Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-30
The Slave Trade Agitation.

The slave 1Tuue ASltQLlOns
Tho columns Of this paper have been literally
supplied, for IL number Of weeks, with arguments
upon this question pro and con. Tho reasoning
of "Sc1pIo" and tho demonstrations DR. G. HARPER
have, VIC trust rcceivoi alike tho careful consider
alton of our readers Both of these writer's erinco
abilities commensurate with the importance of thoir
subject; Aud in publishing their views, wo havo
done what we thought was due 10 the question in
hand and called for by the wishes Of some Of our
most esteemed subscribers But we confess that
wc are now growing tired Of the discussion, and
we have reason to think that very many Of our
readers feel as We do. Enough has been written,
enough has boon said or at loast rs much as the
present condition Of tho Slave Trade excitement
would seem to demand. That excitement, which
aared mp with some display Of feeling on the ar
rival Of the Fanderers cargo, hus alnost entirely
dicd away. Indeed it scarcely extended at any
time in South Carolina beyond tho limits of Edge
field. Few, if any, of our country contemporaries
throughout the State have given the subject moro
than passing notice. The Adrcrtiscr has pub
lished more about the matter tban oil Of thum
combined; and this for a very obvious reason !:
They had NO proximate cause, ms had we in Edge
fold, to broach tho question. There was no e1-
ctement, no feeling in the premises, ono mny or
the other, among their readers; and there was
consequently no seeming necessity to argue the
question. In fact SO far as VIC can gather, almost
the entire press and people Of the Suite look upon
the revival Of the African Slave Trude as totally
useless and impractical issue while this Union shal
continue to stand. Those therefore who are oppo-
sed to it-and SENATOR HAMMOND thinks they are
nine -tenths Of our population-fsel little or no
concern about this Handsrer affair except in SO
fur Us they deprecate the open violation Of q law
of the land. They know that, as matters now
stand, such instances, even though partially sue
cessful, are no barbiDgers Of Renewal of the
Slavc-Trade. They fcol, on tho contrary, TINT tho
direct tendency will be to diminish the chances Of
u renewal. The arm of tho Federal Government
is outstretched with redoubed strength for its sup
preston upon the occurrence of any such attempt
to defy the existant law. The vigilance Of tho
navy officials is increased ten-fold. The guards
and checks upon tho Illicit trade arc at once made
more effective ut all points. Hence the quiet un-
concern, in appearance, among tho masses Of our
people who are opposed to the renewal Of this
traffic. They know that these occasional spasmod-
ic efforts ut introducing African savages amongst
US will result Immediately in abortion; and that
zach abortion will throw an effectual dampor' over
the continuation Of such efforts.
But itmay be claimed that the Wandcrer affar
is not an abortion. May be not. We see that the
parties implicated have lost something considera-
bic by the coniacation Of their ship. But perhaps,
like Mr.. Stow among the Ethiopian Sercnadcrs,
whom he was bothered to answer certain "conun-
dibum" propounded by Mr.. JonSstSG, if they
"gib up de ship" they don't glib up dc niggers.
How this may be, perhaps there is no one at this
time capable of telling. Some Of tho Africans
have been taken into custody in Goorgia, and
others of them may yet be captured. We do not
say that they will be. Mn. CoRnlE, supposed to
be concerned in tho importation, is under arrest,
and others of the Wanderers crew are in limbo.
>-,''
have heen sent into tho interior, or whether amy
prices have yet been paid, it is impossible to say
We should think that those prices will le very
low under tho circumstances OF the case, they
ought to lie. So Tint whom the whole trouble OF
the cntcrrri.e its expenses its l"sses, its delays
of payment, its furfciturcS, come to be counted 1t
may appear that even tho Wanderers success has
boon very little thing. ifndocd has not been but
q the gain of loss" Evon admitting it to be q
success every way, we repeat that its chief effect
will be to decrease tho importations for the next
five or Elk years by calling into active operation
tho causes just mentioned.
The common opinion Of even tho Slave-Trado
advocates is, that these importations should DO
discountcnancod US long as tho present Inv stands
unrepcaed. What are tho chances of such repoal !?
Let every man ponder for himself tho several
poiutI involved iu this consideration lst the op-
POSITION of the United North 2nd, the great dig
traction that would inevitably occur at the South
oven in tho proper; 3rd, the certainty
of our losing Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Ten
ncssec, Missouri, and perhaps other States, on any
issue looking to Revival Of tho Slave Trado /;
4th, the necessity Of separation of the Cotton
States from the rest Of tho Union to attain Re-
newal of tho Slave Trade, if majority of the
ucople of thcse States were in iurOr ofit-whch Il
not the case 9th, the new contest with new fea-
lures which any such proposition to separate from
STARE States would bcgot amongst us. We only
suggest these points to the reflection of our readers
They are as capable, rs we, CT putting them to-
rsth.r and drawing correct conclusion. Wo
doubt not their arriving ut the same opinion with
ourselves, viz that the agitation of the question
of the Slave Trade is r bootess aud useless effort
It is on these accounts that wo desire to discon-
tinue the publication Of long articles on this SUBJ
iect as soon as practicable. Our space can be
filled with matter more acceptable to our reuders.
OF course wo will chocrfully publish "sc1rlo's
series to its close and will also finish the numbers
Of T.. q. UARrErHs,l.. But We must be excused
from copying long dissertations amy further, for
tis PRESENT.