Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-29
slave rriaI--The Union On Slave Piracy.


The examination of the crew of the Wander
er charged with being engaged in the African
Slave Trade is in progress at Savannah before
judge Henry One of the witnesses, Horatio
Harris, on being asked by the Attorney Gener-
al if he had seen any negroes that he supposed
were recently imported Africans, replied that he
could not answer the question, as his evidence
would criminate himself This puts an end to
all doubts as to the renewal of piracy, and the
character of the trade in which the Wanderer
was engaged. In reviewing the trial, the Sa-
vannah Republican of Dec 2lst says:
After the developments thus far, no one enter
tains a doubt that cargo of Africans have been
introduced into the State; but whether legal
evidence can be had to fix the offence upon any
particular person OF persons, is a wholly differ
ent question.
The penalties imposed by the United States act
for importing negroes as slaves are, fine not
exceeding $4,000 nor less than $1,000, and
imprisonment for term not exceeding seven
years nor less than three. Had breach of Uni
ted States laws, affecting the return to slavery
of single negro who had taken sudden leave
of his Georgia master, occurred in any Northern
State, the military and civil force of the federal
government would have been brought into re-
QUESTION to fine and imprison the transgressors,
and return the painting fugitive to his gives and
his tasks. The Washington Union would have
howled itself hoarse in denunciation of the sab
clifton fanatics" See now how cody and COM
placently it argues the law and counsels the
Slave-Slealers. We copy from the Union of
Dec. 23d;
As mere question Of philanthropy to the ne
gro, the persons who have recently brought a
cargo of Africans from the coast of Guinea and
landed them in Georgia, may have done a bene-
fetal work. But, aside from that isolated foa-
ture of the transaction, we cannot perceive sin
gle circumstance to relieve the moral turpitude
of the crime. The law of the country has been
deliberately violated, and an act of piracy CON-
mitted as sOrdid and as wantOn as ever dis
graced the times of the buccaneers. Why have
gibbering negroes, little more elevated in intel
hgence than SO many monkeys, been brought
from their native and congenial wilds to be
thrust upon our soil! Simply for their money
udlue. 1t is not pretended that any advantage
can inure to this continent its people OF its in
stitutions, except the mere pecuniary advantage
that may result from a larger supply of labor.
1t cannot be denied that any but moral injury to
society can come of these importatiOns. The
laws of the country have been broken, the public
sentiment of the whole country offended, piracy
committed, and guilt deliberately incurred sole
" for sordid gain. For the benefit of the poek-
ct the sanctity of the law has been invaded
Entrenched securely behind the law, the South |
has successfully defended her constitutional
rights against the assaults of her enemies for |
quarter of a century; but now some of her own |
people are willing to turn upon and batter down |
that hitherto sacred and impregnable rampant
Heretofore the pride of the South has been that |
her cause was the cause of the Constitution and |
the laws; but now some of her own people en-
deavor wantonly to abrogate and set aside those |
instruments. AT last among her own citizens, |
there is division of counsels between the utile |
and the honcStum; there are those willing to ask |
only what is expedient and profitable at the ex-
pense of what is lawful and what is honest
Has the South turned Jewl Is gain is the al |
mighty dollar, to be henceforth the God of the |
Cavalieri
1t seems to US that one of the most important |
questions ever presented for the decision of the
Southern people is now before them, in the case
of the piratical persons who have Just succeeded
in landing cargo of miserable Africans on her
coast, and sold them for money in violation of
the law. 1t is a questian whether the public
sentiment of the South will permit the laws and
Constitution of the country to be violated with
impunity. 1t is question whether local pref.
udice or fanaticism will be allowed, as it has
done go often in Boston and Cincinnati to over
ride the law and the courts of justice. 1t is
question whether, for sordid gain or any sort of
pecuniary advantages, the South will consent
to permit the Constitution, her palladium, to be
LrampIed under foot. What are a few frighten-
ed, frail and chattering Africans to the value of
aw upheld in its integrity, and reverenced, re-
sPected and obeyed by patriotic people!