The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-17
Tha slave Trade.

The Burlington Gazette has an editorial
on this subject, of which the following ex-
tract indicates the pith and spirit:
"To give this question Importance, few
slave ships are fitted out in Massachusetts,
manned by true Abolition Republicans, and
sent to the coast Of Africa for niggers. These
negroes are consigned to their hre-eating al
lies in the South. This is enough, the slave
trade 10 opened and politics will thrive. This
operation works to charm"
1t is by such shallow and transparent false
hoods, by such miserable humbuggery as
this, that the Democratic doughfaces Of the
North seek to blink the question of slavery
and lead the masses Of the party blindfolded
into the support Of men and measures for the
extension and perpetuation of slavery. There
never was an instance OF an Abolition Re-
publican Of New England contributing dime
or in any way lending bis personal influence
in favor Of the slave-trade. The Locofocos
and the present race of old line Wings OF
New England may be engaged in such pro-
jects to save the Union for ell we know to
the contrary; but the men who were yfetsd
and toasted in the South for their successful
exploits in bringing over ship loads of wild
Africans to supply the Southern slave mar
kets, were Southern Locofocos. The leaders
in the movement in favor Of the re-opening
OF the slave trade are the most noted and
powerful leaders of the Democratic party,
such as Toombs, Stephens, Rhett, McRae and
scores Of others. Already there is strong
or proportion Of the Democratic party com
mitted in favor Of the slave-tra than there
Was in favor Of the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise six months before the measure
was carried as Democratic measure through
Congress.
Why, it is even notorious that public opin-
ion is SO strong amongst the Democracy Of
the South that the Government conspires
with the people in encouraging the trade BY
daclining to prevent it or to punish those en-
gagged in it.
The Pensacola (Florida) Observer, noticing
the statement recently announced, that car
go Of six hundred Africans have been landed
on the Florida coast, near Smyrna, says
''The above intelligence. we are assured
by Col. l.. l.. Blackburn, q. S. Marshal. il
true, as he has received letters conveying the
said intelligence and stating the facts. But
how can it be expected that the party viola
ting the law will be arrested when the y. s.
Marshal is denied the power and means OF
doing so? II this official was vested with
sufficient po~er and provided with ample
means, Gas he applied for to the proper au-
thorities,) he would, perhaps, have been able
to prevent such violation Of law; bat, as it
Is, with bis limited power and want Of means,
it is almost impossible.
"We further understand that the weasel
which brought these Africans to our coast,
as soon as the landing was effected, was set
On fire and abandoned to the elements.o
This, says the Albany Evening Journal,
lis significant confession. United States
Marshal Blackburn cannot arrest these nj
rates, because the General Government has
denied him the power and means Of doing
SOP The result is that the law is violated
with IMMUNITY. 1t has been apparent from
the first that the Administration has no wish
TO put itself out of the way to prevent or to
punish this crime. Where arrests have been
made, the parties arrested have been treated
gingerly as if merely guilty Of the most tri-
hing misdemeanor. District ATTORNEYS,
Judges and Juries all apparently conspired
together to prove them heroes rather than
pirates, and to secure for them gold medals
rather than the gallows.o