The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-07
THE DTSPATCH IL.
rsmNrrNuED raoM rIRsf pAak.

thia Ht0XtA HHTtt3sf. &tth3ut ". 4
t,snsr description. Under the preseat tne
expense 20 the government e greay i, sch w
h,cies A. will accommodate pa sengefs ans wiz
he done without par from the Depaf.meht over ~
rosAs where the travel VIII fe"'a''e'"''' ''e
aese Recommendations deserve the grave eonsid
efauua a oas en your attention 20 the const, ne
s,on al the Psefsc railroad Time and REELECTION |
have ba. .sives &c whsh y anse on t
sun,sct in my last annual message, TO winch eeg
leave respectfully 70 refer. ,,,,. ....,..
eor ,his government 10 exercise the power al con
ssruetng she Pacific Railroad By its own immediate
~ the executive 70 dangerous extent, and in
troduoe system Of yehetns ans eorrupifon, which
no vigilance On ~ part - ieaeral 9nSals eouid
the Keen eye aud active aud careful supervision OF
individual interest The coastFuetien of this road
ought therefore, 30 be committed to companies fn'
COZ poratcd BIZ the States, ether agencies whose
pecuniary interests would be directly involved
Congress might often assist ihen 10 the work by
r,Anss of land or Of money or o both, under such
conditions and restrictions Gil would secure the
transportation OF troops an munitions of war free
from aay charge and that Of the United States mail
alta fair and reasonable p Ice.
Ihs progress OF events ssEcs the commencement
81 your iasa ssss'sn has saq~n nom soon a.Ses
At that time such read was Gesmtd by wise and
patriotic men to be visionary project. The great
distance 10 be overcome sad The inters enlag noun
tsins and deserts IN tie way were obstacles which.
In the oriaaoa Of many, could not be surmounted-
ssses II has bssn iscoSersa are far les. foris.
BILE than they supposed % be; snd mai, stages
With passenger. now pass and repass regularly
twics . week, by q common wagon road between
san n Ancisco and 81. Louis and Memphis, IN less
than twenty Eve days. The service has been n reg
u.ariy trmed. as was in FOL mer years between
whist aiscIaiming sill authority 10 appropriate
money for the construction OF this roti except that
derived from the warnskiDg power oi the constiu
ton there are Important Lateral considers ons
urging Us to undertake the WORK as speedily POS
The first and most iaomcntous Of these is that
such e-xo&3+s<esiid be apowerini bond Of union be-
tween the States east aud wet OF the Rocky Noun
tains. This is &c fsvdent as TO require illus
trstion.
s.der this the great Gzes'isn of the day. Wi h the
eastern trout Of our republic stretching along toe
Atlantic aud its western front along the Pacific if
all the parts should be united by safe, easy ana
rapid intercomm uncatioD We must necessarily com.
m and VERY large proportion OF the trade b5th OF
Europe and Asia. Our recent treaties with China
and japan will open these rich and ropulous en-
pires to commerce; and the history OF the world
proves tn 1t the nation which has gained possession
Of the trade with Eastern Asia, has always become
wealthy and powerful. The peculiar geogra phcal
position of California and our Pacific possessions,
invites American capital and enterprise into this
fruitful field To reap the rich harvest howe err il
indispensable prerequisite, that we shall first
have railroad to convey and circulate its products
throughout every portion of the Union Besdes
such q railroad through our temperate latitude
which would net be impaded by the fros.s and
mer weuld attract to itself much OF the travel anI
the trade of all nations. pas ing betwe Europe ID
Asia.
On the 2lst of August last, Lieut. J. N Matt. a
tbs United states brig Dolphin captured the SLAYER
"Ech.." ttormeriy the Putnam OF New urleans
th ian three hundred African negroes Oh board. The
prize. under the command of Lieut. Bradford of the
18th Augdy; when TIE negroes, three hundred and
six in number. we're delivered into the custody OF
the United States marshal for the district Of South
iar lima hay paT hrSf MIA f, ITO
ney, and afterwards ia Fort sumter for safs-k
and were detained thers until tbs l9sh September
IN number. were delivered on board the United
States steamer Niagara, to be transported to the
United States pu suant TO the provisions Of the act
of Sd March, 1879 in addition 10 this acts prohi..
ing the slave trade" Under the "a section Of this
act the President is "suthorizsi to make such rs-
Ruatiors and ARA g9msntS as hs maj DEAN e1pe-
dent, for the safe keeping support aud removal be-
You'd the limits of the United States, of all such n :
groes muiattoes, or persons OF color" captured hy
vessels Of the United states as may re delivered 70
the marshal Of the district into which they are
brought; 'and to appoint proper person or pei-
sons residing upon the Coast OF africa as agent or
agents for receiving the negroes. muattces or per-
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 to the true con-
struction Of this act. It quite clear from its
terms that the President WAS authorized to provide
'1for the safe keeping. support, and removal" OF
these negroes up ill the time Of their delivery 10
provision made for their protection and sup.
port after they had reached the place of their des-
tinstion. Still, an agent was to be appointed 20
receive them In Africa; and it could not have been
suoposed that Congress intended he should desert
them at the moment they we're received and turn
them loose that inhospitabie to perish for
want of food, TO become again tho victims of tha
slave trade. Had this been the intention of Con
gress, the employment of agent to receive
them. who is required TO reside on the coast. was
unnecessary, and they might have been landed
bv our vessels anywhere in Africa. and left ex-
posed to the suferings and the fate which would
certainly await them.
Mr.. Monroe, in his special message Of II peceu-
Dor, iSl9 at the first session after the act was
passed, ANNOUNCED to Congress what, in bis opin-
ION, was its true construction. He believed it to
be his duty under it, to follow these unfortunases
into Africa. and make provision for them there
uu IL shey should be able to provide for themselves
In communicating this Interpretation of the
act to Congress- he stated that some doubt had
been entertained as to its true intent and mean
ing, and be submitted the questoa to them, so
that they might, ''should it be deemed advisable.
amend tho same before further proceedings are
had under it," Nothing was done by Congress to
expiain the act. and Mr.. Monroe proceeded to car
nv it into execution according to his own inter-
rre,ation. This, then. became the practical con-
s,rnc,iou. When the Africans from on board the
Echo were delivered to the marshal at Cha, lesion
AZ hsc ame my duty to consider what dispostion
ouph, to be made of them under the law. For
mauy reasons, it was expedieut to remove them
from that locality as speedily as possible AL.
though the conduct Of the authorities and citizens
of Charleston, in giving cUunterauce to the
execution of the law, was just what might have
been expected from their high character. VI,
a prolonged continuance of three hundred Afri-
cans in the immediate vicinity of that city could
not have failed to become IA source Of ipconye.
nience and anxiety to its inhabitants Where
To send them, was the question. There was no
n rtiou of the coast OF Afric,, TO which thev
rould be removed with any regard to hum8ni.
" except to Liberia Under these cireumstances
an agreement was entered into with the Colon.
station Society on the 9TH of September last. a |
copy of which is herewith transmitted. under
which the Society engaged, for the consideration
of f,rty.fve thousand dollars, TO receive thesa
Africans in Liberia from the agent of the United
Rtates aud furnish them during the period of |
one wear thereafter, with comfortable shelter
clothing, provisions, and medical attendance |
causing the children TO receive schooling; aud all
whether children or adults, to be instructed in |
the arts of civilized life, suitable TO their ronai
ton. This aggregate OF forty five thousand dollars
was basel upon an allowance of one hundred and |
nifty dollars for each Individual, and there has
been considerable mortality among them and |
may be more before they reach Africa, the society
have agreed, 10 an equitable spirit, to make sucb a |
deduction from the amount, rs under the circuu-
stances msy appear just and reasonable. This |
cannot be fixed until We shall ascertain the actuai
number which may become charge TO the |
society.
1t Was also distinctly agreed, that, under no |
circumstances shalt this government be called
upon for any additional expenses.
The agents Of the society man tested LANDAU.
dssire to conform to the wishes of tho govern. |
ment, throughout the transaction Thev as. |
sured mo that. after careful calculation. thew |
would be required to expead tho sum Of Que |
hundred and fifty dollars on each indiyidnot in
complying with tue agreement, and they wouid |
have nothing left to Temunerate them fur rhair |
care. trouble end responsibility. AtaiI events |
could make no better arrangement, and thersw.s |
no other alternative During the nerird ~.
the government itself. through it's own arants
undertook theAask Of providing for cantnrss SIS, |
groes in Africa, the cost per head was yery m.ch
greater. Soo
alton applicable to this purpose, / eop,d az.
advance any money on the agreement. ! ths rot
fore recommend that an appropriation NAV e.
made OF the amount necessary TO carry IL int