The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11

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of subjects, overrdes law, or rather settles prac
tcally what the law is It is quite AS true that
the law is in the breast OF the jury, as that II is
in the breast of the Judge.
1t is this we'll control of the local.
~, over the actual administration OF law emana-
ting from the central authority, which was doubt
less one of the circumstances which created the
strong desire for the acquisition of Cuba, on the
part of all that class of persons who favor the
revival of the African slave trade. The people
of Cuba having been born and bred to that traf-
6c, it could be carried on there against Ameri-
can law, just as it always has been carried on
against Spanish law; and if the island was made
part of the United States the transfer of slaves
from it to the slave-buyiDg States upon the Gulf
of Mexico would become legitimate commerce.
Upon the whole, if the African slave trade,
now opened, is to be closed again, it must be
done by operations on the coast of Africa and
upon the high seas, and, to this end, there must
be a complete reversal of the influences which
dominate over the Government at Washington.
Instead of abrogating the eighth article of the
Ashburton treaty, the number of guns upon the
coast of Africa should be increased, and effective
light-draught and swift steamers substituted for
slow-going sail vessels. But, without going into
the details of measures, the whole an6nlus of the
Government at Washington must be changed.
Interpreting the past by the light present events,
1t is now evident that the real object of certain
preposterous pretensions 10 the sacredness of
mere flags, without reference to the rel nation
alty of vessels, to facilitate the carrying on
of the slave trade: So, too, With C reference to
doubtful and disputed questions of the right of
visitation, it is now evident that the repulse of
all overtures from foreign Powers looking TO
amicable and well guarded conventions upon this
subject, is attributable to secret spirit of favor
towards the slave trade, which has long lurked
in the governing dynasty in this country, and
which has at length broken out without disguise
and without shame. He must be charitable and
conhding indeed, who believes that Admnstra-
tons at Washington, controlled by the ulf States
will ever do anything effective towards shutting
up the African slave trade. Not such aid, or
such defenders, do the times demand. If our
laws are to be executed, there must be different
executive agents. What is wanted in short, to
put down this infamous traffic, is Republican
President and that would suffice to accomplish
the object. The election of such President
would be felt in every slave barracoon in Africa.
He might not alter the letter of the instructions
under which our cruisers act, but the spirit in
which they would be executed would be instant
Unchanged. Like MASTER like man. Official subor-
dinates are quick TO understand, without express
words, what is desired of them 1t is one thing
for the officers of squadron of observation to
know that they best please the powers that be
by seeing nothing and doing nothing and quite
another thing for them to know that their Off
cial superiors will punish remissness and reward
activity. The 9Th article of the Ashburton
treaty would be dead letter no longer, if the
executive power of this country represented its
moral convictions upon this subject. That is the
change which the case demands and it would
effect remedy, as suddenly thunderbolt
dissipates the foul vapors of the atmosphere
And without this remedy, there appears no ra-
tional hope of arresting such expansion of
the slave trade, as will rivet slavery upon the
continent, hey ond the reach of help, or hope.