The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-05-31
Progress ofthe Slave Trade Sentiment. +.

Soiuinuo WIN ITO uoiugc' aIlu IL uaus Yuito
slipped our memory until we itet the fol-
lowing in Philadelphia North American -
After four days of exciting debate, the Conven.
tion adopted resolution declaring that the laws
against the Slave Trad ought to be abolished.
Thus we go. Five years since such
proposition would have been Kissed out of
any Convention, North or Souah. The
idea would have been to revolving to be
entertained for a moment
But since then many strange things have
happened. The National Administration
has cast its entire influence into the scale of
Slavery. 1t has proclaimed to the world
its purpose to sustain it as National Insti-
tuition, and it has dignifed it by giving to
it great deal more attention, and extend
ing to it great deal more favor, than to
any or all other subjects which have agita-
ted the public mind. Officies Ea'se been
awarde for votes cast to extend it. Brides
have been peid for influence emploied to
foster it. Caurts have been coerced into
desciSion to legalize it, Ballot boxes have
been stuffed toacqnre power to strength
en- it. Lynch law has been brought into
requisition TO silence those who were labor.
ing to curtail it; and the pulpit and the
press have been polluted to place the i'm
press of'Divnity" upon it. 1t is" treason"
longer TO scak of it as an evil! TO hope
for its ultimate extinction is to desire the
demolition of the chief pillar of the Repnb-
lie! And to denounce the Slave Trade as
" Piracy is to cast dsrepute upon a
Traffic which is already practically encour-
aged by the General Government!
The Slave Trade is already resumed.
The fact is Of record. Cargoes have
been openly landed, and fresh imported "
Congo Niggars" are to-day a staplecommo.
dty in several Of the Sotheru States.
Where the traffic has been too brazenly
pc,sued,thc officers of the General Govern
ment have, for decency's sake, affected to
take notice of the offence; but no single
offender has yet been convicted, while the
chief criminals walked unmolestedin lin open
day i'll the streets of Charlston!
In voting to " repeal all laws prohibiting
the traffic, "the "Sothcrn Commercial Con-
vention" has but embodied sentiment
which is already potent at the South
tbs sentiment has grown up under the en-
couragementt xtended to the institution, and
to all who favor it, by the General Govern
ment. The revival Of the Slave Trade is
but one of the few steps that yet remain
to be taken by the Friends of Slavery.
Every thing which they have thus far
asked has been granted. Solemn compacts
have been aDnu!led.. The barriers of Free
dom have been broken down. The Con.
stitutson has been distorted into shield
for Slavery. The institution, hitherto dee
med local has been gircn a National char
acter by the high Courts Of the land. A
Code for its protection where no law has
ever given it being, is demanded by the
South and promised by the Democratic
party. Pirat.cal aggrcssons uations with
which we are at peace are encouraged in
order to "lengthen its cords and strengthen
its stakes" and why should not +" the law
against the Slave Trade be abolished ?What
more can the Dcmocr cy do for its ally If
not this?
Slavery is rs Unsuitable as the grave
With every concession it makes new dema-
nds. Every thing which it has demanded
up to this point has been concluded. Why
shonld it refrain from demanding this.
1t is not enough to say that the revival
of the Slave Trade never will be sanctioned
because it would be an outrag upon the
spirit and sentiment Of the age. So it was
said when it was propo sed to repeal the
Missouri Compromise to enable the Slave
trade to 60 upon soil from which it had
been "foreyer prohibited" So it was said
when il was proposed to enact law impo-
sing pains and penalties, fines and impris-
onments, upon whosoever should give crust
of bread to a fleeing fugitive from service"
So it was said when it was intimatod that
the power Of the General Government
would be exertcd to force a Pro Slavory
Constitution upon the people of Kansas;
and so it was said when it was first dcman-
ded that Congrss should enact Slave Co
de for the Territories. And yet all these
Infamous things have been done, or are in
The process OF doing, by the democratic
party. Not one ofthem, when first broac-
he'd, seemed more likely to be consumated
than this that is now proposed by the"
Southern Commercial Convention.
After the Congressional Slave Code for
the Territory is enacted, then will come
the obligation Of all lawsagainst the Slave
Trade! This is tho southern Democratic
Platform; and the Democrats Of the North
have nethe the courage nor tho disposition
to refuse what their Southern masters dem
and.
",rhe end is not yet. " 1t was once said
by the great Nepoleon that the time was
not far distant when Europe would be cit
her "all Cossack or all Republicans" 1t
is still more distinctly written upon the pa
go of the future, that this Republic
must one day be either" All Slaves or
all Eroe." Tho Shareholders will not be
satisfied nntill every barrier against Slavery
is broken down: and, provoked 10y their
wicked and impudent portinacity. Freeman
will retalatc By making counter demands,
until some Constitutional process shall
be devised to ond the strife by securing, as
its founders intended THE Republic TO
FREEDOM Albany Journal.
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CAMEIs.-The Mobile Tribune notices
the arrival at that city of twenty-one CAN
els from Texas. Eight Of them had been
u n e. l.. r..