The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-24
Hon. Jefferson Davis and the African
Slave Trade.

The Vieksburg Sun has taken the Vicks-
| burg Wing and other journals opposed
| to the African slave trade to task for
their practice Of misrepresenting Col Davis
position on the subject by quoting only this
detached portion of his speech: MY policy
would be to maintain the existing law of Mis-
| sissippi, which was designed and no doubt
would be effective to prevent the Importation
of Africans into the limits of our State, The
Wing reflects no credit on its fairness when it
takes particular pains to omit Col Davis dec
laration that this conclusion in relation to Mis-
sissippi is based upon his view of her pres
ent condition, and not upon any general theo-
ry. For instance, it is not supposed to be ap-
plicable to Texas, New Mexico, or to any fu-
tare acquisition to be made South of the Rio
Grnade''
The inference from which is that though
importations from Africa and cheaper labor
are not required by the wants of Mississippi,
imported Africans are needed in Texas, New
Mexico, and in territories south of the Rio
Gande hereafter to be acquired.
Our readers will recollect that this latter
view of the subject comedies precisely with
that taken by the Mississippian, whose posi-
ton is not by any means equivocal. Calm re-
Election has convinced us that Mississippi
would be greatly benefited if she were per-
mitted to increase her supply of slaves at from
$500 to $4O0 piece instead of from $1,000
to $500; and to this idea we have added the
paramount one suggested by Col. Davis, that
to secure all of Texas to the South, and to
compete with the North in the settlement of
the new territories and the formation of new
States, there must be an increase to the stock
of Africans. Upon the success of this meas
ure, we have argued, depends the mainten-
ance, or rather the restoration of the equilib-
rum of the sections. Upon the success of this
measure depends the future condition of the
South in the Union. Without an increase of
population she cannot colonize the territories |
with slaves, and without this, she will add |
nothing to her strength in the Union, while |
the North will continue to establish free insti-
tutions not only in the territories already be- |
longing to the Union but hereafter to be ac- |
quired. Meantime, the necessities of the Cot |
ton States will continue to drain off slaves from
the States bordering on the North, which will |
gradually dedicate them to freesoil If the |
extreme Southern States could harmonic in |
the support of policy which would prevent |
the purchase of slaves from those States, this |
latter danger might be averted without open
ing the African slave trade. But every at
tempt looking to this end has signally failed. |
Mississippi tried it, but she needed more
slaves and they were brought here for sale and |
purchased in spite of prohibtory laws, until |
public sentiment compelled their repeal.
The Whig and its associates also forget to |
mention that Col Davis holds that the demand |
'for cotton increases more RAPIDLY than the
supply" and that the increased demand can |
only be met by an increased production, and
that this result 'can only be attained by an
additional supply Of laborers."
The selfappointed expounders of Col Da-
Wis views have also madeit convenient to for
set to n,snsisa .la.t hs holas the nfamosas fed
eral act of 1920 declaring the slave trade to |
be piracy and punishable with DEATH to be
clearly unconstitutional nor do they state |
that he regards the penalty of fine and impris-
onment imposed by the act of 1918, repug-
nant to the Constitution on the ground of be-
ing excessive, as $50 far exceeding the offence
as at least to be impolitic." They forget too
to state that Col. Davis is in favor Of repeal
ing these Objectionable statutes, and ''leamng
the subject Of the importation of africans
to the States respectively" believing that to
them should be left the entire control of the
institution of slavery. No sane man not an
abolitionist at heart, can deny the correctness
of the proposition that the Southern States
are more capable of deciding what their ne
cessities require, than the federal government.
0FI In response to an inquiry through the |
Eagle, Maj. L. Minis has addressed the follow
ing letter, declining to be candidate to rep
resent Kinds county in the State Senate
TERRY, August 10th, 1859
EDITOR EAGLE-Dear Sir: | notice in |
your last paper, a communication inquiring
whether or not am candidate for Senator,
and request on your part that answer over
my own signature. Allow me in reply to say
that / am not candidate for the office in
question
For the complimentary terms in which my
name has been proposed, and the zeal and
earnestness of my friends in this connection,
/ desire to return them my grateful acknowl-
edgments.
Very truly, yours, &c,
L. MINIS.