Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-17
SATURDAY, DECEMBER IA, 1850.
sourH CARoLSA AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

South CAROLINA AND THE SLAVE TRADE.
In the cotton states" as they are called, the
influences that control public opinion are gen.
orally in favor of re-opening the African slave
trade But the clear-sighted champions of
slavery prefer to have it done clandestinely, in
reckless disregard of law. They understand
very well how impossible it is to carry in Con-
gress repeal of the laws against the slave
trade and they understand also, that slave
vessels, like the Wanderer, plying steadily be-
tween our southern ports and the coast of AT.
RIGA, will do more than any amount of agita-
ton in Congress. They establish the business
and, while southern juries will not convict the
pirates engaged in it, nor even the federal gov
eminent prosecute slave-traders to conviction
and punishment, why trouble Congress with
the question? Why make noise which can
not help slavery and may hurt it? So they
reason and, in most of those states, the clan
destine trade is encouraged, while there is
struggle to suppress the tendency to agitate
the question and make it foremost in politics.
The Charleston Mercury has strongly dis
couraged such agitation because it could not
be useful and might divide the south and thst
journal would have us understand that South
Carolina does not favor political efforts to re-
open the trade. Yet there are but few if any
shareholders in that state who do not mean to
have it re-opened in defiance of law. The ques-
ton was before the legislature of South Caro-.
lima on the 9th and 10th instant, and, the tone
of the whole debate, as well as the action tax
en-, shows what is meant. Majority and min.
GRITTY reports on the subject, from the Commit
ttee on Federal Relations, were under consid.
Grafton and the position of those who dis
courage the agitation was expressed as fol-
lows -
Resolved, That as the re-opening of the
African slave trade seems impracticable, all
agitation on the subject is unwise, inexpedient
and impoitic.
This resolve was discussed in the Senate
The Mercury does not give report of the
speeches, but says in its report that a motion
to lay it on the table twas warmly argued"
This motion was carried by vote of 80 yeas
to II nays. The Senate would not make even
such declaration as this resolve proposed;
will not fail to do everything in her power to
give success and prosperity to all who embark
in the trade, although her representatives in
Congress may be very quiet on the subject
One Senator, Mr.. Hampton, spoke earnestly
against the slave trade; and he might have
spoken with more emphasis, if the majority
had been with him. The following, from
correspondent of the Mercury, shows what
spirit prevailed -
"Mr. Dantzler, of ST. Matthew's delivered
thoughtful and able speech on the slave trade
question. In the course of his well-reasoned
remarks he said he could comprehend how the
entrance of this question into the politics of
the South could disturb the national democrat
ic party, but did not see how it could the true
southern party
Mr.. Hampton, of Richland, replied that he
was not member of the national democratic
party, and supported or opposed as he thought
proper. He asked Mr. Dantzler if he APPROX
ed of breaking the laws.
Mr.. Dantzler replied that the constitution
was dead letter for the North, and he was
Indifferent to its violation here"