The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-09
From the Richmond (va) South.
UNIVERSALLY OF THE SLAVE TRADE
WHAT 1T SIGNIFIES.

1t is singular quarrel in which the Govern.
ments Of Great Britain, France, Spain, and the
United States are engaged at the present mo-.
ment. With each of these Aforementioned
Powers, England is involved in controversy, on
the pretext of their Indifference to the ebliga
tons of the anti slave trade treaty. And in turn,
Great Britain is itself arraigned for violation
of the very compact for which it affects 80
Jealous q solicitude.
The public are sufficiently familiar with the
circumstances of the dispute between Europe
and America in regard to the right of search
In an excess of repugnance to the slave trade,
the British Government dispatched squadron
of cruisers to blockade the coast of Cuba; and
the commanders of these vessels, inspired with
the enthusiasm of their superiors, ventured
upon acts of intolerable ndignity to the flag of
this country. The insult was promptly resent
ed by the President, and as precipitately apollo
gized for BY the English Ministry. In fact, the
| result Of the controversy was magnifed out of
proportion to the original provocation; for in
| stead of redress for particular grievance, the
American Government has exacted renunci.
alton of general principle. We have atone.
ment for the specific acts of outrage in the
Gull, and a guaranty against the future search
of our vessels. On this satisfactory basis, the
official organ at Washington announces the ad.
justment of the controversy between Great
Britain and the United States
The quarrel between France and England
originated in the same vexatieus matter of the
slave trade. The world was informed, some
months ago, that the British Government had
! addressed a remonstrance against the traffic in
apprentices" which the French are busily
prosecuting under sanction of an Imperial de.
cree. On q sudden, the affair of the Regtna
C/pIU fod thot Noh
correspondence. The Developments of the case
| revealed the fact that the French arc actually
engaged in the slave trade, under circumstances,
too, of revolving perddy and oppression. The
| matter was brought before Parliament, and
| from the leading members of the Administra.
| ton it provoked q very free and fiery invective
against the good faith of the French Govern
ment. Of course, French susceptibility was ir.
| ritsted by the attack. The press retalated
with an indignant denial of the accusation. and
with retort which must have pierced the pride
even of the phlegmatic islanders. Nor was the
French Government silent under the imputa.
| ton. If the statements of the journals be rel-
able, the British Cabinet have been compelled
to apologize for the intemperate aspersions of
the Foreign Secretary. But the feeling of re-
| sentiment between the two nations still RACES
With unmitigated fury, as one may see from the
'ioiSut OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES W tuclI papers. ln0eeQ,
England is somewhat disturbed BY apprehen.
sion of q descent upon its soil from across the
| channel.
| The quarrel with Spain aleo grew ont of the
slave-trade discussion. In the debate, Lord
Malmesbury arraigned the Spanish Government
as the responsible patron of the slave trade, and
denounced its per 6dy in the most offensive Ian.
guage Of reproach. Nay, the angry Minister
proceeded to such an extreme as to threaten
Spain with the withdrawal of British protection.
and the loss of Cuba. The effect of the dem
onstrstion on the Court of Madrid is the re.
verse OF what va, doubtless expected BY the
British Government. Instead of humble sub.
mission to the rod of its master, Spain has fred
up with all its ancient pride, and fearlessly
hurls back the reproaches of Great Britain.
The better opinion is, that the English Min;s.
try will bs obliged to apologize, as we'll to Spain
as to France and the United States.
Il But the troubles of Great Britain do not all
| grow out Of her zeal in the suppression Of the
slave trade. She Is sherseh arraigned before
the world, by the leading Powers of Europe
| and America, for most criminal completely in
the very traffic to which she affects 80 pious q
| repugpance. We know that our Government
and it 10 understood that France also, has pro
tested against the importation of Coolies, as Q
violation, in letter and spirit, of the anti slave
treaty. Thus England is put upon her trial
and what defence can she offer? Will she pre-
tend that tie emigration of Coolies is attended
BY no circumstance Of ccmpnlsion or cruelty !
The world would only laugh at the iapuden
mendacity of the plea for the world is inform
ed that the Coolies are taken by fraud and vic
ience, subjected to the most intolerable hard
ships, and condemned to life of irksome and
exhausting bondage. 1t il acknowledged b,
British writer's themselves that the Coolie trad.
characterized by every circumstance O
wrong and oppression which has provoked the
Judgment of Christendom against the traffic II
African negroes. Upon this point, we insert il
another column an instructive article from I
leading London journal. In the face of smell
admissions, and of other equally damninp ties
timony, it ia supremely ridiculous for the Brit
ish Government to Affect horror of the slav
trade. Nor viii the nations permit Bingham,
to ssspnne the seat of judgment when her ov
garments are 90 stained with the guilt vhic
she processes to punish in others. She mn,
pluck the beam from her own eye; abe muI
wash the blood from her own hands she mu,
discard the mask Of hypocrisy, and be as hol
est a. she wonA appear, before Spain, Franc