New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-19
THE AFRICAN APPRENTICE BILL.

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| THE AFRICAN APPRENTICE MEAsuRE.--Last week
we published the report submitted by Gen. Kidd aud
unanhnnsly sanctioped blythe committee appointed
I'M the State Senate to examine the movement of
which some idea may be found from the caption Of
this article. trust readers carefully perused
the document laid before them. Consider it un-
answerable in the leading features it embraces. We
promised ikewisel to give our views this measure
at the earliest opportunity which shall proceed DO
| do, and we ask a careful examination of what we
LshalI Offer. Il \ D Z. M. = " u 9 "
We desire in the outset Of this discussion to earn
eSty impress upon the public the entire absence Of
all political feeling as hitherto manifested in1the ID
vestigaton of this late policy, SO well calculated TO
affect the combined interests Of every Southern agr
culturist and manufacturer We were attentive
and close observer Of the various phases this mpor
taton scheme assumed in both branches of our Gene
raj Assembly land we speak knowingly in avowng
that men OF both. parties warmly supported the
measure. 1t will doubtless be attempted TO charaS-
terize the Apprentice bill as ant-Democratic hS
politicians before the discussion offs its merits will
have ceased their last hope of killing of this
onward step in the pecuniary independence of the
South and the equalization on a monetary basis Of
her citizens. When this sycophantic cry is raised we
shall pnhesitatingy denounce it false and untena
ble in which We will be fully able to sustain ourseIf
by reference to the journals of the last Legislature.
Having thus warned our readers against deception in
the premises, aud belitving they will fully compre
bend our motives, will enter upon the examination
of the African Apprentice measure. ss. .er
The leading idea of the proposed measure is to
gram bne the State The Importation
Of free African laborers for agricultural and other
laberng purposes to be indentured Tor term Of not
less than fifteen years or any other term the Legs
latnre may determine. The whole system may be
fully understood at single glance, the foregoing
sentence comprises everything proposed in the bill 50
maniully and eloquently advocated and SO violently
opposed in the last Legislature. 1t needs no elabc
rate calculation to rendert clear to every intelligent
mind. I srsa-a.a taa= ~ ~
Now we ask what is the practical effect of this
measure, rather what feature of State policy
does itembraceg Simpy,we reply, the repeal OF the
law of 36 forbiddng the importation Of free negroes
Had this law place on statute books but little
benefit could result from the authority il is now asked
the State should give the contemplated importation
of free Africans We cannot see how such inporta-
ton could be denied unless it might be contended
that it in violation of the Federal Constitution
which objection we shall briefly examine. we mis-
take not, the fundamental law Of the United States
nowhere positively inhbits the slave trade, much
less the importation OF free African laborers Sec
4 ton 0, art. l OF that instrument gave Congress
plenary power, after 1908, TO suppress the trade,
without however any positive and binding obligation
so to act It's mistake to suppose, as some do
that the constitution says the suppression shall be en-.
forced it is simply discretionary and even this by
implication rather than otherwise. That the section
referred to aimed at nothing but the gradual over
throw of the African slave trade is easily deduced
/ from the comments OF Judge Story thereon who dis
tnctly AYERS that this "the sole object of this
elause. Hence, free African imported into Louisi
from the shores of Africa free person to con.
tract for himself, cannot be embraced in the scope of
section of the constitution, and since we have the
best authority that said clause only looked to the
suppression Of the slave trade, all the laws of Con
gress. protesting to have force from this clause out
side of snch suppression unconstitutional and are
Of no effect as they papably violute the reserved
rights of the States. seq.
But 70 argue the constitutional point involved ia
unnecessary and has been referred to in rhis connec
ton only to eradicate some false notions entertained
1 in relation thereto
We will not insult the Southern people by refer
to the humane and philanthropic feature Of this
measure. Those who are not prepared to see and
advance this reason at first sight friends of
the slavery Of the South. The one unwilling to ac-
knowledge this, il be be stakeholder, is Que only
from circumstances and by nature is better fitted to
advocate Abolitionsm in its radical form than South
4 ern slavery in its miidest aspect
| Nothing remains to be determined now but the
policy Of the movement, considered in its influence
upon Southern slave labor and the social condition
OF our people. On this point much may be said
We could advance more than would be admissible in
one article, and hence we defer some things for f-
ture consideration and discussion. We will notice
but two arguments of the few we have heard urged
in private conversation, outside Of which we have
seen aud heard literally nothing in the least cacu-
lated to influence the Judgment of a candid mind.
First, it is urged that the border Southern States
n Maryland, Kentucky and Missour-yes, and even
the Old Dominion, must eventually yield to Adolf
ton Influences and tendencies when this proposed
importation is egalized. This we consider simply
n ridiculous for many reasons. In the first place no
measure authorizing an unlimited and ndiscriminate
importation will ever become a law. We should op-
pose policy which would food our country with
free Africans to the exclusion Of Southern bred
slaves subservent OF best interests and detr
mental to our great cause. None other than this
cond so reduce price of negroes as to render the
raising Of them Improbable. True, this importation
will cause decrease in the price of slaves and were
it not for this it would fall short of obtaining our sup
port; hut to say that the several Legislatures will
permit It to become ruino1s is nonsensical
Ia npfh uf.t
position becomes stronger. Admit the Virginian
could see profits arising from his slave trade the
result is, we find him interested in the permanency
of African slavery in his own State az his sntest Way
to enrich bis posterity and maintain his own indie
pendence. He becomes dOubly interested in the az.
ricnlural Advancement of his own State and has an
undispnted interest in her internal prosperity for pur
poses he now almost wholly dfsreuards Prices
reduced, taxation becomes less on the slave and
whereas now he is interested ia turning his negroes
into money to avoid the burden OF an ad udloYem
duty he would then see to convert his CHEAP
labOrer into money which cannot be taxed
Bat suppose we leave out both of these unansger.
able arguments, we have still another to urge. Ad
NIT that importation carries with IL the gradual dis
appearance OF slavery from the border States anG
what have we lost. Have we not gained This lat
ter question is queer one, it is true but we think
J not altogether Improbable for consideration. il
/ Maryland, colonization societies are authorized b,
the Legislature topay certain sum, sufficient fol
expectation purposes to every emancipated slave t.
be sent 20 Africa besides which others are sole
South into slavery here. Thus we find two distinct
drains noec necessarily depopulatng the negro race
in Maryland. In Missouri the stakeholder is rapidly
, converting his slaves into gold tv11hg from M
Southern planter IN unprecedented Sums. We SCI
it confidently asserted that the next Legislature OF
that State will be largely III favor of emancipation
Kentucky is in no better condition. Then does il
not appear that we are to gain when instead of ex
pending money TO help aboitionze the border States
! we invest it in smaller sums and with differen
resu Is
. We think there is no danger of Fastening the abol
ishnent OF slavery In the Border States BY tile pro
posed importation Of African apprentices.
It is urged in the second place by some that thu
poor white aborers wages must be reduced wheI
, such competition is raised up. We warn gentlemen
to be careful how they use such Abolition twadde
for this second objection can be called nothing else
1t is the Alpha aud Omega of Northern fanatics ant
is at the very foundation OF the tenets OF Black Re
publicanism.
For the present we have taxed our readers sufici
emily with what we sincerely believe they will cor
daily endorse when it is fully understood. We hav
adduced no evidences Of the incalculabe benefit w
q conceive to be embraced in this measure we hav
used only negative influence but in a snbseuuen
ssne we shall be pleased to advance something il
. favor Of African immigration. s.,.
GIPsY FIATs.-A splendid assortment of Gins
fats and other fne hats for ladies misses ogehe
with ex,erEiousk dress minss upwards Of mi
lion different kinds Of fancy goods may seen at Ii
great bazaar NJ Pine No. To- Canal street az M y