Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-19
soUTBERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION AND


THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
large portion Of the time of this Convention
was consumed discussinga report. recommending
the rs-opening Of the African slave trade.
Mr. PRYOR, of Virginia. spoke at some length in
opposition to the views in the report. The follow
ing extracts from his speech seem to contain the
pith of his arguments:
This proposition, if endorsed, would shock the
moral sentiment Of Christendom. Some may say
they do Eot care for that But We Of the South who
profess to be Christians should endeavor, if posi-
ble without sacrificing rights to seek rather to pro-
pitiate the moral sentiment Of Christendom. He
was not willing to throw the gauntlet ia the face Of
the Christian world He was very much governed
by considerations Of policy. And the sentiment Of
the Christian world was gradually coming round to
one stand point
Look at England with her coolies and France
with her apprentices The dispatch from our Min
lister in France shows a gradual ameliOration in
sentiment upon this subject. We should bide our
time and not by this publication give our nstitu
Allow things to 60 along smoothly.
He objected TO the introduction Of a horde Of bar
barians from Africa among That was incom-
patble with the present status of slavery here. -
Ours is a patriacha institution now, founded IN pity
and protection on the one side and dependence and
policy like slavery in Cuba, where the master Is
forced TO be cruel and stern in his government and
control CT slavery. Il would create new grade OF
slavery, and create in the slaves We already have
feeling of superiority that we should avoid.
In short, this proposition TO revive the African
slaye trade was purely and simply proposition 10
dissolye the Union. because it cannot be carried out
while the Guon lasts. When that proposition Is
boldly and openly made, Virginia, though border
State. would not shrink from her duty But Nlr
GINA was unwilling TO put th perpetuity Of his
Union upon any such issue as this proposition 10
kidnap cannihals upon the coast Of Congo and con-
tend with the King of Dahomy in the marts OF wild
Africa for the purchase of slaves there. If you
intend dissolution, declare it boldly and maniully'
TApplause Present your proposition WITH your
preamble and resolutions, and We will meet you up
on it, and either acqueses and 60 With you heartily
and zealeusly, give our reason for not doing So
Mr.. PRYOR told the Convention that they must
recollect that the first onset, 10 the case Of disso-
luton, must be met by Virginia; and gentlemen
must not expect of her an iuOrdinate enthusiasm
that may be felt by others not situated as she is
Mr.. YANCEY, Of Aiabsma, in replying to Mr.
Pryor, read a report embOdyipg his views in rela-
tion to the measure under discussion. His report
closed with the f9ll9ging resolution
"Resolved, That the laws of Congress prohibit
Mr.. YANoEY then went fully into discussion Of
the question He declared that the laws of Con-
gress Of 1907 and l82O-the first declaring the
slave trade a misdemeanOr, and the latter to be
piracy-FeFe laws passed in violation of the prin-
oiples Of our government; and he regretted to say
that to the opinions Of THOMAS JEFFERSON, and
some of the leading men of Virgiuia, of that day,
the abolition sentiment of the country we're much
indebted for many of their arguments which they
employ in opposition to the institution of southern
slavery.
Mr. YANCEE ssids
The gentleman from South GsrOlins, DIR. spratt)
in his report advances the idea that if slavery is
right every Just measure to its formation in
eVably be right. it is right that the institution
of slavery shall be Incorporated the constitutional
basis of this country it is right that the South should
secure and enlarge its basis of labor much it is
right for the North to enlarge its basis Of labor by
emigration oflaborers from Europe. The only differ
enoe u.s. that the one laborer came under the head of
Importation hs other under the head ofimmigraton;
the one was black labor, ting other was white. The
law of 1907 Disseminated against southern labor and
in favor of northern labor. ThatlsW was unconsti-
tutional. The argument was made by northern men,
that when the Constitution said that no law should
be passed of the kind before $685. it followed,
pass the law after that time. But it is principle
Of construction that in constituting the meaning of
the Constitution, you shall not destroy any of its
plain and papable principles One principle Of the
Constitution was the equality in the Union Of
southern States with northern States which equality
this Law destroyed.
The gentleman said that he held in his hand a
suggestion from a friend from Georgia. If it is
right raise slaves for sale, is it not right to i'm
port them?" He would put this question to the
gentleman from yirginis, Mr.. Pryor. Suppose a
Captain from New Orleans we're to ask the gentle
man from Virginia if it vas lawful for him to buy
slaves and take them to New Orleans. The answer
would be that it was lawful, provided he did not buy
them in Cuba, Brazil, Africa The Captain
would ask, where shall 1 buy them The gentle
man, actuated by that principle Of interest which
governs all mankind would naturally tell him to
come TO Richmond and buy his slaves there Now
if it is right to buy slaves in Virginia and carry
them 10 New Orleans, why is it not right TO buy
them in Cube, Brazil, of Africa, and carry them
there? The gentleman gill say there is nothing
wrong in that, morally, but he'Bould point to the
Federal statistics which discriminate in favor of
Virginia and against Cuba, Brazil and Africa, pre-
venting the Captain from buying his slaves where he
could obtain them cheapest South Carolina has
her peculiar notions Of free trade, and at one time
her State bristled with in support of her right
to buy sugar in Cuba instead of Louisiana. And
yet, she is now compelled to buy slaves in Virginia
instead of Cuba, Brazil, or Africa.
Mr.. Edmund Ruin, of Virginia, replied at some
length to the remarks of Mr., Yancey, that Virginia
was influenced by motives of interest in regard to
this question. He declared that ninety-nine out of
one hundred Shareholders in Virginia desired to re-
tain their slaves, and but few sold them, except
when compelled by necessity to do So As for him
self, he wished that all the slaves that had been
sold out of Virginia for the last thirty years with
their pOsterity were back in the State again. As to
the report Of the committee, he opposed to it
a practical question.