Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-12-22
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| t It is my firm conviction that the re-openins of the African slave trade will not benefit eithe the slaveholder or non-slaveholder; will no increase the products and wealth of the south or aid, in any manner, in developing the vas resources of this section of the country; nor vii it. in my opinion, give strength or durability tt the institution of slavery; but, on the contrary 1t will render it unsafe and weak. and vii place us in an awk ward attitude before the CD. frightened and christian world.
 Holding these views on this question, being strong, uncompromising pro-slavsry man; 2 Jealous and ardent friend to southern commerce and southern prosperity; in fine, friend to all measures that will make the soutl great and powerful-that will foster enterprise, develop her great resources and make her she wealthy ard magnificent country she is capable of being made; being an opponent of all measures that will operate lnjuriously to her inteests and 10 her institutions, sense of duty anl patriotism compelled me to oppose the resolutions of the Senator from Union county Eve admitting 1t to be true, as was contended for irthe debate in the Senate on these resolutions that the transition of the Africans from teir savage barbaric state in their country to tha of slavery on our shores, would be great blessing to them, yet we must be just beforere are ge- nerous," and before we engage in tb business of enslavlug them for their especial eneft, we should Ne certain first, that our constituents; second our State, and third, that th United States would be benefited by the traic. In the language of John A. Quitman, q State rights man to the>eore, 'sfoppose the-e-open- ing of the African slave trade becaustit is in. expedient, impolitic and adverse to thsinterest of my constituents and the south." 1.-the ob- jects contemplated by the resolution of the Senator from Union were ever attaied. the consequences to the south would be adorable and deleterious in the highest degree because the south is at present united on this qestion; thereis, scarcely, dissentient voice agast the institution of slavery, and it has, for its apport and maintenance almost the entire som and the democracy of the north. Establised on sound conservative and constitutional prtiples; having for its origin and sanction, tn, bible; sustained by the fathers of the republAnd by repeated decisions of the supreme courof the United States as well as of the severa State and if the south will let we'll enough ane, if she will keep her feet planted upon thhgh constitutional and just ground upon whi she has stood for the last half of century, the powers of fanatcism, all the influences c her enemies can never render less importat in- jure, or prevent the expansion of slavery. But If we abrogate all treaties with foreign eun- tries on this subject, if we become clsrnous for the traffic in African slaves, the resultvill be that the same outrages will be perpetted that were so common prior to the act ofon. gross and our treaties Let him who dvotes these resolutions examine the history of tse days and govern himself accordingly. IIhe next place, the agitation of this question, vile it can do no good, will breed dissensionsnd divisions among us, will destroy the unanity of thought. sentiment and action on the slary question in the south to which have allud, and would drive the constitutional democcy of the north from us. The north bein yhe stronger and the south the weaker sectio of the Union, if the latter divides on this orny other question it is easy to divine thathe whole government would pass into the hanuof the enemies of the institution of saver- This will be our certain doom, if this ques,n is agitated and carried into effect by the soh- ern States.
 In my humble opinion, the adoption ofe resolutions offered by MT. Askew, will be- other spoke in the wheel of black republic ism in the free States, and if a few more sol ern States were to send similar instructionso Congress, the complete triumph of the blacld- pubhcanvcandidate for the presidency would, the consequence. ,
 Believing that no good can possibly resu from the adoption of the resolutions offered, bu on the contrary that they are dangerous ant calculated to ruin us, being friend to my owl State, to the south, to the institution of sla very and of the Union, I therefore, oppose and here enter my protest against the passae of the resolutions offered by MT. Askew. <
 HUMPHREYS, \ 1
 of Franklin. 1