Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-08-14

-.
ton, by passing bills to pay these Spanish slave
dealers, aud render the African slave',rado honor
able. But this body has IN every instance, defeat.
ed such attempts.
BY the treaty of Washington Of 1912. we coven.
anted to supply a naval force Of eighty guns to be
stationed along the African ccast, with orders to
use their Efforts to arrest all pirates engaged II,
the slave trade. This treaty was published to the
world, bit the manner of executing i; is said, hS
~inen who possess Intelligence on the subject, that
we.have never sent Ia that coast Il ship or vessel
worthy t. he employed IN that service. On tins
point we huvo no recorded cvidtnce;but the pronii
ncnt fact that uur ship" thus employed have cit.
ijrely failed to accomplish the object contemplated
is known and read ct all men. 1t is said they
have captured som three or four slave ships
ewhile the British ships of equal force
- have captured rs manly scores. We know
4. the zeal aud ability and aGtbitil N of our Of
.. fcers and seameB aud Il the cx'cIlve had given
. them ships adapted to the survic-, ard expressed
To them his desire to see the sltvotrad+ abolished
they would never have fallen behind the Bsitl>h
: in this duty. No stronger evidences OF bad faith
e. in pretending to carry out this treaty could have
been placed on record.
-l.- At that period of uur history, tho Executive lie
gan q system of effirts tn relieve African slave
dealers from the odiun uf piracy, which our enact
ments and those Of other nations had placed upon
I. them.
In 1871 cur Minister at L,ulon demonstrated
odd with Lord PalmerstOn against the practice y; arm
cd ships engaged in supprossing the slave trade
visiting vessels smiling under the 1ag Of the United
States, to scertain their nationality. | repeat
sllhat in all past time this practice had been follow
ed By the armed ships of all civilized nations. when
cruising for pirates. As shown at tho opening Of
my remarks, it was conceded BY all nations 1T was
practiced by all nations. 1t was shen, is now and
2 ever will be the law IF nations. Our Minister at
tempted to confound this right. however, with the
bright of search.
Tt' BY this use Of terms he was enabled to prolong
the discussion. Senate document No. 81, LIST ses
sion 29th Congress. gives incontestab Die proof of
the ability of our Minister to understand the clear
est definition Of rights and terms. Mr.. Steaven-
son declared the visitation of n cruiser to a ship.
afor the purr ose of learning whether it was a pirate
Mt war with all mankind, or an American vessel
entitled to protection under the United States flag,
was nothing less than the right of search, so obi.
oms to the American people. 10 this the Earl OF
Aberdeen re piled, in somewhat emphatic language:
.pH"Ihe undersigned again renOunces. as he has
already done: in che most explicit terms, any right
lon tho part of the British Government to search
American vessels in time of peace. The sole pur-
pose OF the British cruisers Is to ascertain wheth'
err the vessels they meet are really american or
mot. The right asserted has in truth no resem-
Hance to the right of search. either in principle or
IN practice. 1t is simply a right to satisfy the par
~, who has a Legitimate interest in knowing the
truth that the vessel is actually what her colors
announce. This right te c0acede as freely as zee
exercise. \ 4 \ n 1t is impos sible that this
right may be wOntonly and vexatiously used and
If, in spite of the utmost caution. any American
vessel should suffer loss and injury. 10 COutd be
j0llotcea 6y prompt and AMPLE REPARATIoN."
Yet our Federal Executive, through our Minis
ter at London, las continued to protest against
the interru ptiJn of vessels under the American
flag, to ascertain tchether they be pirates or not; and
the influence, the moral power.of the Administra'
ton has been exerted for the protection Of the very
traffic we profess to hold in adherence.
Slave ships are, and for many years have been,
built in our own ports. under the very eye OF the
Administration. Indeed it is said, AMI | believe
with perfect truth. that more ships, now EN- ployed
in the African slave trade, were built in the Unit
ed States than in all other portions Of the world
We know that in every Seaport there are many Of
fcers of Government who would be vigilant and
ambitious to learn the character of every vessel
built in such port, if conscious that the President
desired. such information. and the fact that he per
mits slave ships TO he built and furnished, and SET
out is conclusive evidence that he is in favor OF
the practice.
Again tie Democratic press of tho South
those friendly to the administration proclaim the
restoration of theAfrican lave trade a favorite pol
itical measure. Southern Senators,have urged the
withdrawa al of cur naval force from the African
coast, in order that we should not appear to hold
the African slave trade in abhorrence and Demo
cratic members of both houses Of Congress urge
It's restoration.
Within tha past year, we were informed by the
Southern press that slaves direct from Africa were
landed upon our Southern coast. Southern Con-
ventions tor years have publicly discussed the pro
priety of restoring this trade. They propose tC
ttTII OuI DhIh " thC OCi'lOt SSNu
. pied a century since by the British King-to re
store tho barbarous practices of a darker age ad
their only hesitation in making this doctrine a ties
GfeDemocracy appears to arise from the fact tina
it would appear unpopular in our free states.
Oar present controversy arises from a dispense
ton on that part of our Government we have
declared its character, and proclaimed an extir
niinating war upon all who are engaged in It,
We declared them enemies Of mankind, OUTLAWS
worthy of death. They were sc regarded anC
treated by other nations. To carry on this wa
we are bound to contribute all reasonable aid anc
assistance. Every citizen Of this Union is bounc
to aid in this war for the rights of our common
nature. And declare it the duty of every cap
tair, every officer and sailor, who holds our fal
sacred to aid in preserving it from the dishonoI Il
which the present Administration is seeking t
prostitute it. 1t Is their duty, when suspected o
piracy, to cheerfully relieve themselves of sucl
suspicion by making their true character under
stood and | assert that it is the right of evev
British, French, Russian. Austrian. or Prussia
cruiser or the cruiser Of any other nation, Will
seeking TO destroy these outlaws, to dt
mand OF any American ship or the ship OF an
other nation, her true character whether she be
pirate, or entitled to protection, under the flag 81
bears while our own cruisers hold the same il
disputable right to learn the character OF any an
Of all suspected ships sailing under the flag OF al
other nation. If our Administration be determi
ed to modify this law Of nature and Of nation
this principle of justice, of evident %propriety, the
will find insurmountable difficulties. | trust,
hope the British Ministry will not recede from !
position. They are acting for humanity. III
feelings and sympathies OF the christian world a
with them in their efforts to eradicate this piraC
from the earth. Truth and justice are with ther
That higher law Of eternal righteousness whit
sways the destinies of nations and Of the world
with them. / would not place our Government
opposition TO the attributes OF the CREATOR.
would bring it into harmony with those principl
Of justice, those lass, which govern the NOR
world.
i know the vastness Of our cause. We n
constrained 10 meet the Vaccinations Of the Sia
Power: ut every step of our progress. Let " nc
them boldly. candidiy. TRUTuFULLY. Let US CO
secrate ourselves to this huly work Of separatir
aud. Purifying our G,gerrment and people fro
this piracy. this moral contagion which now poi
ons'all The veins aud arteries Of this mighty natio
and mnst, if not soon stay ed in ifs progress, !