New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-07
The africa, Apprentice B,lr.


The following article from the Houma (Terrebonne
Parish) Ceres Of the 2Fth u is vigorously and ably
written and IS entitled to that consideration which
ability combined With honesty Of purpose, should
always command. The Parish Of TerTebonne is a
wealthy and populous sugar growing parish, and the
Ceres is its newspaper organ, With this brief preface
we submit the article ii question;
AFRICAN IhMIGRATlos. We publish in another
column the unanimous report Of the special committee
of the State Senate 10 which referred the bill
providing tor the importation Of twenty-five hundred
African apprentices. The c0mmitlee--eomposed in
differently OF able and distinguished Senators from
both parties-pFeseut in their report a condensed,
lucid and ananswerabe exposition OF the reasons
which imperatiyely dictate the early adoption Of
policy winch alone elevate from that condition
Of material decfepitudb and political tuteage which
have been the inevitable result OF our being cut of
from the natural supply of lab0ring hands from the
coast oil Africa Aldan labor, by reason of its exor
bitaut and still Increasing price, Is becoming day by
day more aud more copcentrated in the hands Of a
wealthy Few, II Is becoming progressively inaccessible
70 men Of small meanA and consequently, as an inst-
tuition 1t must-if ID rapid progress towards the
character OF monopoly be not checked and counter
acted-hnally lose its hold upon the popular heart
and instead OF being hs it has been in the past aud
still continues To be, b mighty bond of unity among
our people, It will degenerate into an element aught
with unnnmbered peflls.
The language use like the thought 1t conveys is
harsh and dsagreeabib but II is strict expression OF
the truth, and no onh who has seriously reflected
upon the logical course of events as seen in the past
evoiutions OF the institution of slavery beheld in
the future by the light of dxed laws OF political econ
omy can entertain doubt that every legislative mea-
sure every financial movement, every political aeci-
dent tending 10 vest, In small number of masters,
the ownership OF SLAVES together with the obligation
OF perpetuating theirserviude, weakens, endangers
d0oms onr Institution 10 ultimate destruction that on
the other hand everything that tends to dlfuse to
popuiarze, TO bind tothe peoples interests aud, as
consequence, to popular Instincts to universal alec
tion aud enthusiasm, The unrivaled system OF labor,
the magnificent scheme of social snb0rdnation which
Southern society has developed, ortes aud renders
lnpregnable the citadel or Southern civilization.
The truth Of the PROPOSITION Is too obvious to call for
demonstration. With no extraordinary supply Of
negro laborers from abroad, in few years the puT
chase OF valuable slave will be unattanable except
by the wealthy, in whose possession will thus by the
force Of circumstances, up estates Of enormous
magnitude, at variance with the general veal and not
altogether consistent with the genius Of republican
institutions such Is the language OF the elaborate
document 20 which we invite the attention Of our
readers.
Men who live only III the present tense who revel.
ing in the opulence Of an exclusive participation ia
the tributes Of WHAT'S absurdly denomnated our
peculiar institution nay, with that tenacty OF ogy
Ism which eharacterites the Belshazzars Of every M
ton, Ignore the writing the wall which conveys in
lts menace promise Of redemption or cry, :" apres
mos le delugeH But those who are sufficiently wise
ana unsehsh 10 thi4k OF the future, TO dwell upon
the destinles Of their chldrens children, will not
grQyel 10 such narrow and gloomy exclusigeness will
not hesitate at the charge that would save nor
snfnk from the sacrhce that will be the cornerstone
Of future salvation.
Il history maniidsts with higher certainty any
truth before all othets II Is that no institution ever
peisnes rom external attack, bat is gradnally under
mined, corr0ded and passes away under the nsdious
lnnuences OF Its o*n interested partisans aud its
NATURAL defenders Is tear II Is moral treason 1t is
ainthearteuness IL the lack Of bold initiative that
nfst disgrace an Institution, and then destroy IT, APP.
plying that well known principle to the facts OF
siavsry and believing that the institution OF African
slavery Is the most oenehcent institution that ever
existeu upon eafthI convinced that 1t is perfect
scheme ordained BY Providence for the nal reconei
atioh q That great conflict between Labor and Can
itai. which has agtated the world with periodical
Iesoutlons, ana nltd \ with misery from the begin
hng-oeheving y 70 he OF divine origin, 1t will en-
cure forever with still Increasing benefits to the
human race Win progressively less Of those features
OF occasional vice and cruelty with which it some
ZINES associated, Until Its benehcent character will be
made patent TO the world and commend it TO univer.
sa adoption 10 every region to which Is adapted
Such 4 the future which spreads itself before that
institution, and nothing prevent the realization
ol us nigh destinles unless they are thwarted by
me sluggish ndineence or the culpable want OF Faith
OF tne present genftation OF American shareholders
IL = painful 10 make such confession but Il Is too
TUE that large ass Of shareholders do not under
sana tne nature The Institution whose desii-
ne they preside md entertain lurking doubts OF its
sselac. leeiumaeF. VI late years the progress OF
discussion and The lights thrown unon the snbiect
have decreased that class ana lie yhoia ce,n,h
ueoomipg more hnd more alive to the true position
OF thlngs aud Instead Of clinging as Of old TO The
y, alone pohcf, and depncatng in favor OF our
South is beginning boldly 10 yindcase 10 49,, ~. ~,
ness Of slavery and its political necesst ny ~;
tuition Is daily rising nom ia ancient a
nAsuness !. y Reginning TO live aud move 10 feel
lne MANI o. llimIable expansion. Its power Of ex
Ps'aa W. p'osss E's vtality and endurance. Those
VINO tnink and labor for the future feed the Increasing
Necessity OF giving the institution broader basis IL
the popular heart; they know that I'D @ $3.50 y
conditional upon its nniyersalitv W. 80 y
slaseholong people You hold your destinies IN
your own hands II you are weak, you will fam but
its logical consequences, ii believing saver - y
right, you seek 10 dfuse its BLESSINGS to nsr Il ,h
heritage Of your race, rather than the ephemeral
monopoly OF thd present, no enemies from sheS
can shake the strength Of your position SIsyars
stands on rock which none but Southern hands ca5
move
a..4.t.. III. 49,. a. L