The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-09
RE-OPENING THE AFRICAN SLAVE
TRADE.

| hE-OPGNlNG IhE ar hiOAN OLhN
TRADE.
A correspondent of the Atlanta American
in speaking Of this subject, says: "A few
visionary Southern men, who assume to be
the especial guardians Of the South, and
wishing to manifest their peculiar devotion
to her, are discussing the pfopriay Of i'm.
porting horde of barbarians and Gannibals
into our community. Great publle benefac-
tors these, who wish 10 pour in fon society
a degraded and hateful race Of 4 nan beings,
who have resisted civilization or ages, and
now present the same gloomy, sable aspect.
Ship loads of Guinea negroes are already
being brought away from the coast of GUM
ea-a loathing and revolving spectacle Of pi-
racy in blood and money. The result would
be to depreciate the value of the four mill
ion of Slaves in the South TO about one third
their present worth, and TO introduce ele-
ments wholly incongruous into our society.
Southern statesmen have affirmed, time and
again, that our present slave population must
have diffusion, or finally die out, Are we
getting any outlet. Will not an unnatural
increase-a great influx hasten in the exact
proportion Of increase, the result that our
best intellects have foreseen? What true
Southern gentleman wishes to introduce
fifty or an hundred barbarians into his fami-
ly! Instead of Southern Congress, we
much fear we shall soon have Southern Bed
lam.
Where the destinies Of the South will be-
drifted by these arch agtators, God only
knows. The land so long desiring and
maintaining noble dignity in the eyes Of
mankind-so long the home of true ehival
ry, is fast hastening into isms. In these
giddy whirls of sentiment and opinion We
recognise the same forces that have overrun
all restraint, and overwhelming the formula
ry Of government, has rioted in its ruins.
THE IEUNpATIoNs IN THE WEsT.-Are we
ever TO hear the last Of the floods in the
West! Each mail brings tidings Of some
new disaster. The telegraph has only just
ceased to recount the tale of the crevasse in
New Orleans, when il is called into opera
ton to describe that of Mississippi. At 9th
er points above these there are brief accounts
of overflow. And in the Northwest, the
inundation has been without parallel. The
nc bo oI, Laid tla ,hSla
prairie land of the West under water. The
Wabash and all the other valleys are conver-
ted into lakes. The river has risen so high
above its banks, that every wharf and levee,
beginning with that of st. Louis, is under
water. On the upper part of the river, the
papers contain accounts of twelve towns or
villages which are either partially or wholly
destroyed or submerged. Cairo is a mere
wreck; the Illinois Central Company must
have lost all their workshops. stores, cars,
track and wood
1t is estimated that in Louisiana alone the
loss of sugar caused by the inundation is
equal to SS,OOO,OOO, and that of cotton $4,-
100000. 1t may be said, perhaps, that allow
ing fairly for the destruction of corn and
other crops in the Northwest, Of railroad
property, real estate and dwelling houses, the
total damage by this springs inundntion is
not less than twenty five millions Of dollars.
This calamity is not wholly unredeemed
The submerged lands on the Mississippi will
yield vastly increased crops for the next few
years, and the loss of corn in The West vii.
enhance the market value Of that which re-
mains. There is some good in every III.