Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-01-01
The African SIavc.Trade.

1t seems to be admitted that cargo Of slaves
from Africa have been landed upon the soil Of Gcor
gia, and disposed Of When We first saw notice Of
the transaction We thought it a hoax, intended to
the tender scnsibililcs Of portion Of the Nor
thcrn people; but We now take il for granted from
what We see in the newspapers, that the negroes
hare been procured from Africa landed, and dis
posed Of
Some persons in the South entertain tho opinion
that the law Of the United States declaring the slave
trade piracy is unconstitutional; and some Of our
contemporaries are Of the opinion that the law has
been deliberately violated in this instance for the
purpose Of testing its constitu,ionalty. This sou
ton Of the motive Of the importers Of these slaves
strikes us rs farfctchcd and unreasonable The
penalty is heavy one, and not likely to he incurred
simply with the view Of settling question Of con.
stitutional law. Gain, We apprchcnd, vas ct the
bottom Of it. and not disposition TO test the law.
The people Of the South are nearly unanimously
opposed to the rc-opcning Of this trade; and the
Northern people will not judge them justly if they
take it for granted that the action Of this company
in Georgia receives their approval Not that they
regard the slavctradc sinful for II the institution
itself be sanctioned by Holy Writ We insist il is
there can be little il any difference between holding
in and reducing to bondage; but they arc opposed
TO it mainly because they have enough slaves alrr
dy, and because any general attempt to reopen il
would produce the most hurtfnl AMI dangerous agi-
ta,ion in all portions OF the Union. The number Of
our slaves is increasing and spreading out in the
South and Southwest ut rate never before attained
by any scrvilc laborins population The acquisi-
ton Of Cuba, which is certain and probably not very
far distant will add million to this popula
ton and present in itself large and most psoiita-
bic extent Of country for slave labor In the funcss
of time VIC will also have Central America and Mex
co thus adding still further to the Of slave ter
ritory. What the times in which these acquisitions
will be made will bring forth, cannot now be fore
seen the slavctradc may be re-opcncd to some cx-
tent to supply the demand for labor in that vast n
gion, or the supply which will be furnished from
the present slavchoding States may bc found sufii
cicnt That day, we doubt not, will take care Of It.
SELF as past days have done.
We trust, however, that the discussion growing
out Of this Georgia transaction may have some effect
in opening the eyes Of the people Of the United States
to the "cntanglng alliance" in which they have in
volved themselves, ny StiPuiathg WIN "'eas bs''a"
to unite with her in maintaining ships Of war along
the coast Of Africa to prevent trading in slaves
The treaty binding the United States to this duty
should never have been made. Besides branding
the slave-trade as sin among nations II has occa-
stoned trouble already with Great Britain, and may
occasion more It is enough for US to guard our
own waters to prevent violations Of our laws on the
subject of the slayctradc without undertaking to
watch and protect ninety millions Of black barbara
ans, whose true and whose happcst condition is that
of scrvitudc.