Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-21

1908. Several of them exercised this right before that period. and among them some containing the greatest number of slaves. This gave to Congress the imme- diate power to act in regard to all such States, because they themselves had re- moved the constitutional barrier Con press accordingly passed an act on the 29th February, 1903, " to prevent th" im- portation of certa in persons into certain States where, by the laws thereof, their admission is prohibted.n In this manner ! the importation of African slaves into the | Tinted States was, to a great extent. pro- 1 hibited some years in advance of 1908. i As the year 1878 approached, Congress determined not to suffer this trade to exist even for single day after they had the power to abolish it. On the 2d Of March | 1907, they passed an act to take effect "from and after the 1st day of January, | 1S0S," prohibiting the importation of Af- rican slaves into the United States. This was followed by subsequent acts of sim liar character, to which need not special ly refer. S1cb were the principles and such the practice of our ancestors more than fifty years ago in regard to the Afri- can slave trade.
 | It did not occur to the revered patriots who had been delegates to the convention, and afterwards became members of Con- gress, that in passing these laws they had violated the Constitution which they had l framed with so much care and delibera- ton. They supposed that 10 prohibit l Congress, io express terms, frcm exerci- sing a specified power before an appointed | day, necessarily involved the right to exer- else this power after that day had arrived
 If this were not the case, the framers of the Constitution had expended much labor in vain. Had they imagined that Con- oress would possess no power to prohibit the trade either before or after 1908, they would not have taken so much care to nrotect the States against the exercise Of this power before that period. Nay more, they would not have alta ached such vast l importance to this provision as to have excluded it from the possibility of future repeal or amendment, to whi,h other per | tions of the Constitution wele exposed. 1 It would then have heen wholly unnec- essarv to engreft on the fifth article Of the | Constitution, prescribing the mode of it's own future amendment, the proviso. "th at no amendment which may b. made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect'' the | the States the right to admit the importa- ton of African staues previous to that pe- riod
 1 According 10 the adverse construction, | the clause itself. on which so much care and discussion had been employed by the | members of the convention, was an ahso- | lute nullitv from the beginning, and all | that has since been done under it mere | usurpation
 | It was we'll and wise to confer this power on Congress, because, had it been left to the States, it's efficient exercise would have been impossible. Tn that event any one State could have effectually continued the trade not only for itself but for all the other slave States, though nev- CT so much against their will. And why :? Because Afrie en slaves, when once broueht within the limits of any one State, in accordance with it's laws, cannot practically be excluded from any other State where slavery exists. And even if all the Statfs had-senarately passed laws prohibiting the importation of slaves, these laws would have failed of effect for want of a naval force to capture the sla = veIs and guard the coasts Such a force no State 'can employ in time of peace | without the consent of Congress.
 
 have, with very rare and insignificant ex- ceytions. accumulated their purpose For period of more than half a centHry there has been no perceptible addition to the number of our domestic slaves. During his period their advancement in civiliza- ton has Far surpassed that of any other portion of the African race. The light and the blessings of Christianity have been extended to them, and both their moral and physical condition have been greatly improved.
 Reopen the trade. and it would be d ffi- cult to determine whether the effect would be more deleterious on the interests of the master or on those of the native born slave Of the evils to the master, the one most to be dreaded would be the introduc- tion of wild, heathen, and ignorant bar barans among the sober, orderly and quiet slaves, whose ancestors have been on inc soil for several generations. This might tend to barbarize, demoralze and exas spe- rate the whole mass, and produce most deplorable consequences.
 The effect upon the existing slave would if possible, be still more deporable At present he is treated with kindness and humanity He is well fAd, well clothed. and not overworked. His condition is i1- comparably better than that of the coolips which modern nations of high civilization have employed al a substitute for African SIave-. Both the philanthropy and the self-interest Of the master have combined to produce this humane result But let this trade be reopened, and what will the effect? The same to considerable extent, as on a neiehboring island-fhe only spot now on earth where the African slave trade is openly tolerated; and this in defi- ance of solemn treaties with a power abundantlv abls at any moment to enforce their execution.
 There the master. intent upon present gain, extorts from the slave as much labor as his physical powers are capable of en- during-knowing that, when death comes to his relief, his place can be supplied al a price reduced to the lowest point hy the competition of rival African slave-traders Should this ever be the case in our coun try-which do not deem possible-the present useful character of the domestic institution, wherein those too old and toe voung 10 work are provided for with care and humanity, and those capable of labor are not tasked, would undergo an un- Fortunate change. The feeling of recip- rocal dependence and attachment which now exists between master and slavf would be converted into mutual distrust and hostility.
 But we are obliged Eas Christian ant moral nation. to consider what would be
 he effect upon unhappy Africa itself if we should reopen the slave trade. This would give the trade an impulse and extension which it has never had in it's palmes days The numerous victims required tc sapply it would convert the whole slave cosst into perfect Pandemonium, fol ,snich this country would be held respon. 2, s'bie in the eyes both of God and man, ] It's petty tribes would then be constantly engage in predatory wars against eacf otber for the purpose of seizing slaves tc ss 'uRplv the American market All hopes
 African civilization would thus bt losed
 4 On the other hand, when market fol , African slaves shall no longer be furnishPC in Cuba, and thns all the world be closed r against this trade, we may then indulge 2 . reasonable hope for the gradual improve e ment of Africa. The chief motive of wa e among the tribes will cease whenever there T is no longer any demand for slaves. The = resources of that fertile but miserable | country might then be developed by the |, hand of industry, anl afford sub ects for C legitimate foreign and domestic commerce Q In this manner christianity and civiliza
 ton may gradually penetrate the existin
 The wisdom Of the course pursued b n bis Government toward China has bee # indicated by the event. Whilst we sns is tained a neutral position in the war wage 8 by Great Britain and France against th Chinese empire, our late minister, in o5e e dience to his instructions, judicidously co U operated with the ministers of these Pow ,, CTS in all peaceful measures to secure b 't treaty the just concessions demanded n' the interests of foreign commerce.. Tn T esult is that satisfactory treaties hay m been concluded with Cbina by the respe, Id five ministers of the United States Gres & Britain, France and Russia. Our "treat ,t- or general convention ot peace, amity ar commerce." with that emuire. was co, ne ciuded at Tientsip on the 18th June. 155 o- and was ratihed by the President, by Al its with the advice and consent of the Sc m ate. on the 2ist of December foliovains- ig On the 18th of December. 1S5s. Jol
 F. Ward, distinguished citizen of Geo <. s ,ss 2 I iffe wfsdom Of the course pursued bv tl is Government toward China has been h by the event. Whilst we sus- il ined neutral position in the war waged o