The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-01-29
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.

Mr.. Seward, of New York, has introduced into the
Senate an amendatory bill to the acts prohibiting the
slave trade, by which he proposes to mmoltc great
or numbers of Americans by the deadly climate OF
Africa, to this pscudo-phanthropic scheme OF pro
tceting African cannibals
Southern men, remarks the Richmond Enquirer,
may oppose the introduction of more slaves into the
cdcral Union and be willing, for many reasons, to
submit to the present legislation upon that subject
but cannot see how any Southern man can be W IL
ling TO go further, and increase the loss OF life and
treasure on the coast of Africa in the prevention of
this trade.
The London "Tmes" is wise enough to say, We
go on wasting the precious lives of English sailors
upon the coast of Africa where 0nc rescued negro
cannot be shown as set of against ten dead English
men where one impotcnt force has become mock
cry and our blind and useless zeal jest" Shall we
not only continue, but increase the "mockery,"
and our still, more blind and useless zeal y become
greater jest by the enactment of this buncombe bill
for New England Abolionists?
We can prevent the introduction of more Africans
into America If IL be the wish of the people, but to
90 on crusadng for the protection of man-eatng AZ
rcans. to continue the sacrifice of valuable life upon
the coast of Africa to prevent Cuba from importing
more negroes, is not only folly bu, approaches wick
cdness. We would much prefer to see Congress give
notice of our abrogation of all treaties for the sup
preston of the African Slave Trade, and. abandon
ing the Coast of Africa altogether, recall fleets.
commission the ships to more useful and profitable
voyages.
We hope that every Southern man and every North
crn man. who is not negro-mad, will vote down this
bill for the better destruction of American sailors
on the coast of Africa" and turn their aticntan to
the wants of white men, for whom they were elected
to lcgslatc
To see Congress wasting its time in discussing the
questions that arise out Of American negroes. is bad
enough but to be sInandcrng public money for the
questionable benefit Of African cannibals, passes all
endurance.
BY Mr. Stewards new BILL one million Of dollars il APP
proprated for the better and certain dest ructon
of American sailors the Coast of Africa, and this,
too out Of depleted and empty Treasury increased
taxation for the benefit of the King of Dahomey; u
high tariff to protect cannibals in the better enjoy
ment of their repassone million Of dollars to prevent
the civilization and Characterization of African sava-
gcs is TO be appropriated from the Treasury of pco-
pie protesting the religion Of 4 God who commanded
MS CuoHtu ptbpi' ~ me HtHNfH TN alTlCa,D o. MfVi
sh Ne 20 buy bond nn and bond maids AS well Us
his disciples to preach his gospel to all people.
The practical effect of this bill may then be summed
up as follows: The increased destruction to Amcri-
can sailorsthe useless waste of national vessels
the reckless sqandcring Of one million of doarsthc
prevention Of Outstanding Africa, the continuance
aud perpetuation of the moral desolaton and dark
ness that now pervadcs that continent, and the in
crease Of the facilities for Cannibasm These are
of the effects of Mr. Seward bill lie processes
the religion of Christ, but would deny its blessings to
the negroes of Airca-hc acknowledges and feels
proud of the civilization Of Americans but would de-
ny its benefits TO Africans If we could consult alone
the interest of Africa we would reduce every negro
in Africa to slavery, teach him his duty to God, and
his duty to man, make him useful being in the world
of labor and by the wise legislation of the Southern
States, fit him for the hereafter. But this cannot be
done at least in our days.
Why, then, should the United States increase the
waste of life and treasure upon the coast of Africa
by the enactment of this bill whose ostcnsible object
is the prevention of the slave trade but whose real
object is the elevation and promotion of Mr.. Seward
| 5ns,- Gov. Rencher. of New Mexico, in n special
message to the Legislature says the armisticc with
the Navajocs amounts to nothing it don't provide
for the surrender Of the murderers fMaor Brook ser
want, nor payment for him. The Superintendent of
Indian Affairs I'd the Commander of the Military
Department says they will consent to no peace upon
the terms of the armstcc They will require the re-
turn of the private and public property taken during
the war and the establishment of line east of which
the Indians shall neither plant nor Craze stock.
nj
| THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE IN FRANcE.--Thc Prcsi-
dents message, although the subject of lively crit
clsm on the part of the French press seems neverhc
less to be regarded rather the expression of an in
dvdual than ola nation. AS SUCH its hostile recon-
mendations towards other nations are deprived of
much of their Importance, and the French journals
refuse to believe that the American people ci ther
share his views or prepared to engage in their
execution.
THE PARAGUAY ExpEDITIoN.--It is said that Speaker
Orr and other leading Democrats assert that when
discretion conferred ON the President to redress
our alleged grievances against Paraguay the expec.
| tatiOn was that specal commission would In an