The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-03
ROGER PRYOR ON THE SLAVE TRADE.

Roger Pryor, the able editor of the Rich.
mond South, attended the recent Southern
Convention, and made dong and effective
speech against the reopening of the slave
trade with Africa. At the close of his speech,
the subjoined conqquy took place between Mr..
Pryor and Judge Jones of Georgia:
"Mr. Pryor. affirm that neither history nor
posterity would applaud us in stalking the Union
on the revival of the slave trade. Applause. I
intend no disrespect to the gentleman from
South Carolina, when l declare that it is an
unworthy issue that it is pitiful proposition /;
that it ia repugnant to the instincts of Southern
chivalry. Applause. say, it does not com
port with our dignity. Applause. If you
intend to dissolve the Union, say 80, in manly
and explicit language. Present your pream-
BILE and resolutions, and we of Virginia will be
prepared to back YOU, or to 9ire reason for
abiding in the Union. Applause Mean.
time, let me entreat you to desist from an agi-
tation which can only divide us now and dis
grace US hereafter. Applause.
Judge Jones, of Georgia. do not under
stand the gentleman fully. understand him
to say, that if the proposition be to dissolve the
Union, to dissolve it now, openly and boldly
Mr.. Pryor. say, if it be the purpose of the
gentlemen who insist upon the revival of the
slave trade to dissolve the Union, that they
should avow it at once and explicitly. Loud
Applause
Judge Jones. Then ] ask the gentleman
from Virginia whether he will 60 with US now,
to-day, for dissolution of the Union. APP.
plause.
Mr.. Pryor. This is my answer: aoU not
take a position outside Of the Union until can
90 10Th an undivided South. Applause.
a,r hat uhar civ IF
and oppression sufficient to Justify revolution,
and giye me united South, then l will be
ready to go with you. Loud applause.
Judge Jones. If the gentleman aoaits for an
undecided South he aoiH neoer go out Of the
Union. Applause.
Mr.. Pryor No, SIR. / do not think 80 mean
ly of the people of the South as to believe that
in the event of incontestable and adequate ag-
gression, any State or any man will be recreant
to the cause. l speak for Virginia when say
that she will never betrsy the interests of the
South"
Judge Jones is unquestionably right. There
will be no dissolution of the Union, if the ex.
tremists wait till the South is uaitedly in favor
of it, or when majority of slave States even
favor disunion. Two or three States are all
that will ever be found ready for such mad
scheme, and we doubt if the majority Of the
people of any State will consent seriously to
leave the Union.
The N. Y Times thinks that if Mr.. Buchan
an wants to get hold of Cuba, his best way is
to put a stop to its African slave trade.
AT present, the number of slaves imported
every year is estimated at rs, O)O. Upon every
slave imported, the Captain General receives an
ounce of gold-and still further contributions
are regularly made by the parties interested to
the members of the Spanish Government, to
secure their connivance at the traffic which
they have solemnly abolished and agreed to
suppress. There is very little doubt that eight
or ten millions of dollars are distributed every
year to high officials in the Spanish Govern
ment, out of the profits of the slave trade. And
80 long as this is the case, Mr.. Buch anan may
naturally expect to find Spain unwilling to sell
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