The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-16

-.aNsAzs
Marshal for the district OF South Carolina.
They were first placed 10 Castle Pinckney,
Afterwards in Fort Sumpter, for safe keeping,
and were detained there until the 18th Sep
tember, when the survivors, two hundred and
seVenty-one in number, were delivered on
board the United States steamer Nisgars, to
be transported to the coast Of Africa, under
the charge OF the agent OF the United States,
pursuant to the provisions Of the act OF the
Sd March, 1919, ain addition to the acts pro-
hibiting the slave trade"
Under the I'd section Of this act, the Presi-
dent is authorized 10 make such regulations
and arrangements as he may deem expedient
for the safe.keeping, support, and removal
beyond the limit of the United States, of all
such negroes, mulattoes or persons Of col
Or" captured by vessels Of the United States,
as may be delivered to the marshal of the
district into which they ore brought sand
to appoint proper person or persons resid-
ing upon the coast Of Africa, as agent or
agents for receiving the negroes, mulattoes
or persons of color, delivered from on board
vessels siezed in the prosecution OF the slave
trade by commanders of the United States
armed vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose as to the true
construction of this act. It is quite clear
from its terms that the President was author.
lied to provide "for the safe.keepng, sup
port, aud removal" of these negroes up till
the time Of their delivery to the agent on the
coast Of Africa but no express provision
was made for their protection and support
after they had reached the place Of their
destination. Still, an agent was to be ap-
pointed to receive them in Africa and it
could not have been supposed that Congress
intended he should desert them at the mo.
ment they were received, and turn them
loose on that inhospitaole coast to perish for
want of food or to become again the victims
of the slave trade. Had this been the in.
tention Of Congress, the employment of an
agent to receive them, who is required to re.
side ON the coast, was unnecessary, and they
might have been landed by our vessels any
where in Africa, and left exposed to the suf-
ferngs and the fate which would certainly
await them.
Mr.. Monroe, in his special message of
18th Of December, 1919, at thu first Session
after the act was plssel, announced to Con-
gress what, in his opinion, was itS true c,n.
structio1. He b,lieveI il to b, his duty
under it, to follow the5, unfo7tunates into
Africa, and mike provision for them th,re;
until they should be able to provi le for them.
selves. Ia communicating this interpretl.
ton of the act of Congress, he stated thlt
some doubt had been entertained as to its
true intent and meaning, and he submitted
the question to them so that they might,
"should it be deemed advisable, amend the
same before further proceedings are had
under it''
Nothing was done by Congress to ex!
plain the act, and Mr.. Monroe proceeded
to carry it into execution according to his
own Interpretation. This, then, became
the practical construction. When the AT.
ricans from on board the Echo were deliver
ed to the marshal at Charleston, it became
my duty to consider what disposition ought
to be made of them under the law. For
many reasons is was expedient to remove
them from that locality as speedily as possis
BILE! Although the conduct Of tire autkor1!
ties and citiz?ns of Charleston in givins
| counteElECc to the execution Of the law, was
just wlIat might have been expected from
their high char 'cter, yet a prolonged cor.
tinuance of three hundred Africans in tho
im'ncdiate Vicfnity of that city, could not
have failed to become source of inconven-
ience and anxiety to its Inhabitants. Where
to send them, was the Flestion. There was
no portion Of the coast of Africa, to which
they could be removed with any regard to
humanity, except to Liberia.
Under these circumstanceS,' mi agirteement
was entered into with tho Cclcrization s..
ciety On the 7Ih' of September last, u copv
of which is herewith transmitted, nm ier
which the Society engaged for the considera.
ton Of forty five thousand dollars, to receiye
these Ariclns in Liberia from tbs agent of
the United States, anu turnTsh' them duriny
the period Of one year thereafter, with CON.
Portable shelter, clothing, provisions, and
medical attendance, causing the children To-
receive schooling; and all, whether children
Or adults, to be instructed in the arts of ciy-'
iliZcd life, suit able to- their condition.
This aggregate of forty five thousand dol;
lars was blsed up)n an alloVtnce OF one
hundred and fifty dollars for each individual,
and as there has been considerable mortaiity'
among them, and IN iy be more before they
reach Africa, the society have agreed, in
an equitable spirit, to mike such de1lction
from the amount, a. unl.r the circu n stances
may appear just aud reason lble. This can.
not be fixed until we shall ascertain the
l. uOlOh ItUuTU u WElVu uliy UeCO.H5 CD1FJ0
to the society.
T # was also distinctly agreeI that, under
no circumstances, shall this government be-
called upon for any additional expenses. ~ t.. ''
+ The agents Of the society manifested a
| ldudabe desire to conform to- The wishes
! of the government, Throughout the transact
ton. They assured me that, after careful
calculation, they would be required TO ex.'.. /.
pend the sum Of one hudred and fifty dollars
on each individual in complying witt; the
agreement, and they would havist, nothing
LETT to remanerate them for their care, trol-y,
BILE, and responsibility. At all events,
could make no better arrangements and
there was no other alternative. Daring ths'
period when the government ITSELF, through ].
it's own agents, undertook the task .ofprovid.
ing for the captured negroes in Africa, the
cost per head was very much greater. ~ ..'..,.,
There having been no outstanding appro-
priaton applicable to this purpose, | could,
not advance any money on the agreement.
| therefore recommend that an appropriations
may be made, Of the amount necessary 10
carry it into eject. g,', .l..,,
Other captures Of similar char ,cter N ", !
and probably will, be made by our naval foIr..
ces and | earnestly recommend, that Con.
gress may amend the second section Of tha
act Of March 8, 1879, so as to free its con.
|