The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-07-27


owe as much to Africa as to Europe ITSELF
From the teening millions, the barbarian
hosts, crushed, oppressed, benighted Of that
father-l land cannot few more subjects be
spared to civilization
There may be, and I am not at at present
arguing that point, very great difference in
principle between the transfer of African
labor, without consulting the laborer, from one
section to another of the South, and the act
of transferring the same labor, in the same
manner, from other sections where it is to be
had, as for example from Cuba, from Brazil,
or from the Guinea Coast whose chiefs it is
understood assert and exercise rights of mas
terry as well defined and established as our
and also another very important one which
is to this effect-that African slavery, though
very right and very proper and much to be
| justified, where it now exists at the South, is
a thing after all to be separated, very care
| fully, from the act of bringing it there, which
act was immoral, irreligous, wicked, inexpe-
dient, and viii be so again, the hand Of Pro
Uideace sckies acas at one time 50 discernabe an
| 1t, having been as discernably a0ithdra1on
Or it may be that whilst the principle re-
mains the same, the question of eIpediency
has come in and determined the opinions and
legislation of the country, but upon this point
| too would hear further argument.
| may maintain or deny that the Federal
| Slave Trade acts are Constitutional, or if they
are, that they apply, or can be made to apply,
| to the introduction Of Africans in the condl-
| ton of apprentices; may declare for the re-
| tention Of these acts, Federal and State, or
for their repeal, without subjecting myself, in
either case, to the charge of being deficient in
patriotism, or in any of those attributes which
are generally held to be compatible with good
citizenship.
Favoring even the repeal of the Federal
acts as brand upon the institutions OF the
South, may, nevertheless, reserve the right
Eof advocating the retention, in whole or part,
| of those Of the States, should further exami-
| nation indicate that as the safer policy or
may be willing to advocate the repeal in such
States only as seem to be the most crippled,
Texas Louisiana, etc, and the new States
which are in embryo, regulating the repeal even
then, so stringently, SO discreetly, as to re-
move every ground of apprehension, either o.
excessive supply, or of harshness and cruelty
to be practised, over and above that which Is
unavoidably incident to immigration of every
kind.
Let the election be what it may, the subject
is indeed fully and fairly before the public,
and is quite as legitimate and proper for dis
cussion and argument, in every point of view,
as any of those trite and hackneyed ones, of
banks. tariffs, internal improvements and rev.
enues, that have made the fortunes of politi-
clans, and divided and distracted our people,
in every period of their history
To aid this discussion by the preparation
and publication Of reports and addresses, by
the bringing into collision of mind with mind,
in town, county and State meetings and asso-
Citations; by collecting and disseminating ap-
proprate data, may be stated in brief to be
the purpose of the African Labor Supply AS
sociation, its members being impressed with
the general merits of the cause in which they
are enlisted, but at the same time open to ar
gument and opposing conviction. They adopt
no machinery which is unusual, and cherish
no aims that are not proclaimed out OF doors,
assimilating themselves rather to those leagues
and associations, which, in Europe and
America, under the banner OF the Corn
Laws" Free Trade" Parliamentary Re
FORM" ETC., have been as familiar as house
hold words, and have never been thought al
All iz1cu1EststSaII HII1I HE dut1Gs OF good clu
zenship.
l. Nor ought it to be regarded as an impract
cable issue though it may almost verge upor
|
legislation upon the subject of the slave trade
Revolutions seemingly as impossible, have
been accomplished time and again in history
The stop which was given to this trade wa:
one of those revolutions, when every chris
| tan and civilized power had previously sane
toned and supported it. The attitude which
slavery itself has assumed, contrasted witt
D that it held ia the days of Mr.. Jefferson, ant
l Wilberforce, is another Of those revolutions
Itwould not do to fix opinion by PrOcrusteal
laws, and should the South be brought Il
f unite against the energy of her convictions
may tell very potently and very fair.
! / say should the South unite-for who cal
/ be sure, that when our smaller proprietor
and non-slaveholders, among the best ant
u most reliable citizens we have, come to ex
II anime carefully, they will not imagine tina
: there is a tendency at present to consolidat
e in fewer and fewer hands, the entire contrc
/ of labor with us, and that such tendency
c capable of being counteracted, and their ow
state and condition greatly improved, by tn
opening of new source Of supply, whlc
from its comparative cheapness, would prov
to be within their reach, and adapted to tn
inferior lands, which are in their possession
d or are readily accessible to them.
r The larger proprietors, the sterling mept
wealth and character, after careful surve
10 of the whole field, may see, that let even tn
n worse happen, and their slaves and produc
i tdepreciate in the market, their condition wi
u at least have inappreciable advantages of an
l. ther kind, in this, that the basis of slaveI
of will be enlarged, and be brought to embra'
a. in direct and tangible interest, erery naeha6
l. of the community, and its area at the san
H. time be widened by the introduction OF ne
re States, interested in its maintenance, and
lie the retention of those States now upon Il
A. border, and believed to be somewhat in jeo
m ardy. They may see that with the increa
r of labor, will come the population and Il
IS capital necessary to direct and control it al
ce thus general condition of prosperity, throut
ne all the notifications of the community, whi
must react upon themselves. Or, occupyi
ly another stand point, from which a large sphe
at can be embraced, reflections like these M
IN present themselves the price OF slaves IN
w past has not decreased in the ratio of incres
nt, ed supply, but the very reverse has been t
on case; and the same in regard to slave pl
a ducts there are natural and necessary I'm
las tations upon the proposed means OF supp
IN. / which must tend to distribute the incres
he very equally and regularly over long perl'
.he and in all probability cause it to be felt mi
MT, in retaining slave property at its prese
of figures, than in producing any actual dect
ich from them whilst the demand for slave p
lu- ducts is an increasing quantity, represent
ld- by the growing civilization OF the unnuInDel
in. millions of Europe and of Asia, the capac
ted Of supply is constant and almost fixed qui
in tity. represented by the increase of a few n
ned lions of Africans, upon our shores, and IS q
to at a disadvantage in the race, and may,
Use the end lead to such an enhancement Of pri
ich as will let in the free labor of other natio
? it or stimulate their introduction of slaves, q
0 a thus in effect break down the monopoly VIII
is now in our hands.
it. The North, and l come to her last find
h that she has gone to the end of her tether,
the aegressions upon the institutions of the Sou
ded and that any attempt to interfere with slay
Dor further, would be met with open and viol
ase, disruption of the federal system; and
That the Union, if it subsists at all, must be
,en- with Shareholders, nay, in q practical poin
her, view, and our northern brethren are a '
lose practical and far-seeing people, regard il
vlte little Importance whether those slayeholt
ey- and their slaves be many or few, so that
balance of power, which is now establls
!, II and is not likely again to be disturbed in
q q hands is retained, and with it the capacit
rae enjoying the fruits and exactmg tribute,
u Of of the enlarged and enlarging prosperity,
has would in all probability result.
q IN On the other hand, and keep this stea
the in view, none of these suggestions ma
ting the event prove to be sustained; but the Vi
last of the very intelligent, and none can do
patriotic gentlemen, in all Of the States,
de- array themselves so earnestly in the oppos
pean may prevail. listen to these gentlemen
!r1ng a great deal of respect and interest and
hold happy to see them brought out, and gi'
ty to the extent of my opportunities as Joul
ome ist, the utmost publicity to their argum
1ents They may be right, though you and dc
labor think So with the lights at present DeLor
tour that future increase of slave territory Il
possible, and that therefore an accelerated
sur crease of slaves would Africanize the
telli- States, destroy the value Of productions
find troduce disease and insubordination, {
] that population, etc. 1t is at least an honest
stem, ion, and entitled to weight.
nefits Far and legitimate discussion Is wh
turn wanted and that only. 1t can do no
nefts in any country, and under any state OF q
, and and IN regard to any matter It IS q