Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-10
From the London Leader.
New State of our R Citations with Anne.
riea

The diplomatic correspondence between
Lord Napier and Gen. Cass brings into strong
light the extremely unsatisfactory nature of
our relations with America on the subject of
the slave trade. At the very time we were
making demands upon the United States to
increase her squadron on the coast of Africa
to assist us in putting down the trade in
slaves, OaOn proceedings IN regard 10 the Coolies
tcere such as TO gre Gen. Cdss fair right 10 charge
nth Inconsistency. The truth IS, that the torci-
bic prevention Of the sLaUe-trading IS practically
failure.
The condnct of our government and orr
Squadron has not been such as to ooneiIiatv
agreement in the matter of our late demands
1t would need volume to detail all the ins
and outs OF our present crooked system of
forcible prevention. Exeter Hall, and Exeter
Hall statesmen, think only of the negro and
of all the circumstances which Immediately
affect him, and while this is the case there is
only the old, short sighted philanthropy to be
looked for in those directions.
This philanthropy is weak TO contend
against the active influence of the cOrrupt
vested interests which bave grown up under
anti-slavery. The commander of every pre-
ventive ship naturally hopes that every vessel
he sights upon the coast of Africa may turn
out to be q" prize )" the agent. consular or
otherwise, desires TO perpetuate the present
the British merchant would rather wink at
shaving, than have America compete in the
Legitimate" palm trade. 1t would not be
difficultto prove from facts how little able this
philanthropy is to control the war-like and
diplomatic machinery which acts in the name
of Exeter Hall on the west coast of Africa
but so acts as 10 hinder dte genuine trade and abso-
Leiy TO foster The Stare trade. Two facts bearing
upOu these points are patent first. ercessire
aT
traffic, uhOSe resseLs are detained under false caarg
IS Of siaUedealu1g, carried far ont Of their course
for the purpose Of submitting them 10 iyaqirV Sc
condly, the practice of our officers to wink at
the early stages of the traffic, in order that
the trading ships may start with slaves
on board, such prizes being enhanced by
the head-money given for every slave cap
tured.
Our behavior to America has not been such as
TO gre hope that an easy adjustment Of he present
difficulty ,ciLt be attained. America will not con-
sent to perpetuate, or rather to rennovate,
the present unavailing system of slave trade
repression, and we have done nothing to en-
title us to ask such n sacrifice at her hands
After all the heart-burnings which have
grown out of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
the precious arrangement is to be entirely
abrogated, the Committee on Foreign Affairs
in the American Senate having directed the
President 10 carry their resolution into i'm
mediate effect. And, in dealing with this
difficult subject, the government of Lord
Derby will be found less hostile and imprac-
ticable; but here the improved policy will
consist in undoing the past. n IS .oar certain
that The foreibe prevention Of slaUc-trad,ag IS no
longer practicable; tie system has completely broken
dozen.
The udst spent IN us maintenance hare been
Lro,cn Gtoay; and il has been proved to be
serious hindrance to commerce. At the
present moment we find it giving rise to com
plications detrimental to the honor and dig
nifty of this country, and involving the hazard
of a war which would be as mischevous to
Lancashire as to the Southern States of Amer
lea. lind for rrhdtg-.for the maintenance Of
Short-slghted and m:praotioable T'liLantIsropyf A
large view of the slave question would spare
US the danger of such complications, and
would aid the slave TO comparatively speedy
redemption of his liberty. OF this, too we
have no doubt, that government which
would reverse the whole state of our relations
with America and Africa would at once win
the support OF the business men in this
country, would strengthen itself by a very
easily won success.