels were nowhere
to be found. Our merchants even contem-
plated the necessity of taking their defence
ia their own hands. But as soon as this
source of annoyance was removed, the Dol
phin makes glorious assault on a defence
less trader, and gives the good people Of
Charleston a relish for the revival of the
slave trade.
How many of us have examined the treaty
of 1872 1t is singular document, for II
is confession of the impotence of the tvs
first marine powers Of the world. The ninth
article admits the futility of the united ef
forts of the cruisers of the high contracting
parties, so long as mankind will buy anc
sell slaves and they, therefore contract
with each other to make appeals to the mora
sense of all other civilized S ates. They
have thus resolved themselves into an Anti
Slavery Tract Associa tion, aud pledge them
selves to attempt to effect by moral suasioI
what they acknowledge themselves unable
to do by means of powers more generally
considered the uLtima ratio regum. Al
the contracting parties have thus voluntaril,
confessed their impotence. LEI us give th
treaty the coup de grace by utterly nullify
ing it.
Let us pause moment on this treaty. =
The slave trade was completely extingnish
cd in the United Srates-slavery Itself abol
t ished in all the dependencies of Great Britain
E What, therefore, but the mad spirit of in
s erfererce in the cnnc.rns Of others coal
r have prompted this miserable sembance q
Il treaty? They are to issue tracts, forsooll
a lusructing man on The naughtineSs an 1 sr
tuuess of the slave trade OF course if tn
trade is siufui slavery itself is sin, and "
| shareholders are 90 pay for writing an
q printing the papers w,ich are to hold us u
to the detestaion of mankind
Onr people have great deal Of patience
- it has never been more manifested than b
the good humor with which they have born
the caprice of the Government officials II
: spectlng the visiting Of the negroes at Fo
! Sumpter but if they sanction the fanatic
= spirit of the treaty, and by their own verdi
. gave it efficacy, We shall kiss the rod whc
ID is intended to chastise ourselves. Let
: continue, if we please, to forbid the impo
h tation of slaves from Africa, but in the nau
+ Of decency and humanity let us not stigm,
Il tize and condemn ourselves by treating
1T pirates those whose only offence is that the
are negro traders.