The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-04
As the year l Os spprosched, Congress

ISL e'eu iof u Single ody aiter tuey uau tHe
power to abolish it. On the End of March
lS06they passed an act to take effect from
and after the Grst day of January, 1905
prohibiting the importation of African
slave into The United States This was
followed by subsequent acts Of a similar
character, to which l need not specially
refer. Such were the principles and such
the practice of our ancestors more than
fifty years ago in regard to the African
slave.trade.
1t did not occur to the revered patriots
who had been delegates to the convention,
and afterwards became memberss, that III
passing these laws they had violated the
Constitution which they had framed with
SO much care and deiberation. They
supposed that to prohibit Congress, in ex-
press terms, from exercising q specified
power before an appointed day, necessa-
rily involved the right to exercise this pow.
er after that day had arrived.
If this w're not the case, the trainers
OF the Constitution had expended much
labor in vain. Had they imagined that
Congress would possess no power to pro-
hibit the trade either before or after 1908,
they woali not have AIKEN so much care 70
protect the States against the exercise of
this power before that period. Nay more
they would not have attached such vas.
Importance to this provision as to nave ex-
cluded it from the possibility of future re-
peal or amendment, to which other por.
tions Of the Constitution were exposed
1t would, then. have been wholly unRec-
essary to ergraft on the fifth article of the
Constitution, 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 euy manner affect' the
provision in the Constitution securing to
the States the right to admit the impor-
tation of African slaves previous to that
period.
According to the adverse constructions,
the clause itself, on which so much care
and discussion had been employed by the
members of the convention, was an abso
lutte nulity from the beginning, and all
that has since been done under it O more
usurption.
II was well and wise to confer this pow
er on congress, because, had it been left to
the States, its efficient exercise woulG have
been impossible. In that event any one
State could have effectually continued the
trade not only for itself but for all the
other slave States, though never so much
against their will. And why? Because
African slaves, when once brought within
limits Of any one State, in accordance
with its laws. cannot practically be exciu
ded from any other State where slavery
exists. And even ifall the States had
separately passed laws prohibiting the i'm
portation of slaves, these laws would have
failed OF effect for want of naval forces to
capture the slavers and to guard the coasts.
Such force no State can employ in time
of peace without the consent of congress
These acts of Congress. it is believed,
have. with very rare and Insignificant ex
ceptions, accomplished their purpose -
For period Of more than half century
there has been no perceptible addition to
the number of our domestic slaves, Dur
ing this period their advancement in civ
ilization has far surpassed that of any
other portion of the African race. The
light and the blessings of Christianity have
been extended to them, and both their
moral aud physical condition has been
greatly improved.
Reopen the trade, and it would be diff.
fcult TO determine whether the effect would
be more deleterious on the interests of the
master or on those of the native born
slaves. Of the evils to the master, the
one most to be dreaded would be the in
PRODUCTION of wild, heather, and ignorant
bnrbarians among the sober, orderly and
quiet slaves, whose ancestors have been on
the soil for several generations. This
might tend to barbarize, demoralize, and
exasperate the whole mass, and produce
most deplorable consequences.
The effect upon the existing slave would
if possible, be still more deplorable. At
present he is treated with kindness AID
humanity, He is We'll fed, well clothed,
and not overworked. His condition is
incomparably better than that of the
coolies which modern nations of high civ
ilization have employed as substitute for
African slave. Both the philanthropy
and the self-interest of the master have
combined to prodnce this humane result.
/ But let this trade be reopened, and what
will be the effect? The same, to certain ex-
tent, on aneigAboring island-the only spot
now on earth where the African slave-trade is
openly tolerated: and this in defiance of solemn
treaties with power abundantly able at any
moment to enforce their execution. There
the master. intent upon present gain, extorts
from the slave as much labor as his physical
powers are capable of nduring-knowing that
when death comes to his relief, his place car
be supplied at price reduced to the lowes
point by the competition of rival African slave
traders. Should this ever be the case in oul
country--which do not deem possible-tht
present uSeful character of the domestic insti
tutiol, wherein those too old and too younl
to work are provided for with care and human
ity, and those capable of labor are not over
tasked, would undergo an unfortunate change
The feeling of reciprocal dependence and at
IL