The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-07-13
From the Eastern Clarion.
Letter from Hon. I. N. Davis.
ASH Woop. june Sd, 1853.

ASH WooD, June Sd, 1853.
Col. s. r. ADAMS
Although you differed with the majority OF
the late Southern Commercial Convention, as
to the policy Of their action, yet | was graft
fed at the liberal spirit manifested by you IN
that body, and the earnest solicitude shown,
to do whatever would rebound to the interest |
of the country and promote the welfare OF the |
South.
1t was what might have been expected Of
one of your known patriotism and enlighten-
ed and enlarged views.
This African slave trade question is eyl- |
IDENTIFY rising in importance every hour, and
to my mind, is The question Of the day. II
swells in magnitude as We approach and IN
vestgate it, and involves, in an eminent de-
gree, the practical rights of the states. No
necessity to resort TO metaphysical abstrac-
tons to get at it, and no fine spun distinctions
about the letter and spirit of the Constitution
to see and feel its full force and effect II is,
emphatically, a tome question, sending its roots
deep around our fire-sides and affairs, and
stretching us boughs wide over our cotton
fields and graneries. 1t is question Of polit-
zeal economy, involving not only the necessity
of. bet also the price and quantity Of labor,
now needed in the South And it is great
question of sectional wealth, and strength and
union
1t is not my purpose, in this short letter, to
attempt its discussion under these several
heads: but to offer one or two suggestions as
to its practical bearings under the action Of the
Convention.
The resolution passed by the Convention
was in these words-"That the laws, both
State and Federal, against the African slave
trade, should be repealed" Noopinion is Civ
en- that the trade ought to be reopened; but a
simple declaration that these laws should be-
repealed, so as to leave the question exactly
where it was before they were enacted
The Constitution of the United States says,
"fhe migration or importation of such per-
sons as any of the States, now existing shall
think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited
by the Congress prior to the year 1908, but
tax or duty may be imposed not exceeding ten
dollars for each person." The first law was
passed in 1907 to take effect in 1903. Vari-
Gus other laws were enacted up to 1920.
Now if these laws were repealed, the States
would have the same power thy had before the
Constitution was formed, or the same they
| exercised up to 1908, and that was, to 'im-
port or migrate just such persons as they
might think proper subject alone to "tax
or duty of ten dollars for each person."
1t will be remembered that Africans were
imported from the first settlement of the colo
MES up to the formation of the Constitution,
and then by the States, as they Thought prop
err for twenty years more, or until these I'M
constitutional laws began. Slavery being a
| domestic institution, and each State having the
right to create or abolish it at their discretion
| hoxro fha fn INN or mi
CRATE it from whence they please. This is
exactly what the resolution Of the Conyen-
ton proposes to accomplish-nothing more.
Is there any danger in this position? Indeed,
is it not right If Virginia wants no more
Africans in her commonwealth, let her ports
be closed and laws passed prohibiting it. II
Kentucky agrees with her in opinion let her
do likewise but if Mississippi or Texas or
Louisiana or Arkansas desires more labor to
fell their forests, drain their marshes, and full
! ly deyelope their resources, let them import
or migrate such Africans as they "think prop
er,s under such rules and regulations as to Sc
cure them against the evils Of that canihalism
which rises like spectre TO haunt and disturb
the morbid sensibilities of some worthy gen.
tlemen Let them enact the most stringent
laws and throw around the trade all the guards
which human legislation can give. Let them
require bonds and oaths from the importers,
so that no cracking note upon the horrors
of the middle passage" shall be heard Let
them refuse to receive any who are not fairly
and honestly purchased as slaves in their own
country. In fine let the States so regulate
the trade by law, as to relieve it from the
shocking inhumanities to which it is now sub
iect under its present contraband form. II
then becomes great missionary adjunct in
| snatching from barbarism many poor down.
trodden African and teaching him civilization
and Christianity. 1t will then become the in
strument, under Divine Providence, to feed
the hungry and clothe the naked, and shield
them under humane laws, which will, as il
has done with their fathers elevate them in
the scale of human beings.
Thus it becomes purely domestic question
for the States, respectively, toregulate within
theirNwu territory. = tlSI II.&I IhinI ri.n-
If Congress can rightfully regulate tln for
eiga slave tFesle,aEhy not regulate tlxs demes-
tic slave trade? As simple question of
power it is freer from embarrassment IN the
latter case than the former, aud yet no South
ern man would tolerate for single moment
such an interference on the part of Congress-.
| IL
opinion, did nothing more than its dutv in
saying these laws should be repealed
Several Of the Southern States, following in
the wake of that sickly sentimentality which
brought the laws of Congress, and which es-
saws to draw distinction between buying a
negro from Virginia and Africa, have passed
laws against the African slave trade, Among
that number is Mississippi. do not doubt
the constitutional power Of the States to pass
such laws On the contrary, they alone can
exercise it.; but as question Of policy, and
consistency, and safety, they should be ex-
plunged from our statute book at the earliest
possible moment.
| will not here repeat what / have written
on a previous occasion, relative 10 the ques-
ton Of policy take it for granted, however,
that there are but few who will not admit the
absolute necessity of cheaper and more labor
in many of the Southern States, to place them
in that high and commanding position they
ought this day to occupy.
Mississippi cherishes slavery as her peculiar
and avorite institution. 1t is her life,s blood,
and constitutes her power and her wealth
and it causes her this day to rear her tall and
majestic form high above many of her CON-
peers. She buys not less than fifteen or twen-
ty thousand slaves every year from other
States, and vet in her criminal code is penal
ty for buying one from Africa. In that law
she presents the strange inconsistency Of toll
Grating and nourishing slavery, and at the
same time condemning it; and also of an odi-
Gus discrimination against herself as to where
she shall get her supply. II it be immoral
and wrong to buy from Africa, by what stand
ard of ethics is it right and moral to bay from
Kentucky? She yields the whole question to
her fanatical brethren of the North, and strikes
deadly blow at her own ytals, by fixing so
black a stigma upon the institution itself
In Justice to myself, you will pardon me for
saving that was member OF the State Sem
ate when that law was reposted by the codifi-
ers and passed by the Legislature. You
know, Col, that / was eatechisedin the Con-
vention as to my vote. Ibid not remember
whether voted for it or not nor did care.
The matter was not discussed, nor was my
attention directed to it. Ihad not then inyes-
tigated the subject at all After having done
so, stated that nothing could induce me to
vote for such a law or permit it to pass with
out using every effort to defeat it. You viii
well remember, for You were present. that |
offered resolutions last winter condemning
these laws, and in Their discussion with Mr.
Elicit, the Senator from Claiborne, | took the
same KEW of the Sunless nov take II was
the first move made insay deliberative assem-
bly, in the State, so far IS | know, and re-
jjoice that the Southern Convention has now
passed resolution going even further than the
zone then offered. Ifeioice that this victory
has been achieved on Mississippi soil, and that
this question has lad breathed into it the
breath of life under d Mississippi sun. In
thus abiding to myself nothing IS further
from my intention han to claim the honor Of
producing this result only claim to have
contributed my lille mite, and been a Co
/ worker with others
That these laws operate as a check upon
Southern prospenF, and eneryate our energies
do most honesty believe. And that they