Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-20
The Slave Trade.

The idea Of reopening the slave-trade was
placed prominently before the southern mind
by Governor Adams, in his message to the
Legislature of South Carolins, some four years
ago. Since that time, 1t has been secretly
cherished by few minds, which seem to have
spent all their energy in devising some mode
by which the result could be attained without
an open violation Of the Consultation of the
United States. During the last session of Ire
Legislature Of Mississippi, q bill was prepared
BY Mr.. Henry Hughes, and presented TO that
body, which, 1t was urged, would legitimatize
and moralize the importation Of negroes from
Africa. The scheme embraced by this bill was
simply the introduction of negroes Is emigrant
apprentices, upon pretty much the same prin-
cipleas that set on foot by the French Emperor,
to remain as such for fifteen years, trusting to
the State Legislature, at the expiration of that
time, to fix the status of the negro. This bin
failed before the Mississippi Legislature. A
similar project has been presented TO the Legis-
lature Of Louisiana, now in session, which, %
announced BY telegraph yesterday morning, has
been adopted by the House branch Of that As
sembly. The subject Is thus assuming tang
ible and substantive shape.
At the organization of the Government by
the adoption of the Federal Constitution, Con-
gress was prohibited from passing any laws
against the migration or importation Of such
persons as any Of the States now Chem exist
ing shall think proper to admit, prior to the
year 1908" At the expiration OF that time,
Congress passed law prohibiting such migra-
ton, or importation, and declaring il piracy.
This was the death blow to the slsve-traie,
and where and whenever 1t has been practiced
since, il was in violation of the law, and in the
la .f h.. L. - n A.
denunciation and criminality, It Is proposed 10y
the Louisiana Legislature 70 import negroes as
apprentices for limited pen iod, and then fix
Of the Legislature, or the people. This Is un-
ical ethics established and observed by many
Of our southern MN, as well as Of the North.
How II will tally with the code of moral ethics
established by an honest an enlightened con.
science, 1t is not our present purpose TO dis
euss-our main object being to present the
facts.
In the meantime, il is stated by the New
Orleans Delta that the African slsve-trnde Ia
actually in extensive operation on the cost Of
Mississippi The Delta Is careful not TO en-.
press any great at this state of Affairs
but is equally careful not 10 express any dis.
appreciation off The facts are detailed with
something of gusto, and with marked partic-
ularity ss TO the means to be employed TO SUD-
press mutiny and exposure, a. well rs the hcil.
tiles for secresy offered by the Mississippi coast
and the convenience Of distribution by Pearl
river, which travcrses the State from its center
to the Gulf The enumeration of the enormous
profits is not overlooked, and the conclusion Ia
that the question Is not whether there shall be-
. supply Of African labor, but whether the sup
ply shall be made Legitimate, regular, and equal.
We very much question the truth Of the Dela's
information as TO the facts !; we have no thought
that the trade isso extended as these statements
would indicate. II may be possible that some
Of our shrewd ses-fearing Yankee friends of the
North have run in small cargo Of Africans.
into the ports Of Mississippi, and availed them.
selves Of the advantages Of Pearl river for d.
tribution but it is impossible for No 10 believe
that such hcommerceise either regularor common
We hope never to see the South, or any DOR
ton of it engaged in, or upholding others en-
gained in, . business which il Denounced a.
piracy by the highest law Of the land. While
the South continues q part Of the Union, let
her obey the Constitution and laws of the
Union. II is the only mode by which she can
stay in the Union with honor, and it is the only
mode by which she can 70 out Of the Union
with honor. -NasAvilk Patriot.