The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-01-03

! EiNSo Nbuih DONSNoo NIO pONtI W DIblllDlb
the trade cithar before or after 1903. they
would not have taken so much care to pro.
tcct tie States against the exercise Of this
power before that period. Nay, more,
they would not have attached such vast
Importance to this provision as to have ex-
cuded it from the possibility Of future re.
peal or amendment, 90 which other por.
tions Of the Constitution were exposed. -
1t would, then, been wholly unnecessary
TO engraft on the fifth article Of the Con.
stitution, prescribing the mode Of its own
future amendment, the proviso, "that no
amendment which may be made prior to
the year one thousand eight hundred and
eight shall in any manner affect the pro.
vision in the Constitution securing TO tho
States the right to admit the importation
OF African slaves previous 10 that period.
According to the adverse construction,
the cause itself, on which SO much care and
discussion had been employed by the mem
beis Of the convention, was an absolute
nulity from the beginning, and all that has
since been done under it mere usurp-
! ton.
1t was well and wise to confer this pow.
cr on Congress, because, had it been left
10 .hc States, its efficient exercise would
have been impossible. In that event any
one State could have ehectualIy continued
the trade, not only for itself, but for the
other slave States, though never SO much
against their will. And why? Because
African slaves, when once brought within
the limits Of any one State, in accordance
with its Jaws, cannot be practically be cx-
clGdcl from any other State where slavery
exists. And even if all the States had
! sepcrately passed laws prohibiting the i'm
poraiion ii slaves, the laws woUii have
failed Of effect for want Of a naval force to
capture tie slavcrs and 10 guard the coast.
Such force no State can employ without
the consent Of Cangress.
These acts Of Congress, it is believed,
have, with very rare and insignificant cX
coptions, accomplished their purpose. For
a period of more than half century there
there has been no perceptblo addition 10
the number of our domestic slaves. Du.
ring this period then Advancement in civ
illzation has far supposed that Of any 9th
or portion of the African race. The light
and the blessing Of Christianity have
been eXtelde to them, and both their
moral and physical c2ndition have been
greatly improved.
Ro omen H. i,i.is, and 1t would be dif
ficult TO determine whether the effect wod
be more dclctcrious on the interests of the
masters or on those of the native BON slave.
OF the evils TO the master, The one most to
be dreaded would be the introduction of
Wild, heather and e orant barba'ians n
mong the sober, orderly and quiet slaves,
whose ancestors have been on the soil for
several generations. This might tend TO
barbarza, demoraize, and cXasporate the
whole mass, and produce most dcplorab'o
conscqurtc'S.
The effect upon thc existing slave would
if possible, be still moro dcplombe. At
present he is treated with kinincss and
humanity. He i> well fed, well clothed,
ard not ovcrwo kcd. His condition is in.
comprabls b,!or than that of tho coolies
which modern nation, Of high civilization
bgyr cmpIoycl rs sp'eIi.utc for African
slaves. Both the philanthropy aud self
interest ot the master have combined to
l'I''ftNr tlIlH INllAlil' lirUll. lhUG Itt lIlN
trade lo 'e @, cncj, and what will be the
eIec,! The same, to considerable cX
tent, as on ncghboring Island tho on
ly spot now on earth where the African
slave trade is ope ly tolerated, and this
in defiance of solemn treaties with pow
cr abundanty able al any moment 20 en-
force their cXocution. There the MASTER
Irf.ttI f,a,,, Il
slavc as much labor rs Iii, physical p wcrs
arc capable of cndurine-.knowing that
when death come, TO his relief, his place
can BE- supplied at a price reduced 70 tie
lowest point by the cymreiion Of rival AZ.
Lcm slave traders. Should his over ho
the case in our cuuutry--wh!ch do noI
deem pos-i,le-tho present asoful charac
ter Of the domestic institution, wherein
those 20 Old aud those to young to work
arc provided for with care and humanity,
and those carab'c oF labor arc not over.
task"d, would undergo an uu(J'tuuHtc
change. The feeling IF reciprocal dcpcn.
dcnCc and attachment which nov exists
between master aul slave would be conycr.
ted into mutual distIust aud hostility.
But we are obliged MS n Christian aud
moral nation 10 consider what would bo
the effect upon unhappy Africa itself if we
should re open the slave trade. This
would give the trade an Impulse and cx-
tension which it has never had even in its
palmio.t days. The numerous victims re.
qui-ei TO supyly it would convert the
whole slave coast into a perfect Panlcmo.
mum, for which this country would be
held responsible in the owes Of both God
and man. It's petty tribes would then bc
constantly engaged in predatory wars a.
gainst each other for the purpose Of seizing
slaves to supply the American market
All hopes Of Africnn civilization would
thus be ended.
On the other hand, when slaves shall 10
longer be furnished to Cuba, and thus all
the world be closcd,against this trade, we
may then indulge in II reasonable hope for
the improvement of Africa. Tho chief
motive for war among the tribes will cease
whenever there is no longer any demand
for slaves. The resources of that fertile
but miserable country might then be de-
veloped by the hand of industry, and az
ford subjects for legitimate foreign and ID.
mestic commerce. In this manner Chist.
ianity and civilization may penetrate tho
ovisttno, rI,on,