Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-09
HE AERICAN aAppRENrICE" SCHEME

We call the particular attention ot our readers Il
the following able review of this question, which w'
extract from the "Daily Advocate oi Baton Rouge
Although we ware silent spectator to the exciting
struggle in our State Senate over the celebrated "Af
rcan Apprentice BILL its friends and advocates were
fully aware Of our antagOnsm thereto. Our doubt,
Of the proprety of the scheme ~ we'll rs our convic
tioDs of its egaly, were only strengthened by the
discussion which ensued in the Senate The advO
caes of the bill made lame apology for its passage
through aspecia committee appointed TO examine IN
10 its bearings and report the result ot their nres
CATION to the Senate. The report of the committee
unconvincng to any opponent OF the measure, 81
was the great stream of Senatorial eioqueDce winch
subsequently gushed forth TO sllslain lis s0phisca
logic. The bill finally fell through liz iriends-de
feated but moi dsmayed-looking TO another opror
tuniiy to renew the struggle for victory.
During the interval public opinion has taken hold
Of the sub sct 10 limited extent, and Ia finding e1
preston through the channels of the press and If the
press of Louisiana be any index to the sentiments OF
the people, the "African Apprentice bill' is sadly n
want Of friends. The Delta is consia'ent in its favor
to that particular measure or any other that wonld
precipitate collision between State and Federal au
tbority; but its coaborers ara 20 few and far apart
in this State to be totally without Influence upon
the settled conviction Of the popular mind
In stating our objections to this utterly impracti
cable "Apprentice" schame, We do not wish fn he
cassed with that school of phanIhropi-is or human
bondage on free African, II. indeed, such natural
curiosity has existence among the benighed crea
tures Of that cline. On the contrary, We believe
that The friends Of the bill made and maintained
their strongest impression in lis favor by setting
forth it's chrstianizng aspects. In usiug This argu
ment, however, they failed TO first establish the point
of paramount consderation-to wit he LEGALITY oj
their enterprise. To this branch shall devote our
remarks.
In order 10 arrive al proper understanding OF tie
10 IN herin yxith lepla
of Congress 10 prevent the slave trade The fret
Act having reference to this rbject passed in
l796, if our memory be correct, and was intended to
prohibit the importation OF Mdres from The coast ot
Africa to any port within the Jurisdiction Of the tNl
ted States, after the year 1878. In lSOi second ACT
was passed and approved the more eiecualy I" sup
press the trade in sareS from ths coast OF Africa
any other foreign place or country.
By provision Of the Federal Constitution. this IL.
gslaton could not take effect until the year 18S at
which date beesn the efforts Of our Government 10
suppress the importation of Africans to be sold and
held az slRves.
The reader will observe that these Acts Of Congress
passed and entitled a' Acts "to prohibit the ln-
PRODUCTION of sl0rrs" into the country and far as
legislation could effect the object in view they
ample to carry it out. They covered the whole
ground for the suppre Of the slsve trads" and
embraced penalties for fhe punishment of person. 20
offending. The atriDGency OF law could go 10 fur.
thcr than the Act Of 1907 for lie violation full pun
ishment was imposed. Then why any more legsIa-
ton on the subject To what cause Rrs 10 trace
the subsequent Act Of April 30 1887
The question is easy Of solution. The previous le
gisaton of Congress was, or could be Graded, If il
was not violated Congress foresaw that Africans
could stil be imported and disposed Of by evasion OF
the Act of 1907 TO prevent which the Act of 1913
quired existence The object this latter Act clear
ly to supply the defects those preceding H. and
vent, IN anu manner schaterer, the importation of
negroes mulattoes or persons o! color into the Uni
ted States either TO be sod sl0rs, 10 be held
TO service or iaJor under any form which the inge.
nius importer might devise.
The very title of the Act Of 1918 hears Us out in
this construction. 1t is not an Act to amend any
former Act for the suppression OF the slave trad-
but it is ian Act IN addition" 10 Acts passed for that
purpose. In plain terms. ls additional legislation
TO prevent erassns of the lava suppresaing the slave
trade By importing 'persona of color" t"free Air'
cane" If you will under such gaises as "appreE-
tices'' or Otherwise. Section | of iha Act ssys
That from and after The passing of this Act, it shall
not be lawful to import or bring, IN any nidH"er Tha
scorer into the United States or Territories thereof,
from any foreign kingdom, place, country, any me-
gro, muistto or person of color with intent to hold,
sell, or dispose Of any such negro mu!ntto, or per-
son Of COLOR ~ slave, or 10 Be held TO sefrtcs or
.dhor.
In his side notes 10 this section Judge Story does
not misiuterpret The spirit we'll the language of
the law. His Interpretation is this ut shall not be
lawful to bring negroes mulattoes, ETC., into the URl.
ted states from foreign place. IN Sn7 ma""er mhdt
so"rer.'-l See Story's Lars u ).
Section =. of the same Act, makes penalty for
procmrjag sny such persons OF color at any or-ign
view to bold "sell, "or othertc,se dispose OF them