The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-12-17


provisions of the act of the third Of March
90 0, Sin, addition to- the act. prohibiting
the slave trade" .,...-i ..t..,,.fr
Under the second section Of this act.
the Prcsidentis saalhorized TO make such
regulations and arrangements as :, he may
deem expedientifor the safe 'keepiug, supS
port and removal beyond the limits Of the,
United States, OF all such negroes, mulatts
oes or persons Of color capturedby vessels
Of the United States, as may be delivered
\ to the Marshal Of the distric, into which
hey are brought; and'to appoint aproper
person or persons residing upon s'the Coast
ii Africa asNagent or agents fors receiving
the negroes. mnAttoesorI persons OF color
delivered from on board vessels seized in
prosecution Of the slave trade by comman-
ders Of United States armed vessels.' y a
A doubt Immediately arose as to the true
construction Of thisact. Il is quite clear from
its terms tha, the President was authorized
to provide "for the safe'keeping, support
and removal of these negroes up to the
time Of delivery to the agent on the Coast
of Africa; but no express provisions was
made for their protection and support after
,lthey had reached the place Of their deestlns-
ton, Sill, an agent was to be appointed to
receive them in Africa, and II could not
have been supposed that Congress intended
ne should desert them the moment they
were received, and turn them loose on this
iubospi,able costto perish for want of food,
or to become again the victims of ,he slave
trade. Had this been the intention OF Con-
gress, the employment Of an agent to- re-
ceve them, who was required to reside on
the coast, was unnecessary, and they might
have been landed by our vessels anywhere
in Africa, and left exposed by the sutferings
and fate which certainly await them. ~
Mr.. Monroe, in his special Message Of
1th December, 1919. at the first sess
y afterthe act was passed, announced to Con-
. gress what, in his opinion, was us true con-
slruction. He, believed it TO be his duty un-
der it, to follow these unforlunates into AT
ell RIGA, and make provision for them there, IN
F. 1,ilthey should be able, to provide for them
a selves In communicating this nterpreta-
L ton of the act to Consr he stated that
II some doubt had been entertained as to It's
n true intent aud meaning, and he submitted
1.-the question TO them, SO that they might,
IS "should it be deemed advisable, amend the
!. same before further proceedings are had un'
Il der it, Nothing was done! by Congress tt
If explain the act, and Mr.. Monroe proceeded
d to carry it into execution according to his
n own Interpretation. This. then, became til
IS practical construction. When the Africans
n from on board the Echo were deliverd to the
!. Marshal at Charleston, it. became my duty
!. to consider what disposition ought to b'
Is made Of them under the law. For many
n reasons, it was expedient to remove then
IS from that localuyyas speedily as possible
ID Although the conduct Of the authorities ant
Mt citizens of Charleston in giving countenanc'
~ to the execution Of the law; was lust wha
E might have been expected from their higl
a character, yet prolonged continuance
IN three hundred Africans in the immediate
s. vicinity of that city, could net ave failed t.
/. become source OF Inconvenience and an
a. xiety to its inhabitants Where to sen
them was the question. There was no p'o'r
se lion Of tie coas! Of Africa TO which the
As could be removed with any regard to hu
IN manity, except to Liberia. hst54o', w. ''
ests' Under these circumstances an agree
}, ment was entered into with the Colo
IN nization Society on the 18th of septcm
IT, bcr last, Ga copy of whichlis hercwit
y. transmitted under which tho Soclet.
r. en- ragged, for the consideration OF forty
e five tn ousand dollars, to receive thes
I rbAfricans in Liberia from tho agent
p> the United STATES, and furnish, ther
he during the period Of one year therea b,
A. ter with comfortable III alter, clothing
ire provisions and1medical attendance
MS cnusing the children to receive schoo
l.. ING, and all, wother children or adult
.se to be instructed in the arts of civllize
full life suitable to their condition, Th
nd aggregate of forty~flve thousand dol lal
so was vas based upon an allowances OF on
hundred and fifty dollars for each Ind
W vidual, and as there had been consldo'
~, alb 10 mortality among them, and ma
liz be more before they reach Africa, IL
i. Society have agreed, in an equltab
,ts spirit to make such u reduction trel
,;dEthe amount as under the circumstance
n. NJ NAV appear just and reasonab BILE. Th
ia cannot be fixed until we shatl asceatal
mt the actual number whice shall become
en charge to the Society. .:sliys lsi7-. ~
mr. 1T was also distinctly agreed TIL
rIat under no circumstances shall this GOV
ed crnment b. called upon forany addition
sia al expenses iag1,. a., 70 .
ui The agents Of the Society manifesto !,
M a hudable desire to conform to II
ties wishes of the Government throgho'
lis the transaction They assured me m th u
st. after a careful calculation they would
ite requiredsto expend the sum OF Sloo
IN, each individual in complying with y y