The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-08-10


ment drawn from the language Of the
Constitution, that its trainers under
stood the government to have power to
prohibit the trade and only restricted for
a time its exercise, is subject to all the de-
ductions made by the amendments to the
instrument, and the mode of its exercise
to all the restrictions contained in it. The
broad and earliest distinction between the
Federalists and the Republicans, was that
the former were for the Constitution as
formed, and the latter for the Constitu-
ton a. amended. Indeed we have rea-
son to believe that but for the assurance
that amendments would be adopted, the
Republicans would have rejected the Con
stitution. One of those amendments de
clared that the powers not delegated to
the United States. nor prohibited to the
States, were reserved to the States respect
lively, or to the people. 1t is under this
clause that we have claimed the duty of
the general government to show a speci-
tic grant for every power itassumes to ex-
ercise, and have required that law should
be needful and proper to the performance
of the function, such being the defined
purpose of the grant Of legislative power
Another of those amendments restrains
the general government from imposing
excessive fines or inflicting cruel and un-
usal punishments.
If | have succeeded in showing that
the act Of 1920, was not authorized by
any express grant of the Constitution, the
first amendment cited is sufficient; but if
! have failed in this, then does not the
second amendment stand in bar of that
enactment. A decision of this question
by the Supreme Court, might if possible
render doubly absurd the rant of those
who term an infraction of that statute
| treason, and thus commit, not piracy, but
''umrder of the kings English"
Regarding the slave trade as sanctioned
| bv the immemorial usage of mankind, as
a commerce recognized by the Constitu-
| ton, but which from motives of internal
policy it was thought proper to prohibit,
| and conceding that sufficient power for
that purpose existed in the general gov
| ernment, it may well be asked whether
the fine of the act 1918, is not excessive.
whether the penalty of both fine and i'm
| prisonment does not so far exceed the Of
fence as at least to be impolitic. In our
! land of liberty and jury trials, laws to be
efficient must not violate the settled, we'll
considered public opinion, nor go so far
beyond the legitimate object as to wear
the semblance of vindictive pursuit, lest
they thus excite the heart of a generous
| people to sympathy with the offender. 1t
will be a sad day for our government and
for the public morals, when unwise legisla-
ton shall drive iuries to the practical
notification of laws.
have said that | would prefer to leave
the subject of the importation of African
slaves TO the States respectively, but view
ing it as utterly impracticable to obtain
the repeal of the act of 1918, so as to re-
open the African slave trade, it is perhaps
needless to speck of the case which would
arise in such contingency. Yet as my
| purpose is the freest interchange of opin-
ions, | will say that in such event the State
being left free from any Congressional in
teryention on the subject, my policy would
be to maintain the existing law of Missis-
sippi, which was designed and would no
doubt be effective to prevent the impOr-
tation of Africans into the limits of our
State. Let no one however suppose that
this indicates any coincidence Of opinion
with those who prate of the inhumanity
and sinfulness of the trade. No conse-
quence which would justify such denun-
ciation can flow from the transfer of a
slave from a savage to a christian master.
II is not the interest of the African, but
of Mississippi, which dictates my conclu
sion. Her place in history, her rank
among the States her power to maintain
constitutional and natural rights, depend
upon her people, the free, intelligent
high-minded sons of the governing race
Her arm is no doubt strengthened by
the presence of due proportion of the
servile caste, but it might be paralyzed b,
| Nr1N- yrnv,ll 1loh h1,- foI
if the gates of the African slave marke
were thrown open to the present wealth
enterprise and staple stimulants of tn,
State. | would prefer a policy whicl
would promote the more equal distribu
ton of those we now have.
This conclusion in relation to Mississiu
pi, is based upon my view of her presen
condition, not upon any general theory
For instance, it is not supposed to be az
+ plicable to Texas, to Texas, to New Mexic
or to any future acquisitions to be mad
South of the Rio Grande.
All of these countries which can only b
developed by slave labor in some of il
forms, and which with a sufficient suppl
of African slaves would be made tributa
ry to the great mission of the Unite
States, tOfeed the hungry, to Oclothe the ni
. ked, and to establish peace and free trad
with all mankind.
The demand for cotton increases NOR
rapidly than the supply. A freer trad
: with China, adding the consumption
which her three hundred millions of pee
pie are capable, will in few years requil
Il an increase of production. which can Onl
i be met by additional supply of laborer
/ Where are they to be obtained? II n
> grOphOlism seeks to substitute the CHR
: or India man for the African it will bI
II neglect the lessons of experience and us
/ lessly repeat the cruelties for the suppre
= sion of which the African was original
u imported into America. am but statir
II on this subject facts familiar to YOU. co
y clusions confirmed by our every dav o
servation, but which are denied by tho
Il who not practically acquainted with ii
)t cultivation of our staples, the inhuenc
n of the climate suited to their growth,
" the characteristics of the negro race, co
I, tinue to assert that our system of labor
ne unnecessary, because those crops could
t. well be produced by white and free 1
" | gro laborers. What can better show tn,
n unftness to legislate on this subject of q
or mestic interest? What more fully ius
I'd fies the propriety of leaving the impor
IS ton Of laborers to be regulated by Sta
X legislation, according to policy to be {
H. termined by those who can best und,
to stand it, and on whom its consequen,
" must fall?
X With this general indication of nv vie
Ne | leave this branch of the subject to (
'ss time when, if ever it may become praC
lct cal question, and then will discuss it wi
ra- those true friends of the South who diff
lis from me- with the respect which | ha
'p- for their Judgment, the confidence f
ed in their honorable motive, and the di
in dence with which would on any occasi
ed oppose my opinion to theirs.
Ii was said of the members of a OF
ne powerful family which gave kings TO
rope, that they learned nothing and
in got nothing" five credit the anti-sla
he ry agitators with sincerity, such wol
rn- seem to be their condition. Though
rec vestigation and experiment have disprov
or the assertions and refuted the theories
which their movement commenced, Il
ch neither learn the correction nor forget
us ploded errors unsubstantially founded
,sk on the popular phrases which they HI
led brought into disrepute by constant n
mas application. A declaration of rights m,
in. by bodies polite, is construed as an es
val upon the individual relations of mar
Ca. man. Arguing to their own satisfact
O IA for the unity in origin of the races of III
hu- they draw thence the conclusion of
,de present equality. If the premise be {
our rect, the conclusion is surely a non Scg1a
the and the student of facts as they exis
red our time will not be disturbed in his in,
- ries. As to him il matters not whet
, to Almighty power and wisdom stamped
s | versity on the races of men at the pei
ade of the creation; or decreed it after
An Subsidence of the flood. 1t is enough
ich us that the creator speaking through
" n inspired lips of Noah declared the dest
!. if of the three races of men. Around
ner- about us is the remarkable fulfllment
YES the prophecy, the execution of the dec
cent and the justification of our literal
flag struction of the text.
hen The judgments of God are not a. Il
the of man. To the former all things ar,
stat cOmmodated and the fate of the subie
her thereby his nature, but the victim
dis mans decree rebels and struggles az;
rred his condition.
was When the Spaniards discovered
UNI continent and reduced the sons of S
SION to bondage, unsuited to that cond
en- they pined and rapidly wasted ava
unproductive labor The good Bishop
ma, CaSas with philosophical humanity ma "a
ship rated the importation of the race 0. =, !.
COM they came to relieve from an r.
the state the dwellers in TENS, anu H.
AsN