The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-12
WASHINGTON, d. C..
DEMOCRACY AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

to Texas. The Aississippidn is the organ of
the party in that State. The latter journal
says:
"For more than half century, the Missis-
sippidn has battled for Democratic principles,
and remains unchanged. AS we have said on
another occasion, it has seen men and parties
and Administrations appear and disappear
the leaders of factions fret their brief hour
npon the stage, and make their exit forever
but it has never lost sight of the cardinal tenets
of Its faith-State sovereignty and equal rights"
The MissisSippidn discusses the Echo slave
case as follows:
under these enactments, the Echo prisoners
have been indicted tried, and found not guilty.
ave rejoice at this result. 1t establishes the
unavsiability of the laws interdicting the Afri-
can slave trade, so far as their enforcement de-
ponds upon the public sentiment of the South
1t shows what that sentiment is While the
result is not to be accepted as undoubted evi-
dence that revival of the traffic is desired, it
discovers a determination on the part of the
Southern people TO treat with becoming lenien-
cy those who choose to embark in it. 1t shows
that they abhor the spirit of psuedo philanthropy
out Of which the laws originated that by no act
of theirs viii they endorse traffic as piracy
which fnds It's sanction in the code of laws that
has emanated from higher authority than
man. and which was not only tolerated, but
vigorously prosecuted, by Christian people,
even our own ancestors among the rest, until a
e. late day, when the dogmas of Exeter Hall and
the teachings of Wilberforce were substituted
as guides for mankind.
~ 1.-The African slave traffic ought never to
have been treated in the United States as a
question of morals or religion but of political
economy, to be regulated according to the ne
cessities of the country.
" In the proceedings at Charleston we be-
hold glimmering of the rebound which is al
ways sooner or later destined to follow extreme
measures. In the system of management
wisely ordered by the Dispenser of human
events, as sure as day follows night the ex-
cesses Of which vain man under the impulse of
blind passion IS guilty, provides, in due time
their proper remedy. Not content with pro-
hibting the slaye trade for economical reasons,
the philanthropists of the past generation were
impelled by strange Gclusion to class it among
infamous crimes, and to brand as pirates those
who following the example of wiser ~ud better
men, might think proper TO engage in it. 1t
was not 10 have been supposed that the people
OF the savehoding States would by silent ac-
qulescence seemingly consent long to endorse
this stigma upon themselves this arrogant
claim to a wisdom and goodness not taught by
the Good Book itself; and this cruel reproaeh
npon the memory of their ancestors. The con-
clusiOn is irresistible, that if it is a henious
crime to purchase the African from his heather
master IN his native country IL is equally wrong
10 purchase him from his enlightened master in
one of the States of the Union and if it is rad-
caly wrong to import the black man for Slave
~, II Is equally so to hold him in service any,
where. The principle involved is the same In
each case, and the ingenuity of casuists can
not change 1t.
ave will venture to say that the result of
the judicial proceedings in Charleston are pre-
cisely what it would have been in almost any
other community in the South. The enterpri-
sing trader who runs the gauntlet of the ocean
police, need have no fears of serious molesta-
ton after he succeeds in landing his cargo upon
the terra fyma Of Southern State"
From the Mssissippidn we extract further.
as follows:
"THE SLAVE TRADt.-The venerable Part
ingtOns who, mop in hand, are endeavoring to
curb the resstless current of public sentiment
IN favor of the African trade, and against the
uni ust and oppressive laws with which prejudice
and fanaticiSm have sought TO destroy It. will
find their undertaking. though labor of love,
utterly futile.
The following resolutions were adopted by
a meeting at Edgefeld Court House, South
Carolina.
&" ResolDed, That we regard the importation
of African slaves into the Southern States of
this Confederacy as measure essential to the
material progress, political power, and social
advancement, of the South.
-" Resided, That in opposition TO this meas
ure there are no considerations of justice or hui
manity which are not equally applicable to the
institution of domestic Slavery.
:" ResOLUed That the laws in restriction of
the foreign slave trade are dictated by false
and foreign sentiment, and are not deserving,
therefore, of our obedience, as q law-abiding
people.
The following proceedings of recent pub
lie meeting in Claiborne county, in our own
State are reported in the Port Gibson RereiLe
"On motion of Mr.. Archer, it was resolved
that committee of five be appointed by the
chairman to draft resolutions relative TO the del
egates bringing up before the Vcksburg Con-
ventOn the policy or impolcy of the African
labor supply. On this committee the chairman
appointed MeSsrs. s. r. Bertron, C. Shreve, w.
T. Magruder, r. 7. Archer, and d. S. Pattison.
who reported the following resolution, which
met the unanimous approval of the meeting:
" ReSOlced, That the delegates appointed nv
this meeting to the Southern Commercial Con-
vention, be instructed to bring before said Con.
vention the propriety or policy of obtaining
supply Of African labor.
=" Mr.. W. I. Nagruder then offered the fol-
lowing resolution, expressive of the feelings of
this meeting upon the question which now holds
the attention of the South:
" ReSoLred, That negro labor is essential to
the development of the South's agriculture.
upon which depends the well-being of every
other interest IN the Soluble it professional.
mechanical, or mercantile; and there being
great and growing scarcity of this labor, our
delegates are hereby instructed to press upon
the Commercial Convention the necessity of a
reopening OF the supply of African labor
:" Mr.. q. V. Moody offered the following.
which was approved:
-" ReSotred, That we are of the opinion that
a supply Of African labor can be procured con-
stitutionally, and without violating any law of
Congress.
" Much interest was evineed during the dis
cussion Of these resolutions-Mes John r.
Moore, r. /. Archer, 6. V. Moody. d. S. Patti
son, and others, taking part in the debate. But
the most perfect harmony prevailed, and the in
terest eyinced by all present showed that though
upon other questions our citizens might be al.
vlded in opinion, yet upon the urgent necessity
of developing the resources of the South. they
hold one common opinion.
"If the South will be but true to herself a
brighter day will dawn upon her future"
From other Democratic" journals we ex
tract furthSr illustrations of Democracy:
"Coxeo NHGRoEs.-Any person, by visiting
the slave depot OF Mulberry street, in this city
can get sight at some ofthe latest importations
of Congo negroes.
ave visited them yesterday, and were much