The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-07
From the South Side (VaD Democrat
SLAVE TRADE AND PIRACY-A NoN-sEQUI
TUR

While we regard the existing laws with re-
gard to the slave trade as seriously defective
involving as they do upon the Government both
odiCus duties and oEerous expenses, to secure
very doubtful benefits, We feel compelled to OBJ
iect TO 3 comparison between the trade in slaves
between the States, and the slave trade so-called,
which subjects both to whatever odum may at
tach 10 one. TO say nothing more, this idea
demands, as necessity, that every opponent of
the slave trade on moral grounds, to be consist
ent, must equally oppose the commerce in slaves
between the Southern States. We should deep.
iy regret the prevalence of any such impression
1t could but enhance the antagonism which ex.
Ists SO largely and 20 unre asonaby, as we think,
in lie Northern States, to the institution of the
South, and bring into disrepute a large and re.
spectacle body OF Southern gentlemen, as sound
and reliable in their views Of the domestic in
stituiion any men in the South, who think
the slave trade from Africa, per Sc, wrong, in.
dependent of material injuries which might &C.
crue from lis revival.
/; is undoubtedly true that the condition OF
the black race IN Africa is infinitely inferior to
that Of the slaves OF the South. The latter have
been advanced in the scale of civilization by
contact with tie white man and subsection 10
him Infinitely beyond what they would have
been, it lett 10 their native barbarism. No body
Of naiive Africans show at this minute the
smallest superiority TO their traditional barbar
ism, while tie African slaves of this continent
are niose happy AS men, more useful as labor
ers, and more enlightened as Christians, than
they could possibly have bsen but for their
present relation. To restrict the commerce in
them between the States would not only be
volative Of rights but largely destructive of this
condition of things-securing no possible pur
pose OF advancement to the slaves themselves
and, IN many instances, so reducing their value
as 10 lessen the influence Of personal Interest
for the security of their happiness and the pro
lection Of their comfort. This commerce simpl,
transfers the slave from one field of labor tc
another, surrounding him all the while with the
same laws, and subjecting him to precisely the
same influences in the place to which he goe,
as in that whence he comes.
Il is the simple transfer of property.
The slave trsde-that which is denounced Al
piracy by TIE law-hss no such feature in il
Its denuncialion as piracy, whether justifab
or not, on a careful and calm investigation, ha
at least o show of reason-both from the cruel
ties which have always attended the traffic, pei
petrated by the trader himself, and from th
barbsriiies it perpetustes in Africa. If tb
trader, fer the sake of gain, can do half what
alleged against him, packing his human carg
with the Indifference he would show to mani
mate objects, crowdiug his decks to take th
chances Of life and death for a heavy freight
what must be the temptation to the bsrbarou
chiefs who furnish his cargoes? 1t is becaus
the trade perpetuates the bsrbsrism of Africa
gives rise TO tie wars which desolate her, an,
Iempts the cruelties from which Slavery is g
vast relief, that the moral objections to th
African slsve trade are urged.
We confess ttat We do not think the conclu
sion just one-that the slave trade shout,
take the grade of piracy because of these objec
tions-yet still they are strong enough TO show
that though the African slave trade be so dc
nounced, 1t is a nOn-sequitsr, that any rehee
ton IN Slavery in The south or the commerc
in sla ses here is intended, or follows as mai
ural consequence.