Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-01-15

trade unconstitutional they expect no relief from
Congress, and look to the Supreme Court, "but
constitutional points can only arise before the SUI
preme Court, through the instrumentality oil O.
ease" and cease involving the constitutional
| ity Of these laws only arise out Of their vio
lation. This violation has been made, not from
the hope Of pecuniary gain, but as means OF
deciding question which they believe involves
submission to an unconstitutional land hence not
hi ndng) law, or dissolution of the Union to avoid
the consequences resulting from submission to an
unconstitutional precedent"
i Hence it seems there is principle Involved in
the matter, on which depends the permaneucy of
the Union. IT, after all the labor that has been
expended in saving the Union il is now brought
TO the brink Of precipice by the arrival OF this,
perhaps bogus, SLAYER, Vandeyer. the 'let her
slide" sentiment, attributed to Mr. Banks, may
become relief What is the stability of Union
worth, that can be knocked out of its propriety by
a single cargo of Africans? !? The Enquirer con-
cludes long article follows:
"But there are many other Issues involved in the
revision Of the laws now prohibiting the slave
trade, which we desire to be made, and which we
believe will he accomplished W the discussion in
the Echo" and 'wauderer' questions.
1--WE hope this discussion will hberate our coun'
try from the "entangling alliarce" of the slave
trsde treaties. We hope this discussion will wipe
frorl the statute books those laws which now cas'
dishonorable reflections upon the institution Of
slavery, by the punishment they inAict upon those
who may engage in it. We hope this discussion
mav prohibit American national vessels from pur
suing and capturing the vessels of any nation
tbar ,hap ,ba al ho ba
ed in the foreign slave trade If any other nation
desires to engage in it, have objection and
we want to see the United States occupy this po
sitien saying to the world "slarery is right, and
the sooner you introduce it the better for your
tional health" We prohibit our own citizens from
bringing any slaves from Africa, not that we
believe it to be wrong, but because we believe,
from economical principles, that We have enough
here already"
The "Barkis" of the Supreme court sis willing"
undoubtedly. That institution, high exalted
above popular prejudice, can discover slavery gu.
preme everywhere; an excellent tonic for the
health the Ilack drop tho "rhubarS senna and
purgative drug" to purge away the evils Of the
nation.
But it is the fate of the attempt to establish sa.
\
progress. The more it is established in theory,
the more glarng its Inconsistencies become. All
slaves have at Sums time been stolen. Successive
shitings Of the punder do not void the owners
right to his property, and the owner is ever pres
ent to assert it. If the Supreme Court declares
tho slave trade legal and proper, the negroes, sto'
len in Africa, may be bought of their native chefs
or traders and transported TO America shielded
10y the government which having established the
principle that possession Of stolen negroes is ali
the points Of the law, is bound to defend it, II
the principle is sound the original robber medi-
unS are unnecessary to it. Americans who make
descent Oh the of A lrica and seize the ne
groes themselves, have acquired the same legal
title, and the same rghtto protection. The En-
quirer pronounced il the extreme of absurdty to
declare the trade in civilized negroes in America
right. and that in unciyilized negroes in Africa
wrong. The Enquirer is sound. If the slave
trade is right in America, it is rght in Africa. II
kidnapping negroes is right in Africa, and the
possessor entitled to the protection Of government
for his stolen slaves the principle is limited by
no longitudinal parallel, and kidnapping negroes
in America is right. and entitled to the same pro
lection. A strong force Of kidnappers could make
Hiucu iuOIe ucHceHt Ou luc iuTpd pluH'
tations of Alabama and Missppi than on the AT
rican coast; and thus avoid all the cost and loss
oc the middle passage and as soon as they had
actually secured possession Of the negroes. gov.
ernment would be compelled to protect them in it,
The first effect of this benefcient principle, which
is to secure the national health, would be to de-
clare the unconstitutonality os the fugitive slave
law. That would be done, of course, as soon as
Kentucky negro could be stolen, SO as to make
a case. No relief being expected from Congress
in this matter, We must look to the Supreme
Court
But this is only the beginning Of the benefits
Of this principle. If possession Of stolen negroes
!, on the high seas. or anywhere else, is clear IT,
tie, it is the same with other property. The vital
part Of slavery principle. is that slave property
r is The same as other property So if right can
be acquired by stealing in case. it in both;
E therefore our Supreme Court would be compelled
to declare all laws furnishing stealing unconsttu'
ticual. as a could be made, and this
would re ma lie at once. for no relief can he ex'
pec,ed from Congress in this matter There will
be no end of benefits to the national health if the
Supreme Court will ONLY declare the principle that
stealing, or trading n stolen property is legiti'
, mate commerce. and entitled to be protected BY
, the right arm of the Government.
Tue OLD SLAVE TRADE AND Who CospUcTs 1T.
The whole number of African slaves, imported
;, at Charleston. from the lst of January, 1904 to
, the 3lst of December 1907. was 33,775, being an
. avarage of 9.3l4a year. The number of arrivals
of slavers in that period 2O2 Of which 70 be-
Inn noad IA Rrit b
a Rhode Island. to Baltimore, 8 to France. 10 to
, Norfolk, and each to Boston. Hartford and Swe'
den. OF the slaves brought in. much the larger
! part came in the British vessels. They amount to
a l0,5l9. The three French vessels brought l,07s.
OF the vessels nominaly owned in Charleston
the greater part Of the cargoss-and doubtless the