Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-15
Romance and Reality.
From tie Ncr York Express.

Our Court record, to-day, bears testimony
to the disgracctul fact that, Notwithstanding
the fulminations of our Anti-Slayery pulpits
and politicians, against the proposition
to reopen the African Slave Trade Ia prcpo-
sition which, as We have often had occasion
to show, finds little or no favor South the
internal traffic is in full blast here. under our
very eyes, in the North. Yesterday, u New
York Slave trader might have been seen
from the steeple Of Rev. DR.. Cheever' Church
at Union Square, or from the roof OF the
Pilgrims. in Brooklyn, at anchor in the
Bay. She had no human chattels on board,
u be sure,-but that was the fault OF the |.
> ship-ot-war Portsmouth, rather than that
OF the owners and filters out OF the vessel,
who had fitted her out at this port, with eve
ry convenience for slowing cargo OF from
800 to 1000 likely negrues,-worth IN Gu
ba at least, an average Of say 1000 each
Well, quoth the reader this is all very
wrong, and very wicked but what has the
Rev. DR.. Cheever, or the Rev. DR.. Beccher
to do with it? We answer, much. If they
will make Slavery" the specialize Of their
pulpits, Sunday after Sunday, and year al
ter year,-if they will insist upon preaching
the Negro" Of the Politicians, instead of
tho Gospel of Christ it is their duty to look
after these Slave traders, at their own doors,
(perhaps in their own congregations AZ least
with rs keen an eye as the Southern Slave
owner in Georgia, or Alabama, on Texas, is
looked after Let them form Vigilance Com
mittees to aid the Federal Courts in ferreting
out the parties who furnish the funds to buy
the vessels that are engaged in the voyages
TO the Coast of Africa. Ii may cost money
to do that,-but if funds can BE- raised 10 pay
the expenses of an underground Railroad 10
run negroes otto Canada, surely something
can be spared to prevent fresh supplies from
the Coast Of Africa to take their places:
The idea Of rcopening the slave Trade, as
we have said has never been seriously en-
tertaned at the South, save by few profess
sional Fire-eaters, and even they seem to be
making use OF that idea to stick pins in the
Aboitionists, rather than with any actual
desire that it should ever he reduced 10 prac
tice. At any rate, with one or two unmen-
tionable exceptions. the whole thing, in that
section of the Union, has been but mere
sentiment; whereas, here in the North. the
frequent seizure of Northern vessels on the
Coast Of Africa, fitted out by New York and
New England capital--shows that with u II
is positive reality. Hence. we beg Rev.
Mr. Beecher, and Rev. Mr.. Cheever to turn
their guns against this Slave Trade Reaiity,
right here, under the shadow of the churches,
and waste less fire on the Romance. The
man-steaers are not on the Peedee, the Tom
bigbee, or at the Passes Of the Mississippi.
! They are here on the IIudson-withn sound
of evangelical church bells, if not within
reach, Sundays, Of the lungs Of the preach
ers in the pulpit.
We make use Of that phrase 'mcn-Steal-
ing" by the way, to enquire whether these
anti-savery crusaders are aware Of the fact,
that kidnapping white men is likewise a re-
guiar branch Of businessmen III Charleston,
Savannah, or Mobile--but in New York and
our sister City of Churches over the river:-
If not. we respectfully invite their attention
to the reported proceedings, in the Express
of the Seancns Convention, now, or till yes
tcrday, in session in the Baptist Church III
Oliver street They will find it there stated
on excellent authority, that there is such
thing rs MAN-STEALI>G III the Northern States.
aS well as on the Coast of Africa. ut the
same time, we are not permitted To indulge
in the hope that, even when their optics
are opened to this infamous fact, Rev. MIR.
Cheever or Rev. Mr.. Bccchcr, will have a
word to say against it, because it is the mis-
fortune of the white men to have straight
hair and Saxon features. Persons of that
class and character may be "stolen,' or kid
napped"-as they are now stolen and kid
napped-dd HJitum, in this Christian city,
without quickenng the sympathies of the
Abolition preachers; but only let the "kidnaP-
ped, or the stolen" have an ebon counter.
ance or "A crispy head, and the thunders OF
the pulpit will straightway be heard in has
behalf at Union Square and on Brooklyn
Heights.