Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-06-02
The Slave trade Gaining Ground.


sentiment of the people had borne ties
timony against it; the laws of civilized
atoms had condemned it as piracy, and
was believed to be settled by the com
mon consent of all enlightened countries,
that it's revival would never again be
proposed, espccialy in the United States.
But public sentiment is mutable; espec-
tally so, on all questions involving pc
cuniary profit and political power. -
There is every indication to warrant
the conclusion, there is change of
sentiment in progress on the subject Of
the slave trade. Our democratic adj
ministrations, particularly the present
one, having thrown their influence on
the side of slavery, the slave holding
interest is emboldened, and from motives
Of mercenary gain, seeks the reopen
ing Of the traffic in human flesh.
The southern Commercial Convention
which lately met at Vicksbur9h, after
a discussion Of four days, adopted
resolution, declaring Hat the la,cs
against He sluUe hade ought TO BIZ a601
ished The broad ground was ASSUME
ed by the advocates Of re-opening the
traffic, that the right to import negroes
from Africa or elsewhere, was the same
as the right to import teas from China,
silks from France and cutlery from I'm
gland. Nor would such arguments be
an absurdity, if the assumption that
negroes are only property, were
true. COncede the proposition that the
colored race may lawfully and morally
be treated as chattel property, and the
reasoning Of slave holders for the
foreign slave traffic has force The
southern commercial convention. which
declared in favor of the revival of the
foreign slave trade, did not represe mt
mere fraction Of the south; the tone
OF the newspaper press in the extreme
southern states, is Enthusiastically in favor
OF such measure. The treatment which
open violations Of the law for the sup
passion of the slave trade, has received at
the hands Of southern courts, is evidence
OF growing purpose to renew the com,
merce. Statements have recently APP
peared of the landing of cargocs Of AT
ricans along the shores of the gulf Of
Mexico, and no notice whatever seems
to be taken of this infraction Of United
States law by the authorities.
The north may affect to treat as an
absurdity, and ridicule the idea ofsuch
a measure of barbarism prevailing in
this enlightend age but the history of
the pastproves the north is by no means
invulnerable to the demands of the
south. The repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, was regarded as among
the impossible occurrences in our his
tory; it was looked upon as an unchang-
able obligation by all sections of the
Union. Once the northern democracy
were ready to brand as traitors any
Who might propose it. Not four years
lgo, any suggestion for the enactment
If slave code for the Territories,
would have been secuted as preposter-
Gus; now it is meekly treated by large
portion Of the democracy as a thing Of
manifest destiny" 1t is useless there
fore to Aatter the people that the for
eign slave trade, will never be sanction
ed, for the reason that it is contrary to
the spirit and moral sentiment of the
age. So every man possessed of the
ordinary feelings Of humanity would
have said to the proposed enactment to
punish by fine and imprisonment, the
giving of bread, or cup of cold water
to a famished fugitive fleeing from OPP
preston. So too, few years ago it
would not have been believed the gov.
eminent Of this country, would become
80 prostituted to the slave interest, as to |
use its power in enforcing pro,slavery
constitution OH the people of Kansas,
contrary to the will of fve-sixths of its
people. Yet these acts, and others Of
like character, which only a short time
since, would have been deemed crimes
against liberty and humanity, now have
the approval of the democratic admins
tration of the nation. Let no one then |
believe the revival of the African slave |
trade--the repeal Of the laws of Con-
gress for its suppression and punish
ment, a matter entertained only by a
few mercenary southenors. There are
Just as good reasons for believing, If |
will before the end of the next two
years, become a measure of the demo
cratic party, as any Of the measures be-
fore mentioned, which were once deem
ed absurdities by common consent
The grasping propensities of slave hol-
ders will not be satisfied, until every
barrier of freedom is broken down :;
they will have the right of slavery ack-
nowledged everywhere, and have do
minion over all, or else lose all in the
daring attempt.
Another argument which is piled
with much force, by those interested in
the foreign slave commerce, is the ap.
parent inconsistent attitude which the