Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04

exiating shall think proper to admit" "prior 10
the year one thousand eight hundred aud eight.
It will be seen that this restriction ON the
power Of Congress was confined 10 such States
only az might think proper TO admit the impor-
tation of slaves 1t did not extend 10 other
States, or to the trade carried on abroad. Ac.
cordingly, we find that so early as the 22l
March, l794, Congress- Tassed an actimposing
severe penalties and punishments upon cit
izeDs and residents Of the United States who
should engage in this trade between foreign
nations. The provisions Of this act were exs
tended and enforced by the act Of l0th May,
1900. ii1Erl tr .slf tIa ,....f..f
kgain the States themselves bad clear
right TO waive the constitutional privilege in !
tended for their benefit and to prohibit, hy
their own laws, this trade at any time they
thought proper to, previous to 1903. Several
VI them exercised this right before that period,
and among them fome contsining the greatest
number of slaves. This gave to Congress the
immediate power to act in regard to all such
States, because they themselves had removed
the constitutional barrier. Congress accord
iDgly passed an act on 2Sth of February, 1903,
ITO prevent the importation Of certain persons
into certain States, where, by Che laws thereof,
their admission is prohibited" In this man
ner The importation of African slaves into the
United States was, TO a great extent, prohibit
ed some years in advance of 1903.
AS the year 1908 approached, Congress dc .
termined not to suffer this trade to exist even
for single day after they had the power 10
abolish it On the % March, 1907, they pas
sed an act to take effect "from and after the lst
day Of January, 1905" prohibiting the import
alton Of African slaves into the United States
This was followed by subsequent acts of sim.
| liar character, to which | need not specially re-
fer. Such were the principles and such the
practice Of our ancestors more than fifty years
ago in regard TO the African slave tradr.
| 1t did not occur to the revered patriots who
had been delegates to the convention, and af.
forwards became members Of Congress, that in
passing these laws they had violated the COZ
stitution which they had framed with so much
care and debersiion, They supposed that TO
prohibit Congress, in express terms, from ex>
| ercising specified power before an appointed
day, necessarily involved the right to exercise
this power after that day had arrived.
II this were not the case, the trainers of the
Constitution had expended much labor in vain.
Had they imagined that Congress would poss
ess no power to prohibit the trade either before
or after 1908, they would not have taken so
much care to protect the States against the ex-
ercise Of this power before that period. Nay,
more, they would not have attached such vast
importance to this provision as to have excu-
ded it from the possibility Of future repeal or
amendment to which other portions OF the
Constitution were exposed. Il would, then,
] have been wholly unnecessary to engraft 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 1908 shall inno manner
affect" the provision in the constitution secu-
ring to the States the right to admit the im-
portation Of African slaves previous to that Pc
Rod
According to the adverse construction the
clause itself, on which SO much care and dis
cussion had been employed by the members Of
the convention, was an absolute nullity from
the beginning, and all that has since been done
under it mere usurpation. W .-- rt
1t was well and wise to confer this power upon
Congress, because had i been left to the states its
efficient exercise would have beon impossible. In
that event any one state could have efeetually
continued the trade not only for itself but for oil
gainst their will. And why2 Because African
slaves when once brought within tho limits Of ans
one state, in accordance with its laws, cannot
practically be excluded from any other state where
slavery exists And even if the states had sepa-
rately passed laws prohibiting the importation OF
slaves, these laws would have failed of effect for
want of naval force to capture tho sayers and:to
guard the coasts. Such a force no state can en-
ploy in time of peace without the consent of Con
| gress.
These acts of Congress, it is believed, have with
yeryrare and Insignificant exceptions, accomplish,
ed their purpose. For period Of more than hall
8 century there has been no perceptible addition
TO the number of our domestic slaves. During thii
period their advancement in civilization has faI
surpassed that of any other portion of the African
race. Tho light and blessings Of Christianity hav.
been extended to them. and both their moral and
Rsopen tSo tpade ' and Il would be- diest t,
determine whether the effect would be moro dele
terious to the interests of the master, on thos'
of the native-born slave. of the evils to the mas
| ter the one most to be dreaded would be the in
PRODUCTION fwild, heathen and ignorant barbara
ans among the sober, orderly and quiet slaves
generations. This might tend to barbarise, do
moraliEe and exasperate the whole mass, and pro
, The effect upon the existing slave, would, i
possible, be still more deplorable. At present, h
is treated with kindness and humanity. He
we'll fed well clothed, and not over-worked. Hi
, condition is incOmparaby better than that of tn
Coolies which modern nations OF high civilization
have employed as a substitute for African slaves
2 Both the philanthropy and self-interest of tn
master have combined to produce this humane re
, suit. But let this trade be re-opened and wha
= will be the efectG The same, 70 Q considerabI
: extent. as on a neighboring island the only spo
7 on earth where the African slave trade is openl
with power abundantly able at any moment I
, enforce their execution, There the master, inten
upon the present gam, e1tErG from inc slave
a pable Of enduring-knowiug that, when deat
I comes 10 his relief, his place can be supplied at
] price reduced to the lowest point by the compet
tion Of riYal African save-raders. If this shoul
, ever be the case ia our oountry-which do nc
deem possiblethe present useful character 1 OF a
il young to work are provided for with care and hu
/, manity, and those capable Of labor arc not oveI
| tasked, would undergo an unfor unate change
i The feeling of reciprocal dependence and attach
ment which now exists between master and slavi
L would be converted into mutual distrust and ho'
y | uliy.
But we are obliged as a CHRISTIAN and moral nj
= ton TO consider what would be the effect upon vi
u happy Africa itselfif We should reopen the slay
e trade. This would give the trade an impulse an
A extension which it has never had even in its pa
: miest days. The numerous victims required
u supply IL would convert the whole slave coast I'M
g q perfect pandemonium, for which this count
Il would be held responsible in the both Of &c
4 and man. It's petty tribes would then be constan
u ly engaged in predatory wars against each othe
y for the purpose Of seizing slaYes 70 supply u
e American market All hopes Of African eivilizi
n tion would thus be ended.
= On the other hand, wnen a market for Africa
i slaves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba al
thus all the world be closed against this trade,
A. may then indulge reasonable hope for the grad
y | al Improvement of Africa. Tho chief motive
IL war among the tribes will cease whenever there
3 no longer any demsnd for slaves, The rssources,
developed by the hand Of industry, and afford su
iects for Legitimate foreign 9nd domestic commer
i In this way Christsniy and oiViiE ,ti0n may gra
Ne uAlly penetrste the existing gloom.
m The wisdom Of the course pursued by Ii
= government towards China has been vindie
10 ted by the event. Whilst we sustained
N neutral position in the war waged by Gre
ID Britain and France against the Chinese Empi
q our late Minister, In obedienee TO his instFu u
u tions, judieiOusly co-operatsd with the Mini
i. ters Of these pwers in all peaceful MEASURES
y secure by treaty the just concessions deman
en- ed by the interests Of foreign commerce. ~
,st result is, that sstisfsctory treaties have be
n, concluded with chins by tho respective Min
tors of the United States, Great Britain, Fran
and Russia. Our .treaty, or general conve
en- ton Of peace, amity and commerce." with IL
ID, amD;rs svss con,,,r,led At Mientsin on the le