Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-04-17
lF.aro the Attakaphz RegIstsr-s
The African Apprentice sc1en2e'

VIZ publish to-day, on the outside OF OH
rcrer. the famous African Bill. with the re-
nort Of the Special Committee OF the Senate
| r. which il was referred. The bill ~ It's
resent defective shape passed the House OF
Representatives by Il very large yote,.ao % -
but was very properly killed Oh u the zen.
, ate #
II r1isst be plainly apparent to=evefy TN
| preituiiced mind tIistthis is bit an attempt
| to revive the slave trade under a disguise
! and to grant the authority OF the State to per.
| SOUS to engage In a business the Legality o.
wbi.h is as yet extremely doubtful, and winch
| NAV be in violation OF the statutes Of the
| United States, *
The proposition is by no means a new one
| II we remember rightly, a similar scheme
was proposed in the Southern Commercial
| Convention a few years since. but was then
| regarded as visionary, and unlikely to be put
in Practice. The suggestions then thrown
| ont seem now TO have assumed \ tangible
| fcrfa not only in our own State, but also IN
! WisSissipDi. In both States the proposition
was defeated in Louisiana by the indeinits
| postpouement OF the bill, and in Mlssiss1ppl
| by the adjournment Of the Legislature before
| any action was taken, it having been intro
| duced but a day OF two previous thereto
The bill in its present shape purports to be
| for The purpose Of granting the authority Of
the State OF Iot,siana to certain persons Tor
| the Importation into the State O t5;5o0 free
black ADORE rs,to be lndentured as apprentices
| for d period Of years not less than fifteen.
The statutes of the United States make it
| unlawful for any person to import into the
United States or Territoriasa any Eesfoor free
| person Of color, with the intention Of selling
or holding such person to service ollabor.
How lar this la" may be applicable to the
Importation Of negroes from the coast OF
Africa, to be ind entnJed as apprentices, We
, are not prepared aoW to venture an opinion,
Ihe United States are also bound BY ~tEeaties
with France and England, to dlscc'ntenance
and put down the SLAVE trade.
The friends OF the bill assume the POSITION
that the Act Of Congress mentioned above,
and our treaty stipuEatioEs with France and
England, apply only to the importation OF
slaves or persons held to involuntary servl-
tu1e and that France being already engaged
in the Importation Of CooE!es from Asia into
her colonies, and England proposing to adopt
the same course for her West India possess
ions. the Federal Government should throw
10 obstacle in the way OF the souther States
procuring a supply Of Ia borers from the coast
Of Africa, especially as tbs immigration is to
be voluntary on the part OF the Africans
Whether d contract made with the sHYages
Of Africa conld be considered as legally or
morally binding, we very much doubt the
important question as to whether TING itlnai-
grafton Oil their part was voluntary or forced,
must necessarily be settled in the Southern
States, and by our own courts.
Accounts have been for some tine rife that
a cargo has already been landed onthe shores
Of the State Of Mississippi; but the extror-
binary tales told RESPECTING their disposition
~genfaers The statement rather doubtful.
Could the fact be established that such !nl-
portation had really been made, il would
create an excitement in the free States TN
paralleled in the history Of our country, and
the already weakened bonds tdat unite the
Northern and Southern States would be at
once sHepped sunder-
The question is one OF inportance. rregg-
nant with great results, and should he freely
aud calmly discussed in all lis bearings aud
relations before any further steps are taken.
The re-opening ot the slave trade mas been
seriously discussed by the press oi the South,
especially III those States bordering Oh the
Guil, aud has found many warm and earnest
supporters, aHd must become d prominent
u. discussion tof tEe future. We CORE
the bill an1 Thpov. 70 tho cool consul
GRAFTON Of our readers,