The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-05-11

| TIE HON. JOHN y. MASON TO sECeEraeY csss
/ Paris. Feb. II, 1853.
In an interview which had the horror ID
nave with Cottnt Walcwski, Minister Of FOREIGN
Affairs, in the last week Of January, asked
him u there .ere any objections 10 MY being
informed OF the precise character Of the meas.
ares ad''ptsd by his Majesty the En,rorof's
Government, ~ regard TO the importation into
me French ,'penes, of negroes from Africa.
lie replied ,i,as there was rot. and procee.,pi
10 state very frankly that the French rcfon;ts
particularly ia the West Indies, seere lang,tish
| ING for ,rfaf y labor that negre labor atone
| ,sds aadffed 10 tropical predictions that the
Ffenah Government had devised system for
the Introduction from Africa of laborers under
guards, which were intended to protect them
az Tree eiaigranis; that to supply these .borers
tney looked mainly to prisoners taken bs the
arioes III their intestine wars, who would, il not
SO disposed oi, according to the barbarous Gus
toms OF the country, be put to DEATH tha, The
arrangements in Africa prior to the cnlbarka-
t'on, aud for the disposition Of the einigrants
curing the. voyage, and after their arrival in the
colonies, were entirely under the management
OF commissioners of the French government:
that Obligations were taken by them from the
planters who received the emgrants into service
10 bihd them 10 provide for the negroes during
tleir term OF service, snd secure to them the
means OF returning 10 Africa, if they shall
choose 70 DO SO after its ex piratien. | asked If
there was any truth in some statements rbieh
had seen in the English newspapers, that French
vessels ireighted with African emigfants wou,d
ee regarded bs the British cruisers as engaged
IN the African slave trade. His Exccliency said
no; that there had been some comm anicatiou be
t,'eea us tlco governments, and the British go,-
ernnient aeoaid not object 10 the French scheme
mAle the ,oants Of the British COLONIES ,csre 6eino
smpplicdby her cooiie trade
The conversation ended by the Minister'S as. |
surance that be would send me a written NOM |
orandum IN reply to my inquiry. This promise |
ne redeemed by sending me the papers, which
herewith transmit. There are some points
on which neither the conversation nor the
3 rltten memor andum give information which |
desired. 1t does not appear whether a consi-
'era,ion is paid to the chiefs OF tribes for their
,aptives or people. infer that there is. II
Ices not explain the duration of the term of
ervice, and it remains to be seen whether any
II the emigran's will survive the term or return
0 their country.
Judging from the tone of the public press.
nd reasoning pr'ori, I feel quite confident that
n future IRE uiH see tie fanafical deau,,ciatioas
american slavery greatly moderated, If not
'tsneed, m France, perhaps in England.
The French system is the subject Of much
iscussion in the English and French journals.
n the Revue des Deux Mondes, which is the
rgan of the Abolitionists, or Les Amis des ,
ors it is severely attacked, and also in the
evue Contemporaries, of which send copy ,
erewith. 1t is quite evident that conviction I
gaining strength both in England and France, I
at in the compulsory emancipation of the /
ares an their tropical colonies by as.thority of /
,yernment grace political error has been com 5
ifked {