Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-12
A Denial and a Defiance.

GeorRis, who had applied through Messrs-
Lsfitte & Co., to the Collector Of the port
of Charleston for clearance to the coast
Of Africa. "for the purpose of taking on
board African emigran's, in accordance with
the United States passenger laws, and re-
turning with the same to the United States"
sod wss refused under instructions from the
Secretary OF the Treasury. has replied at
ssme length to Mr. Coob, denying his su
tlIori,y To refuse the application. Mr. La-
r.,r reviews with some ingenuity the posi-
rians Of the Secretary and the powers grant
ID TO and exercised by Corgress on the sub
ject of the African slave trade He claims
that the law is clear beyond al question as
to his right to bring Africans 10 this coun-
,ry as proposed BY him; and that. whether
profitable or not, for whatever he may do
ON that subject he is responsible only to the
courts of justice; and, further, that the
serretary. as an officer of this Government
can only sbridge him of that right upon the
broad ground that the privileges of the citi.
zeps Of this country are only to be enjoyed
upon the sufersnce of Executive discretion
Mr.. Lamar ,hinks there would be good
policy, as we'll as right, in sending African
slaves to the North. In his own words:
The North steals our slsvee, ana this
Union was nearly ruptured, few years
since, in the effort to retake them. But,
while she does SO. she has no use for such
a population. A single cargo Of native
Africans, much cheaper than our slaves.
would 90 far to cure her of this firm of her
philanthropy. Instead of orgsn zing bands
TO entice our 'aves away, she would be
even more instsnt in organizing bands TO
Keep them out; and perhaps it would be
Siscuh to conceive of an act more wisely
patriotic than would be that of sending na-
nve negroes to the Northern States"
he then goes on to argue sgsinst Exc
cutive assumptions of power, ard says they
have been contested at every step Of human
history.
"Jpon thi issue Charles the First lost his
head, James the Second his throne, England
her colonies, Arnold the lit,e he had tc
lose, and, in lesser matters, many individu'
Ss, from a mistaken sense of their com.
potency to interfere with the persons ant
property Of other people, have been elevat
ed to some six feet or SO of most un
enviable distinction.
II is then intimated in pretty distinc
terms that the slave trade being unpopular
and the current os odium running agains
the South, ait is possible there may be thu
road 10 especial popularity through exces
give ingenuity in discovering the indication
OF the foreign slave trade"
Recapitulsting his arguments against tn
power of Congress to impose restriction
on the slave trade, and avowing that hi
purpose was to bring in Africans to thi
country, Mr. Lamar concludes his pungen
letter by the following open defiance:
aln this communication / would not b
misunderstood. do not complain of an
very great injury that has resulted to m
from not being able TO send my vessel I
the coast of Africa, nor appeal IL the syn
pathies of the community on that account
might have accomplished objects, profit
able or net, which shall not be able 1
accomplish without. But the thing whic
lido complain of is, that have been abride
I'd Of my proper rights. IL was my right
have sent the ship to Africa or the depii
of the ocean, as either may have please
me; and for an officer of this Government
without law, to prevent me, Was as much
wrong, and, will add, as much an outraG
20 my nature as uan, as though he hi
sst his hostile foot upon my hearthston
so, also, would no: be mistaken in al
other matter. In diSclaiming the purpos
upon this occasion, of engaging in the sla
trade, it may be inferred that at any time
would avoid the imputation of such an e
tererise; but this is not the fact. Und
ordinary circumstances would not viola
the laws. am pleased, when | can,
honor and sustain them; but this law pI
hibiting the slave trade was not adopted
The intelligence, certainly not by the geni
Of the South. 1t is enforced by the sen
ment of another and hostile section of I
country. 1t is sustained by persons W
have more regard for the people of that o.
or section than the truth. 1t is a badge
seryitude, brand Of reprobation, and
only would / not sustain it, but, as h,
told you frankly from the first, intend
violate it. viii reopen the trade in sla
to foreign countries, and youI cruisers n
catch me If thew cenn