The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-04-20

more serious difficulty than they bargain
"a for.
Regarding the policy Of re-opening the
African slave trade, we have frequently
expressed our opinion. Upon this, how
ever. men may honestly differ. and yet re-
spect one anothcr's opinions. But the
effort to inaugurate and carry ON the traf
&c clandcstinely. IN face ct the positive
prohibition on the statute book Of the
country. to oar mind involves q degree Of
which we do not see how any
good citizen can for a moment tolerate
These laws were passed by Congress al
most unanimously, and at a time when
some of the greatest men the country has
over produced, occupied seats in that |
body. They met the general sense Of the !
people, North and South, and the opposi- |
ton felt 10 them was too triAing to merit |
attention They met the approval Of Mr.,
jefferson. Mr.. Madison. Mr.. Monroe. Mr.. |
Macon, and all the illustrious men that
day Gen. Jackson Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Der
r.cn. Mr.. Calhoun himself nor any Of their
compecrs. during the whole Of their ca
rcer. ever thought Of disturbing them,
much less Of encouraging their constitu-
ents to set them at defiance. We are for
tunate in having. at this day, better south
eru men. wiser statesmen, and more pro
found thinkers than Calhoun. jackson,
Berricu. LowndCs, and the other old 70
rie- who lived aud acted with them on the
theatre u public life.
But IL Is said that the circumstances OF
the South have changed-that she needs
more slave labor-that the slavery ques-
ton has undergone better investigation
since tho rise Of abolitionism-that the
South has come better TO understand the
grounds upon which her great institution
rcsts--thaf having been rendered better
able to appreciate her own position and
necessities. and the duties which they i'm.
pose. the iact become, obvious that the
prohibition Of the slave trade casts .tig-
ma upon her institutions, and that she
should on the one hand seek the removal
Of that prohibition, while on the other
she j. iustifable ia disrcrlrding L..
Mr. Calhoun iorestw the present condi-
ton Of the South in the Union a. with a
gin ofprophecy. Tie knew that the cqui-
/ Hbrium between the sections was forever
lost. and that there were not slaves in the
South 70 occupy new territory fast enough
10 give her an equal number OF States with
the North. And yet. with hi, matches
intellect, his lifelong study as n how the
rights and interests Of the South were TO
be preserved. he never contemplated n a
means to that end the revival Of the Afri-
can slave trade, by repeating the laws
prohibiting il. or by eyading them or set
ting thcm at nought. Il was reserved for
those. protesting 70 be- his peculiar follow
ors and admirers. and the champions Of
the principles which he taught. To- mako
discovery Of method Of Southern rcgen-
Grafton and defence which he failed to
perceive, and to advocate a policy which
he would have secuted.
But we have no purpose Of discussing
the general policy Of the re-opening tn,
foreign slave trade. Tho considerate mer
Of the south. as well a. Of the North, ar,
now. a. they were in the early days of th,
Republic, opposed to il. Il finds its ad
vocates chiefly amongst small, but yer!
noisy class of editors, who seek to popular
ile their journals. and politicians VIII,
seek to gain temporary notoriety and 20
sition by affecting an extreme devotion &
Southern interests. Tho mass Of tn
Southern people. who desire the perPetui
Is Of the Government, see the folly an,
insanity Of the whole thing, and if thoi
opinion on the subject could find utter
ance. IL would be overwhelmingly on tn
side Of prudence and good sense.
What we intended when we took "a
our pen. was not to question the right q
the privilege Of those who advocate III
re-opening Of this trade to agitate IN
subject rs much A. they please. The pul
lie judgment will rebuke their Graz
schemes What we meant was 10 EXPIRE.
our emphatic condemnation Of the reccu
attempts 10 bring negroes here from Ar
ca. in violation Of the plain and explic
laws Of the country. lis entirely beyon
our feeble comprehension how any goo
citizen can sanction such movement.
the law be unconstitutional. let the iud
81 cial tribunals Of the country ~ declare
Ill Il be inexpcdicut let the people Il,
mand IT, rcpcal-but while il remains
law. honor, virtue, patriotism. every COT
sideration which in free country shoul
. lead men to respect their own Goyernmer
: and maintain H. authority. demands i
| Observance. and invokes the prescribe
b penalties against those who knowingl,
! and Of purpose. are guilty of la violation
, There ara doubtless. men disposed
p sustain and encourage this unlawful in
i portatiou ~ slaves. from nm honest COZ
/ viction that the prosperity and interest
: Of the south will Do thereby promoted
I Bat they certainly can have given IN
subject very little thought. The instit,
, ton az slavery a. IL now exists in IN
I south. with its humane provisions. and q
: obvious benefits 10 the slaves themsclvc
c,n b. defended upon principles q re
!. son. morality and religion. Il j. maxim
!. friends throughout the world and the r
b pusnauco with which 10 was once rcgar,
"a is gradually giving way before the irr
! sistibls arguments by which Il j. sustair
4 cd. should any reasonable man now
Z willing 70 place IL within the power Of o.
I enemies 30 confound Southern SLAYER
I, with tho horrors Of the middle passage
y and a spirit Of characterization 10 the Law
p Of the Union Nv the Southern people ?
= Yet this would be the direct result Of an
y. thing like a general approval by the Soui
r Of the present movement. The civilize
- world would cry out against "a. and abol
uonism would receive an impetus whic
4. is votaries could not have given il in ha
D. a century. These are things for the SoutI
D. ern people 10 think Of before they perm
4 themselves 70 tolerate for momer
schemes Of this character.
aze