New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-15
sNRaK THyBvBRY.
Leaning

SNEAK THIBvBRY.
While the more bod aud srdeat spirits n tue
Southern States are intent upon the revival OF the
African notwithstanding, it would seem- an
additional excitement il the obstacles which the
lawr OF the Union plsce in their Wsy-the mean
ard sneskiDg, Of whom there seems to be quite
efficiency at the South, So elsewhere, contribute
sl.o their quota Of effort Vowsrd extending tue
four, atoms of the social pyramid by sddirg to tue
number of those held in Slavery. These latter
gentry frd o congerisl field for their lsbcrs'
one equsy suited TO the timidty of their dispo'i-
tons, sud the nsguity Of their hearts IN
carrying out tie scheme some time sl1ce
started for reducing the free colored popu-
l.tion of the Southern States 10 seTyis1ee.
There are, We suppose, at this tine some four
hundred thousand of these unfortunate people
within the limits Of the Southern States, tie reduc-
ton of whom to Slavery would, at present prices,
produce quite handsome sum of money temp
tston quite too strong for the average OF National
Democratic politicians. However sbhorrent this
scheme may be to every sentiment OF justice ard
humanity or however in conflict with all the pro-
visions of that higher law which erj bins upon men
70 60 TO others as they would that others should do
TO them-it has this at least 10 recommend il: it
does not conflict with any statute Of the United
States, and those who may take part in it are not
in the least danger, whatever else msy happen TO
them. Of beng burg or even tired for pirscy, how.
ever fit subjects for such sn operation.
The example IS 20 this matter already set BY
L.. AZ kaa fali al
BY Arkansas, where law has been enacted, giving
10 the free negroes the choice either 20 lesye the
State, or to subside into slaves. They are to De
allowed as special favor, the privilege of choosing
their ow masters which masters, inside so by this
free y choice of the negroes, are TO come in for
one half their value, the other half to be deter
mined BY spprai,ement, and to be paid over BY the
selected owner to the county school fund. Schools
thus endowed may doubtless be expected to
flourish quite as well as churches endowed by lot
teries the wsy they have of doing things IN The
pestilentia little State OF Delaware.
The good people of the parish of ST. Landry, IN
Louisiana, propose 10 reach the same end by
little different operatos. They suggest that every
free colored person convicted of any ofense shall
be sold to the highest bidder for the benefit OF the
county. Probably, il such q law shOudbe passed,
tie persons who propose this measure would not
stand, out of their great desire to benefit the
State by getting rid of the colored population, at
little hard swearing. Probably, within year
there would not remain 8 single unconvicted co.
ored man in the parish. Some of the free cOiored
people in Louisiana are persons Of large property.
The newspapers mentioned one the other day WHO
bid of plantation for $1,000 and paid cash tor
it. Should the man be sold under the proposed
law, would his plantation 60 With him. TIE st.
Landry people had better settle his question be-
fore pushing the matter further.
This highly dignifed and magnanmous course of
legislation is, however, by no mems limited to the
extreme Southern States. Sneak thieves are TO be
found all the world over. At this moment they
seem to be quite in the sscendency in the
Missouri Legislature, into which body the same
scheme of reducing the free white population
to Slavery has been introduced. Not only In
troduced, but go far as the lower branch OF
the Legislature is cOncerned-and low enough 1t
has shown itself In this matter-passed By vote OF
50 to %. This piece of sneak thieyery was orgi-
nally brought forward as National Democratic
movement; but the modest members Of that party
felt so ba.hful at the idea Of the exclusive glory
with which they were about to cover themselves,
that they called in to their assistance ard made
sort of leader of, an American, one Jones, ofCalla
way.
None Of the papers which we have seen contain
the bill at length, but according to the account of it
in The Missouri Democrat, it not only makes slaves
of the free colOred people, but cOnfscstes their
property. This is to be done, as in Arkansas and
elsewhere, for the benefit Of the school fund. Ef
forts were made to nd the bill BY restricting it
to such free colored people as have come into the
State since 1857, and also by excluding *, Louis
from its operation; but both these amendments
were voted down. 1t remains to be seen what the
Senate will do with this bill, which appears TO have
been made in the House a test Of sOundness on the
Goose 1t is said to excite infinite disgust in st.
Louis.