The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-06-09

person OF color, not being native, cti
zen, or registered seamen of the Cnted
States, or seamen natives of countries be.
yond the Cape Of Good Hope" 1t is
not confined TO slaves or nepros bound 10
labor, but contempates the exclusion. in
the eroadeSt terms of all such persons,
without regard to the character in which
they may be brought. 1t excludes free
persons as well as slaves and persons
bound 10 labor or service.
After this reference to the laws on the
subject, it is hardly necessary to repeat,
that if the application of Messrs. Lnft,e
and Co, contemplates the introduction
ofnegros into the United States from AZ
rca, either in the character Of slaves or
as apprentices bound TO service or labor,
II Is clearly IN violation of both the letter
and spirit of the'law, and cannot be gran.
| ted
Ehe form Of the application made by
Mcssrs. Lalilte and Co. would seem TO
contemplate the introduction into United
States OF negroes from Africa, entitled, on
! Their arrival, TO all the rights and privil
eyes OF freemen. The proposition, upon
IT'S face, is SO absurd thar it is hardly wor
thy OF serious retu,ation. Messrs. Leftte
and Co. ask us to believe that their YES
sci, ht!ed out IN the port of Charleston,
| . T., Is gong upon avovage to Africa,
To Or'hg to some port in the United States
cargo of free negroes. The port to
whl't the vessel expects to return is no,
indicated. 1t cannot he the one from
which 1t sails, nor any other in The State
ot South Carolina, AS The introduction of
Tree negros INTO that State is wisely pro.
hlnlted by stringent laws and heavy pen
auleS. 1t cannot be the port Of any 9TH
er slavehoI!ing State, as similar laws in
each OF those States alike forbid it. The
reason for such laws is SO manifest, that |
90 not feel cal:ed upon either to produce
the evidence of their existence, or to iusti.
| ~ the policy which led to their adoption.
1t Is sufficient to know that the public
mlnd OF that section OF the Union is not
more cordially agreed upon any one sub
| Ject than upon the proprlety aud necessi
ty OF prohibiting, rs far AS possible, an in.
crease OF the free negro population; and
| hence the Jaws TO which refer. prohbi.
ting their importation from any place.
Can 1t be that Messrs. Laiir,e AID Co.
propose return, with their cargo of free
negros, TO a port in some of The non slave
holding States! | am not aware of
single State where these Iew corners would
receive a to'erant,much less 4 cordial, wei
come; whist, by stringent laws and con
sututional provisions, some of them have
provided for their unconditional cxcIu
sion.
Looking beyond the legislation which
has been had On the subject by the Gen
eraI Government, and both the slavehoh
ing and the non sIarchoIding States,
may be permitted To refer, IN this con
necuon, TO the various, repeated and earn
est efforts Which have been male in every
section Of the Union, to provide for the
removal from our midst of this unfortunate
class. However varient;he motives which
have induced these efforts with different
| persons, in diiereni 5, ctions ot the coun
! Try, they al! exhibit an earnest desire To
! dlninish rather than increase the free ne
gro population This public opinion, thus
manifested IN every form, familiar to ev-
cry one, and it would he doing great in
justice to the intelligence Of Messrs. La
iitte and Go. to suppose that they alone
were ignorant Of it. Where, then, do
they propose 10 land their cargo of tree
negros! What is the motive which in.
dnceS the enterprise? 1t cannot be the
! profits of the voyage. There are no Airi
can emIgran,s seeking n passage to this
country; and"f there ere. they have no
means OF remuueratlng Messrs. Latiue
and Co. for bringing them The motive
cannot be mere philanthropy, for it would
confer no benefit upon these hegros TO
bring them to our shores, where, if per
mitted TO land at all, it would only be TO
occupy our pest houses, hospitals and pri
sons. 10 believe, under the crcumstan
ces, that there is n bona tide purpose, on
The part OF Messrs. Latitte aud Co, Ia
bring African emigran:s to this country
to enjoy the rights and privileges of Gec-
men, would require an amount or creduI.
ny that would justly subject the person
50 believing TO the charge of mental i'm
OeclIIty. The conviction is Irresistible,
that the object Of the proposed enterprise
Is t" bring these african emigranls' into
the country, with the view either of max.
ing slaves Of them, or Of holding them to
service or labor. II so, it is an attempt
to evade the laws of the country on the
subject OF African importation, to which
| have called your attention.
Ordinarily, 1t would lie an unsafe rule
TOR public officer to act upon the sus
P'c'on OF IL purpose on the part of aaoth.
er to violate the laws Of the country, bu,
III this case il is put SO clearly beyond
the reach Of doubt, that think that YOU
not only can, but That YOU are III duty
bound to act upon the presumption, that
it's the intention of Messrs. Lafitte and
Co. to evade the laws of the United States
and you should accordingly refuse their
vessel the clearance asked for.
am, very respectfully,
HOWELL COBB.
Secretary Of the Treasury.
WM. +. CoLDpcK, Esq.
CoIIec;or Of ihe Customs, Charleston. s G.,