New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-17

command from any hope Of ever becoming slavehold
es to feel that deep interest in the matter and that
willingness to make sacrifices in defense Of the insti
tuition that may be demanded of its defenders as the
owners Of slaves are presumed to feel.
The number ofslaye-owners ia every day decreasing,
owing to the constantly increasing price Of slaves
Under these circumstances wisdom would certainly
dictate course of policy by which slavery might be
more generally dfused among the people, thereby
STRENGTHENING the institution by making more person
ally interested in defending and maintaining it. This
| is precisely what we expect to accomplish by the
African Apprentice system. It will place within the
reach Of a-even those in the most moderate crcnm.
stances-the means Of procuring negro labor And
here would state, in answer to the objection raised
to the bill of the last sesson-that it granted mo-
| nopoly to the Company-that it is the intention
and wish of the Company proposed to be organized,
that the bill in question shall be 30 amended that all
objection on that score shall be entirely obvated and
every one afforded under its provisions the opportu-
nifty of procuring laborers, by paying small sum
the cost of their transportation It is true that the
laborers thus introduced will not be slaves but free
laborers who have come to our shores by their own
voluntary act but their race condition. the service
to which they have bound themselves, and the fact
that the character Of the labor required Of them is the
same that exacted Of our slaves will make their
status somewhat similar to that Of our slave popula
ton sufficiently SO at least to identity the interests
Of those who engage them with that Of the slave.
holder, and thus be the means of connecting al
classes Of population in the slaveholding States
by common interest, a common purpose and a com
mon destiny.
Besides the considerations presented, the proposed
system affords the only practical means of extending
the institution OF slavery beyond its present limits,
or Of increasing the number of slave States whereby
the South may be enabled to regain that equality in
the Union now lost to her. But cannot in this
communication enlarge upon this consideration, nor
present others that might be urged with great force
in favor of the measure. Nor does time space
permit me to answer the objections that are urged
against the proposed movement; but must content
myself with the simple assurance that all seeming
objections to its feasibility and successful prosecution
eau be satisfactorily met and explained.
There is only one objection that can notice mora
fully now-reserving the rest for future commune
cation-and that is one which never expected to
hear raised against it in aslave-hoding community.
refer to the objection urged by few, that the pro
posed scheme is immoral in its nature, and violates
the principles Of humanity. Did believe this, not
withstanding all the advantages that will accrue to
the South from its adoption-some Of which 1 have
endeavored to portray-I could never give it my
sanction or support. regard this objection as
show of pseudop philanthropy and mock sentimentaty
that would do credit to the most natical Abolition
list. To meet it successfully, it is only necessary to
consider for one moment the condition of mental
and moral darkness, and extreme degradation in
which the Africans exist in their native country.
Most of them slaves and chattels Of brutal and
depraved masters who WELD the power Of life and
death over them. An emigration to the soil Of Louis
lana would prove the greatest blessing that could be
conferred upon them. It would be exchanging life
Of barbarsm and cruel subsection to their Chiefs for
that more elevated condition which they would in
time attain under more humane treatment, and by
being subjected to the benign influences Of Christian
ity and civilization. No stronger illustration could
be given of the extent Of the blessing that would be
conferred upon them than by comparing the happy
condition of our own slave population with that of
the wretched beings who were but short time SINCE
in obedience TO the enlightened policy of Govern
ment carried away against their will from our Shores
in one of national vessels, and returned to the
miserable existence and degradation from which they
had been temporarily removed
In conclusion would say to the numerous friends of
the measure that owing general popularity among
the in every section of the State, that feel
sanguine of its success. is question of time,
and whatever disposition the Legislature may make
of the bill at Its next session, it can in no way intim
idate its advocates, backed, are, by large ma
jority of our fellow.czens. What onr Constitution
does not prescribe, and the welfare of our State de-
mands, it would amount to open-handed injustice to
forbid Whether accomplished sooner or later, have
the satisfaction of knowing that we will have done
our duty to the South and the great institution Of
slavery, which has given the proud pre.eminence
we occupy to-day; and that I, an humble co-worker
in this great and important movement have acted for
the common good, and the development of the vast
resources Of our fertile State.
Very respectfully, yours, z....-
JAMES H. BRIGHAM