Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-08


them to the conviction that their
view of the theory Of popular sovereignty" is
but retrogression from representative govern
ment to mobism.
He contends that Senator Douglas committed
an error when he declared the Lecompton con-
vention creature Of the Territorial Legisla-
ture, and to this error, possibly, are attributa-
Bile other Inconsistencies of that gentleman.
The Territorial Legislature was but provis-
ional government, constituted by Congress and
destitute OF sovereignty but the convention he
holds to be IAN assembly Of the people in their
highest sovereign capacity, about to perform
their highest possible act of sovereignty"
The authority of that convention he considers
paramount, except as controlled by the Fed
eral Constitution. Hence, there is no power
out of Kansas possessing the right to inquire
whether the constitution emansting from it en-
bodies the views Of q majority Of the people
Senator H. admits that subsequent immgra-
ton may have brought about the result that
the constitution is not now the will of the ma
jority; but being 30 at the time, as expressed
through the convention, recent changes of pop
ular opinion are immaterial so far as Congress
has to do with the matter.
He does not deny that frauds were perpe-
trated, but cannot conceive it the duty of Con-
gross to investigate them, nor to believe they
were all committed by one party, and that
party the minority. He is unwilling to enter
tain the suppOsition that the regiments of
emigrants recruited in the purlieus of the great
cities of the North, and sent out armed with
Shapes rifles and bowie knives and revolvers
to conquer 'fOr freedom in Kansas stood by,
meek saints, innocent as doves and humble as
lambs brought up to the sacrifice ~
Senator FL. also advances the opinion that
the true object of discussion on the Republican
side has been to agitate the slavery question,
with view to demolish Northern Democracy.
On the passage of the Kansas N ebraska bill,
some Northern Democratic leaders approved it
on the ground that it twas good free State
act" and their statements would probably
have been verified in the case of Kansas had
not the Republicans created this imbroglio to
prevent that verifcation and thus defeat their
opponents. They, no doubt, have had the
power to make Kansas a non-slaveholding
State, but refrained from using it because
nothing feasible would then remain on which
to raise an issue between themselves and the
Democracy with any hope of success.
From Senator Stewards remark that the bat
tie between the North and South had been
fought and won, Mr.. II. understood that gen.
tleman to regard the South as a conquered
province, which the North hereafter intends to
rule. In reply, he explained by facts and fig
fho lot nf fha
proving that from producing the great staples,
cotton and sugar alone, the South Is vastly
more wealthy and independent than the North,
and that her inherent strength is ample to sus-
tain her in peace or war. He asked, what
would be the result if the South should refuse
to plant cotton for single season? Would it
not almost revolutionize society throughout
ChristendOm After fully demonstrating his
assertions relative to this branch Of his subject
he closed one of the most practicable and un-
answerable speeches of the session, the tenor of
which completely exposes the folly of those
Washington writer's for the distant press who
not long since were publishing in all directions
its distinguished author for an anti Lecompton
man.
TIE SLAVE TRADE.-The New York Herald,
commenting on the New Orleans Delta moon
shine story about the recent revival Of the slave
trade on our own Southern coast-the alleged
landing of sundry cargoes Of slaves, direct from
Africa, on the shores OF Mississippi-the exist
ence Of depot for the trade in that State, and
other balderdash of the same sort, takes occa.
sion to present its readers with some valuable
statistics on the subject of the African slave
trade, as it really is prosecuted in the United
States and by Americans, which we republish
below, for the edifcation of the public of this
latitude. 1t strikes us, on reading them, that
there is ample room for the exercise of North
ern philanthropy at home in connection with
the subject Of slavery-as therein proved-with-
out necessitating our would-be Yankee guard
ians to look all the way south of Mason and
Dixons line to find Americanized negroes over
whose wrongs to shed oceans of tears:
"Within the last twenty years over fifty slavers
were captured and brought into this port, nearly
all OF which were equipped and fitted out by
Northern capital The number ofvessrls ca blurred
and condemned, however, bears but very small
proportion to the number fitted out from the ports
we have named. The slave fleet which leaves
New York, Boston and other Eastern seaports in
the course Of single year consists Of about forty
vessels OF various 81 zes, ranging from one hum
ing from four hundred to six hundred slaves
each. Every SLAYER is manned by crews Of from
fifteen to twenty-five men. including the captain
aud officers, making total for the whole feet OF
about thousand men. The whole 0 the ca pital
invested does not probably exceed four millions
OF dollars, upon which profit Of something like
eleven millions is reall zed.
Here, then, in this array Of facts we have
abundant proof that the slave trade has existed,
does at present exist, and Is maintained chiefly
by Northern men and Northera capital. The
reports OF the Mixed Commission at Havana
present still further evidence on this head bit
there Is no want Of proof while the records OF
the United States Courts in this city can be pre-.
sented. There is another fact which NAV be-
stated In Ibis connection The landing of slaves
along our Southern coast can he effected with
little or no difficulty, and without danger Of de-
lection, as there is no Mixed Commission like that
OF Cuba In the South, and one sufficiently in
terested in the matter to furnish the information
to the proper authorities. The laws Of the United
States have declared the slave trade to be piracy
and punishable as such but, for the reasons
stated, slaves may be landed with impunity on
the Southern coast until some action is taken to
put a stop to iI.''
The NIAGARA. The U. S. steam frigate
Niagara sailed from New York on Satr,dov