The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-01-08
THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.

We can readily see how southern men may oppose
the opening of the African Slave Trade, with the
Southern States says the Richmond (Va) Enquirer.
upon questions of economy relating solely TO those
States. Men may honestly df,r n to whether Vir
ginia South Carolina. Louisiana. or Alabama would
b. benefited by the importation of negro from AT
rca. and this difference need not induce any nsprrty
of argument or suspicion of integrity to southern In
stitutions hut we can not see How southern men.
believing the institution of slavery to i,r Heaven
appointed and wise institution. both for master aud
slave dcnounce the Introduction of more slaves into
the South Ms an infamous crime"
We do not believe the slave trade with Africa to
be u "crn mr." except in that It violates law and
thus under the general definition of the word
crime" We do not bcicvc that there is any guilt
in this trade voativc Of moral law. II is true Com
grcss has enacted that Il shall br nfamonsy punished
and those who cngag" In this trade are hgcl {, mi
nails. hut we do not regard them rs worse than those
mcn who sometimes cvnde the revenue laws both
are an,ty of violating law and both should he pm.
ishri whom convicted. We hold that every mnu
should obey The laws long as they nnrcpcaed.
no matter what may b. his opinion n TO their consi.
uionality. Bat IL We ar" correctly a,dsnd. the
lat" violation of the law against tn" slave trade was
mad" not for the purpose Of pccuniary gain. bn'
from motives of different character. which. though
,hesa motives do not lessen the amrnabiliiy to pun.
i~hmcnt they certainly mitigate the criminality Of
the offence.
There nre many honorable men who believe H.,
laws prohibiting tn" African slave trade to be uncon-
stutional. hut they know that under the present
state Of public opinion IN that section of the confcdc
racy which has the power of repeal II would be folly
to expect the opinions of southern men against the
consiiiutonaliiy of The law 10 have any weight and
that So far as any relief from Congress is to he cx
pnccd II is hopeless. These gentlemen honestly bc
lrvc these laws 10 hc unconstitutional and they
know that repeal is hopeless aud that their rcfcan
only come through the Supreme Court. But consi-
mtonal points can only arise before the Supreme
Court through the ins'rumrnaiy of n case" and
case" involving the constitutonality Of these
laws can only arise out Of their violation This vic
lation has been made no, from the hope of pccunary
gain. hut rs a means of deciding question which in
wolves they believe. suhmissioh to an uncoHstniion
al land hence not hnding) law, dissolution Of The
Union. to avoid the consequences arising from sub
mission TO unconstitutional precedent. They may
be criminals h,c. bn they not the less patriots
to the constitution. Believing that every violation
Of the constitution tends TO weaken its efficacy. they
have elected cmnality in the eye Of The law rather
than submit to what they he"vc to be serious and
papablr violation ofiho constitution. They may lie
pirates hv congressional enactment but they such
without the amino furandi which constitutes the g- Of
crimnality.
The constitution gives Congress the power 10 de-
and punis sh and f,lonips the bph sna
and offences against the laws of nations" Now buy
ing negroes in Africa. or even stealing them there is
neither a piracy or felony committed on III" high
seas: II may b. felony committed on th cconnrnt of
Africa Int cannot h" on the high s"ns" Under this
power Congress has declared that murder or robbery
committed on the high seas or on any river haven or
bay. ont of the jurisdiction of any particular State
or any offence VIII ch If committed within tn body
of the country. would by the laws of the United State
be punishahl" with death should be adjulgrd to b.,
piracy and felony. and punished with DEATH lhi.
! is definition german to the law Of nations. and
| b ne, within the provision of the Constitution Bn'
satisfied with this definition. Congress has extend
ed piracy to include slave trading, and with the ex-
crcise OF the same power. could include th" trade in
opium undrr the d. dfnition of piracy. The power
! to define" piracy is moi TO say What offences Moll
be piracy. but what Offences piracy by tie hv Of
nations. The trainers ofthe Constitution never mca1 1T
that Congress should punish til" trad" uncirazsd
negroes, while it protec I'd the trade in civilized ne
gro"s.
The African slave trade is not IAN ofei ce against
the law of nations for every nation has at one tmc
or another encouraged and protected it.
We instance these constitutional views to show
that there may be ground for faithfully questioning
the constntionaty of the laws prohibiting and pun
ishlng the African slave trade; and there are men
honest and honorable, who would derive no persona
benefit from the reopenng of this trade yet entertain
these constitutional doubts, and who want thcil
doubts solved by judicial decision. They have rul
dangcrou risks but this only aests their devotion
j to the Constitution. which they believe has been i'm
paired hy palpable violation.
! nss- The telecraphc dispatches state that an las
sociation called the Mexican and Central American
Colonization Society is said to be widely ramifeG
throughout th, country, already comprising two hon