New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-28

rosidtnis ( the United States who should engage N
sis trade between foreign nations The provisions on
his act extended and enioreeu Dy 'he ~ Vi Vs"
May 1900
Again: The States themselves had clear right 70
waive the constitutional privilege intended for tner
benefit and 20 prohibit; by their own laws, this usae
A apy tine tfey thought proper previous 20 loVo.
Several Of them exercised this night before that perou
and among them containing the greates. hu'oer
Of slaves. This gave 70 Congress- the lmmeuaaAe
70 act in regard 70 all such States, because ney
selves had removed the constitutional oarris,. Nou
eress accordingly passed an on the otn February,
1873 70 prevent the importation OF certain lSlSos
into eerain States where by tS IA rs H. 'o o.
/" admission ia prohibited" In this manner the lm-
portaton Of African slaves INTO the Umted oIas Was
y great extent prohibited some years IN advance OF
A. ,ha vaar 1903 approached, Congress determined
not to nder This trade 70 exist even for single day
afer they had the power TO abolish IT, On the "a OF
March 1877, they passed an act TO take en- rom
and after The lst day Of January, 1875, prohlbung
fbs importation Of African slaves into the United
e.ates This was followed by subsequent actS OF
similar character 70 which need not specially refer
Such were the principles and such the practice OF our
ancestors than fifty years ago IN regard 70 the
African save-irade
Il did not occur TO the revered patriots who had
been delegates 70 the Convention, aud aterward be-
came Members Of Congress, that in passing these laws
they had violated the Constitution which they had
framed with 20 much care and deliberation. 1hey
supposed that TO prohibit Congress IN express terms
from exercising speeihed power eeiore An aPPo'n@tsu @
power after that day had arrived =.
III this were not the case the trainers Of the Constr
tuition had expended much labor IN vain. Had they
imagined that Congress would possess no power 10
prOEib the trade either before after l6OS, they
would not have taken much care TO protect the
States against the exercise Of thus power before that
period Nay more, they would not have attached sc1
vast importance 20 this provision az to have excluded
from the possibility OF future repeal or amendment'
10 which other portions of the Constitution were eX
posed HwOuld then have been wholly unnecessary TO
of
ing the mode Of lis future amendment, the prov
80, ".hat no amendment which may be made prior to
the year thousand eight hundred and eight sna
ia any manner affect the provision in the Consutu
non recurring 10 the States the right to admit the I'M
portaion Of African slaves previous TO that period
According 10 the adverse construction the clause IT
self on which so much care and discussion had been
employed by the members Of the Convention, was An
absolute nuity from the beginning, and all that has
aimee been done under II mere usurpation.
II was well and wise 70 confer this power on Com
xrees because bad il been left TO the States It's e-
cient exerciee would have been impossible. In that
event any one State could have efecually continued
he trade only for itself but for all the other slave
Ssatet though never so much against their Will Ana
yhyf Because African slaves when once brought
within the limits Of any State in accordance with
the laws cannot practically be excluded from any
other State where slavery exists ana essn M Il All ine
States had separately passed laws prohibiting the I'M
portation Of slaves these laws would have failed OF
effect for want Of naval force TO capture the savers
ano 20 guard the coasts Such force no oiaie can
There act Of Congress, it is believed, have, with
very rare and insignificant exceptions accomplished
their purpose For period OF more than hall CEN
fury there has beer percepbe addition TO the num-
Der Of our domestic slaves. During this period their
advancement in civilization has far surpassed that OF
any other portion Of the African race. The light and
tbe blefsnes Of Christianity have been extended to
them, and both their moral and physical condition has
been greatly improved
Reopen the trade and il wonld be difficult TO deter
min bafla fhf enp be delefrlOuS
e interests of the master those Of the nRtive-bon
save OF the evils to the master, the enc most TO be
dreaded would be the introduction of Wild heathen,
and ignorant barbarans among the sober, orderly and
quiet slaves whose ancestors have been on the e0l Tor
several generations. This might tend TO barbarize,
demoralize and exasperate the whole mass, and pro-
duce most deplorable consequences
The ,iect upon the existing slave would, II possible
be still deploTable At present he s treat with
kindnets and humanity. He s well Ted, well Clothed
and not overwOrked. His condition is incOmparably |
better than that of the coolies which modern nations of
high civilization have employed as substitute for Al
mean slaves Both the philanthropy and the self inter
est Of the have combined 70 produce THIS hq-
name result. But let this trade be reopened, |
anc what will be the effect The same, 70 consider
able extent Deighborng island-the 0uly spot |
now on earth where the African save-trde is openly
tolerated. and this in defiance Of solemn treaties with
a power sbundantly able at any moment 10 enforce
their execution There the MASTER intent upon pres
ent grn extorts from the slave as much labor as ais
physical powers are capable OF endurng-knowng
list when death comes 10 his relief his place be
euppl,ed al q price reduced TO the lowest point by the
Shruet.ou Of the African slave-tfaders. Should thls
ever be the case In our country-which do not deem
poesblete present useful character Of the domestic
institution wherein those too old or too young to /
work are provided for with care and humanity, aud
those capable of labor not overtasked would un-
dereo al unfortunate change Inc ieeing OF recPro-
cal dependence and attachment which now exists be-
tween master and slave would be converted into mu-
tuai dstrutt and hostility.
But we are obliged as a Christian and moral nation,
70 consider what would be the effect upon unhappy
Africa it, elf II we should reopen the slavetrade. This
would give the trade an impulse and extension which
II has never had even in its palmest days The nu- |
erous victims required to supply would convert the
whole slave coast into perfect PandemoDium, Tor
which this country would be held responsible in the
ewes both of God and man. Its petty tribes would
then be constantly engaged in predatory wars against
each other for the purpose of sezng slaves to supply
che American market All hopes Of African eivilza-
ton would tins be ended.
On the other hand, when market for African
slaves sha 30 longer be furnished in Cuba, and thus
all the world be closed against this trade may then
indulge reasonable hope for the gradual Improvement
of Africa. The chief motive Of among the tribes
will ceaEe whenever there is no longer any demand for
slavea. The resources of that fertile but miserable
country might then be developed by the hand of indus
Try aud afford subjects for legitimate foreign and do
mestic commerce. In this manner Christianity aud
civilization may gradually penetrate the existing
gloom.
The wisdom Of the course pursued by this Govern
nent toward China has been vindcated by the event.
While we sustained neutral position in the waged
by Great Britain and France against the Chinese Em-
pre- late Minister, in obedience 70 his Instructions
iudeiously cooperated with the Ministers OF these
Powers all measures 70 secure by treaty the
insi concessions demanded by the interests OF foreign
commerce. The result is that satisfactory treaties have
been concluded with China by the respective Ministers