Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-06-21
From the Carrellton Dem rat.
NIOT ing Of IEle Waters.

! The Southern Commercial Convention
in Vicksburg, previous to its adjournment,
! passed resolutions recommending the re-
peal of the laws prohibiting the African
slave trade. This is right. And when
we say this, we say it with firm convic
ton of It's truth. The law as it stands
upon the statutes of the country is a blot
upon the fair name ofevery Southern man
"A reproach and a slur on the character
of every slave holder. This looks like bold
ground, but it is nevertheless true. If it
! is right-morally rlght-in the sight of
God and man for the citizen of Mississippi
| to own slaves, it is right for him to buy
slaves from the citizen of Georgia; and if
it is right to buy slaves from Georgia and
bring them to Mississippi, it is also right
to buy them from Africa and bring them
here. Where is the difference? What
rational distinction can be made? A dis
tinction without a difference weighs moth
ing in fair argument; and such is the dis
tinction which the opponents of the traffic
make. And does not the law that denoun-
ces one plan of the traffic to be "piIacy,"
also by implication, at least, make the
same charge against every plan of the
system, and even the institution itself?
And when such is the case, it ought to be
repealed, as a matter Of justice TO South
ern men, even though not single African
negro was imported into the country, as
the result of such repeal.
We are not now discussing the question
of expediency, but of right. We do not
say that it would not be expedient There
are many advantages which would result
from it, and there may be some disadvan-
tages. The claims of humanity alone
present n strong argument in favor of re-
opening the trade. But we do not pre-
tend to place it upon this footing. View
in2 1t in its bearing on the interest of the
South and the nation, it has claims of no
small moment.
The Legislature of our State-very
wisely, we think-passed law, exempt
ing one negro woman and all her children
under ten years of age from execution by
regular legal process. What was the de-
sign of this? 1t was to increase the num-
Der of Shareholders, and identify the inter
ests Of n larger portion of our citizens with
the institution. Under the law, more poor
men could hold slaves, thereby produ
cling the double advantage of more gene
raj disse emination of wealth and prosperity,
and widening the institution. Will any
reasonable man doubt for moE1ent that
these results are very desirable? Now
is 1t not reasonable to suppose that If the
A frican slave trade was reopened, that the
very same results would flow from it as a
natural consequence, only in greater
ratio and over wider scope of territory?
But to this fact, which has come un-
der our observation, we will allude. The
waters of public opinion moving upon
this subject, and in our humble opinion'
they are moving in the right direction.
y few years ago, Slavery was regarded in
a very different light from the one in which
it is held now, even here in the South.
And even here in Mississippi, about
twelve or fifteen years ago, we believe. Il
minister excited the indignation of Ii is
congregation by defending the institution;
What has produced the desired change?
The light Of reason and the advance OF in
telligencc and information. Men have
been made to think, and as a natural con
sequence they have more enlarged and
liberal views. AS they have investigated
the subject, they have learned that the
institution is not only right politically,
com m ercially, and socially, but also NOR
ally; that it is sanctioned and approved
by the laws Of God.