The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-18
THE SLAVE TRADE QUESTION IN THE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE

LEGISLATURE
We have received from the capital of Texas
tho report of the Special Committee to whom
referred the resolutions, introduced some
time since into the House of Representative of
the Texas Legislature by Mr. Brown of Galvas-
ton, recommending the reopcning of the African
Slave Trade. The report is of considerable
length, and rs q treatise on Slavery and Slavery
agitation in the United States and Great Britain,
is able and thorough. Appended to the report
the celebrated letters addressed about
twelve years ago. by ex-G"vcrnor (mow Senator)
Hasnnond. Of South Carolina, to Mr. Clarks"m
of the British Parliament, one Of the leaders of
the jamaica emianci patton scheme and also II
brief but able essay by DR.. Cartwright, of this
city, on the anatomy and physiology of The
gre, showing him To bc Of IN inferior race which
fnds i'll slavery its na,ura! relation to the white
R.au.
So far, the report il sound and uncxcep,iona-
Mes It's facts are historical. Ils arguments con-
elusive. But the Committee fater when they
encounter the practical question Of the re- olmI-
ing Of the African Slave Irndc: they shrink
from the logical application of the very principle
they have So ably defended and So fully ciuc,la-
ted. They seem to think tho problem of the
Slave Tradct is an admirable thin.--a mental
stimulant-cNcrllcnt stuff for rxro-itut,nn in the
closet-a fine staple for newspaper articles and
pamphlet essays but, nh! wcll.t sdav! it is too
tender yet i'll their "p,ni"n, I" bear the test ni
II practical solution beneath the noon..lay sum-
where broad rivers flow and fertile lands ext nd
themselves and invite cultivation. They saw:
- so far rs humanity, and the essential aud ur.-
teal workings Of oursv$rm of Slavery are CON
cerned, there can be do douh. that the purchaS"
nnd transfer of negroes. held in slavery 10y their
own race in Africa (as the ma inrtv of Them are;
to this country, would be colucivc To the li"l
est attalnablc good of the Negro" .' Bu,' say
the Committee little further along ":,s has
been shown i'll the preceding pages OF this report.
our country has passed through IL rcmnrkab!r
ordeal III the last thiriy or forty Years: it is .vi
dent the public mind of the country is not pre-.
pared for such IL measure AT this tin"--n"r has
ITS proPrcty been generally discussed in llr,
Sonth, or III unr own State.
Whcrcf"rc the Committee. frightened at III.
shadow OF that ri;,nia>:lIal u.hrar, public
opinion, recommend that no action be- taken on
the subject ly the Texas LEGISLATURE, thus; .Ih.
institution, resting upon the brn,.l,.st foundations
al WISDOM shedding its blessings upon millions
"f negroes, who would otherwise he in the most
wrctched condition attending any race of human
beings: and imiusng ynuthiui yi.."r and vitality
INTO all modern nations open TO the peaceful ms.
Hions Of commerce, civilization and Christ iani,v
bringing all nations into cl,,s"r fellowship, and
e'rvatIig lhc n,n>Scs wherever its nt,r.uc. is
frit)-it follows that the main question rrrsrn.
Ted to the Committee by the resolution is strictly
one of public pulley and rxrr,iirncv. IN view.
therefore, of all the facts stated, aud Others WORTHY
OF considerations, the Committee. after mature
consideration, recommend that no action be taken
oil the sui. l.irct.'
The Committee, il is seen. fall iut" the CON.
mon error OF separating principle and policy,
theory ana practice. Truth, however, admits ui
no such division il is and nscI,ar;,bl. and
action Is nwavs its wise. legitimate and s:uurv
complement. The invention Of man draws dis
tinctloiS which have no existence in Gods uni
Yersal law. That law Is harmonious 1t Ire.
clndes the possibility "f c"u, h",wrcn its parts.
And looks upon justice, duty aud h"nrvo!cncc, as
one thlhS wiih wiSl''m, policy, cXl,"dicncy and
Hafl'he.S st tl: transfer "f the negro from Ai.
'aca I" tue G''it"d States, is u slave. would con
d"c" L" ms 'hI.h,st a';aina!.e good, it could
not he rr'"luc'iv: "f haim to The white man and
II the introduction Of the negro is attended as |
me Commute admit, with highly sanitary r.- |
SUNS 10 cvIH 'tl"n. c'inm"Irc and social i'm |.
III" Question can not b." one cxclu- /
f'vcly of 'puhlic policy and rxpc.l,rncy," in |
contradsiinclion from ,lury aud niiy.,inn To t
grant that Slavery is n jus, ;,,,.l wholesome in. !
tttuti"li To grant that the rc"p.niny OF the ,
Slave Trade, is Il necessary condition Of III.
susteh'ation and prrpctuaiion "f Slavery, is to
grant That duty rs well polio" requires tina,
IN immediate effort should be made to effect the
of the Slave Trade.
EHpediency flows from principle. not princi-
F'e from rNpc"cncy; and rXpr.!irncv cannot |
conflict with pr!nciI., any than :, cornIlarv
ian conflict with the princi,l r"postion- !
ct Tile Texas Committee separate the prInci,,lr
VI the Slave Trade from "puhlic policy and rx-
pedlency.' and from considerations relating to !
The latter advise the Texas Legislature. 10 take !
no " ac''on III reference To the r""pcnmg Of the
African Slave Trade. They assign, us we have
before seen, the unpr"parrdnrsS Of the public |
h'hd as a reason for present naction in regard |
10 the matter. This is Il common mistake Of |
statesmen and lawmakers. The public mind is |
more intelligent aud acute, and has more apii. |
ude for grasp:ng Il general truth. and tracing
ne relation between policy and principle. than |
and Legislators imagine In fact, it, is |
upon principles, and upon details that the public
minds runs most naturally and vigorously. II !
IS always ready to recognize Il great truth and /
:" justly all expcdcn,s conducivc To its prac,i-
:al Development The political leader who has
lie mora! courage To stand by In. truth at oIl !
hazards. will scarcely he deserted by the pcn.
pie. but it he doubts the intrinsic strength of !
he truth and waits for the people to proclaim it ,
WIN nninistnkab.c vocf.ra,ion, the pro,,
N turn will doubt him and reject his coun-
,cls.
Waiting, waiting, ever wailing! seems to he !
nc curse Oi the South How long will we drift !
llong under hum drum policy. and into what
Dead Sea will we float, or in what vortex will
Te be engnlphcd at last 2 How lonr will our
'''b!c men be i'll learning that to conceive truth
y but the beginning Of craftsmanship, but thnt
o ecf Ike truth, and that Instantly, is the COM
,iet'on u wisdom and The fnlfilimcnt of duty!
he SatesInaa ought to blush who avows II prin
'P'e' and yet GeY'alrs Of its application. When
iee lalts and raltcrs, and. waIting for The pco.
ne 10 do what duty requires him to undertake.
alks cui,iing!y about public p,Ii1y aud expcdi.
:ncy. be assured he habbcs Let him blush
'et him give place to those who tiiuL tl,at when
man has work to do. he is never greater than
when doing it or at least attempting it, and de-
'eryng, if not achieving success.
Distingnishcd Deaths Idroad-'rhe Arabia
rings news of the deaths Of several persons who
rave held conspicuous positions in Europe Fred
erick William Louis, GRIND Duke of Baden died
IN the 2lst of January. lie was born Sertcm.
Der 9th, 1926, succeeded rs regent in place Of
,is brother Louis, April Gath. 1852, and was
,rnofnH Grand Nm l,,,