White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-30

as regularly performer ~
years between New York and this city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to aP..
propriate money for the construction oil
this road, except that derived from the
war-making power of the Constitution
there are important collateral eonsidera-
tions urging us to undertake the work as
speedily as possible.
The first and most momentous oil THESE
is. that such a road would be powerful
bond of union between the States East
and West of the Rocky mountains.
This is so self-eyidcnt as to require no IL
lustration
But again, in a commercial point OF
view, / consider this the great question OF
the day. With the Eastern front OF our
Republic stretching along the Atlantic,
and its Western front along the Pacific,
if all the the parts should be united by a
safe, easy and rapid intercommunicatlsn'
we must necessarily command very
large proportion of the trade both OF Eu-
rope and Asia. Our recent treaties with
China and Japan will open those rich
and populous empires to our commerce !;
and the history of the world proves,
that the nation which has gained posses
sion of the trade with Eastern Asia, has
always become wealthy and powerful.
The peculiar geographical position Of
California, ard our Pacific possessions,
invites American capital and enterprise
into this fruitful field. To reap the rich
harvest, however, it is an indispensable
prerequisite, that we shall first have q
railroad, to convey and circulate its pro-
ducts throughout every portion of the
Unien. Besides, such railroad through
our temperate latitude, which would not
he impcded by the frosts and SHOWS OF
winter, nor by the tropical heats Of sum
mer, would attract to itself much of the
travel and trade of all nations passing
between Europe AMI Asia.
On the 2lst Of August last, Lieut j. n.
Maffit. Of the United States brig Dolphin,
catured the SLAYER Echo" formerly the
Putnam, Of New Orleans, near Key
Verde, on the coast of Cuba, with more
than three. hundred African negroes on
board. The prize, under the command
of Lieut.. Bradford, Of the United States
Navy, arrived at Charleston on the 9th
August, when the negroes, three hundred
and six in number. were delivered into
the custody of the U. S. Marshal for the
district of South Carolina.
They were first placed in Castle Pinck-
ney, and afterwards in Fort Sumpter, for
safe keeping; and were detained there
until the 10Th September, when the sur
vivors, two hundred and seventy-one in
number, were delivered on board the
United States steamer Niagara, to be
transported to the coast of Africa, under
the charge of the agent of the U. States,
pursuant to the provisions of the act Of
the Sd March, 1919, Gin addition to the
acts prohibiting the slave trade" Under
the I'd section of this act, the President
is authorized to make such regulations
and arrangements as he may deem expe-
dent, for the safe keeping, support and re-
moval beyond the limits of the U. States,
of all such negroes. mulattoes, or persons
of color" captured by vessels of the Uni
ted States, as may be delivered to the
marshal of the district into which they
are brought ''and to appoint proper
person or persons residing upon the coast
of Africa, as agent or agents for receiv-
ing the negroes, mulattoes or persons Of
color, delivered from on board vessels
seized in the prosecution of the slave
trade by commanders of the United States
armed vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose as to the
true construction of this act 1t is quite
clear from its terms that the President
was authorized to provide "for the safe
keeping, support and removal of those
negroes up till the time of their delivery
to the agent on the coast of Africa but |
no express provision was made for their
protection and support after they had
reached the place of their destination.
Still an agent was to be appointed to re-
ceive them in Africa; and it could not
have been supposed that Congress intend
ed he should desert them at the moment
they were received and turn them loose
on that inhospitable coast to perish for
want of food, or to become again the VIC
tins of the slave trade. Had this been
the intention Of Congress, the employ
ment of an agent to receive them, who
is required to reside on the coast, was I'M
necessary, and they might have been land
ed by our vessels anywhere in Africa and
left exposed to the sufferings and the fats
which would certainly await them.
Mr.. Monroe, in his special message Of
18th December, 1919, at the first session
after the act was passed, announced to
Congress what, in his opinion. was its
true construction. He believed it to be
his duty under it, to follow those unfor-
Inmates into Africa, and make provision
for them there, until they should be able |
to provide for themselves. In commuHi- |
eating this Interpretation of the act to
Congress, he stated that some doubt had
been entertained as to its true intent and
meaning. and he submitted the question
to them so that they might, should it he
deemed advisable, amend the same before
further proceedings are had under it."
Nothing was done by Congress to explain
the act, and Mr.. Monroe proceeded 10
carry it into execution according to his
own Interpretation. This, then, became
the practical construction.
When the Africans from on board the
Echo were delivered to the Marshal at
Charleston, it became my duty to con-
slider what disposition ought to be made