Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-05
FRIDAY, MARCH S, 1858.
The slave Trade.

The Slave Trade.
The idea of re-opening the sIave-trade was
placed prominently before the Southern mind
by Gov. ADAMS, in a message TO the Legisla-
ture of South Carolina, some four wears ago.
Since that time, it has been secretly cherished
by few minds, which seem to have spent all
their energy in devising some mode by which
the result could be attained without an open
violation of the constitution of the United
states During the last session of the Legis-
lature of Mississippi, bill was prepared by
Mr.. HENRY HUGHEs and presented to that
body, which it was urged, would legitimatize
AID moralize the importation of negroes
from Africa. The scheme embraced by this
bill was simply the introduction of negroes as
emigrant apprentices, upon pretty much the
some principle as that set on foot by the
French Emperor, to remain as such for fifteen
years, trusting to the State Legislature, at the
expiration of that time, to fix the atortus of the
negro. This bill failed before the Mississippi
Legislature. similar project has been pre-
scented to the Legislature of Louisiana, now
in sessian, which, as announced by telegraph
yesterday morning, has been adopted by the
House branch Of that Assembly. The subject
is thus assuming tangible and Substantive
shape.
AT the organization of the government by
the adoption of the Federal Constitution. Con-
gress was prohibited from passing any laws
against the Emigration or Importation of such
persons as any Of the States now (then) exist
ing shall think proper to admit prior 10 the
year lo0S." At the expiration of that time.
Congress passed law prohibiting such mgra-
ton or importation, and declaring it piracy.
This was the death-blow to the slave-trade.
and where and whenever,it has been practced
since, it was in violation of the law, and IN
the language of the law, piracy. To evade
this denunciation and criminality, it is pro-
posed by the Louisiana Legislature to import
negroes as apprentices for "A limited period.
and then to fix the social status. in accordance
with the wishes of the Legislature or the
people. This is unquestionably in keeping
with the code of political ethics established
and observed by many of our southern men,
as well as of the North How il will tally
with the code of moral ethics established by
an honest and enlightened conscience it is
not our present purpose to discuss-our main
object being to present the facts
In the meantime, it is stated by the n. O.
Delta, (whose article we reprint in another
column Of this days P,rRIoT) that the Afri-
can slave-trade is actually in extensive opera
ton on the coast of Mississippi. The Del
ia Is careful not to express any great satisfac-
ton at this state of affairs; but is equally
careful not to express any disapprobation of
1t. The facts are detailed with something of
gusto, and with marked particularly as to
the means to be employed to suppress mutiny
aud exposure, as well as the facilities for Sc
cresy offered by the Mississippi coast, and the
convenience of distribution by Pearl river,
which traverses the State from its centre to
the Gulf. The enumeration of the enormous
profits is not overlooked, and the conclusion
ID that the question is not whether there shall
be supply of African labor, but whether the !
supply shall be made legitimate, regular and |
equal We very much question the truth of |
the Deita's information as TO the facts: we |
have no thought that the trade is SO extended !
as these statements would Indicate Ii may |
be possible that some of our snrewd sea-faring /
Yankee friends of the North have run ia q J
small cargo Of Africans, into the ports of !
Mississippi, and awaited tn mseves of the adj |
Vantages OF Pearl river for dis .rbution; but il |
is impossible for us to ,lieve that such com
merce is either regular or common. We hope /
never to see the South Or any portion of it,
engaged in, or upholding others engaged in. IA |
businesss which is denounced ;,s piracy by |
the highest law of the land. While The South !
continues part of the Union let her obey the |
constitution and laws of the Union 1t is the /
only mode by which she can stay in the Union .
with honor, and it is the only mode by which |