Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-05-15
THE SLAVE TRADE LEGAL1zED.

1t is we'll known that the leaders Of
the Democratic party at the South are
determined on the revival of the African
slave trade. In the early days of our
country, when Washington, and Madison,
and Jefferson, and Franklin, and Jay, and
their compatriots, held sway in the coun-
ellis of the Nation, it was confidently be-
lieved that if the trade from Africa could
be stopped the system would die out in
few years, in all the States. They there
fore obtained the insertion of clause
in the Constitution which authorized
Congress to prohibit this traffic after the
year 1908; South Carolina and Geor
gia refusing to come into the Union if
it was prohibited before that time. AS
the time limited had expired, Congress
proceeded by various enactments to put a
! stop to the infamous practice. Among
other means used, the Government of
the United States urged, with the utmost
earnestness, upon the Governments of
Europe, the necessity ofpronouncing the
trade piracy by all civilized nations, and
setting them the example, by act of Con-
gress, our Government declared the trade
to be piracy, and punishable with death.
England, France, Prussia, and nearly, if
not all, the civilized nations of Europe,
soon did the same. And the traffic is
now contraband, and punished as piracy
by the laws of all these nations.
But latter-day Democracy in the
United States has determined that slavery
shall be perpetual. 70 justify them
selves in this determination they have
taken the Bold and blasphemous ground
that slavery is right. As necessary
conclusion from this, the slave trade is
right, too, and the laws that prohibit it
are all wrong and ought to be repealed.
But as there is no hope of repeating the
law, the party has resorted to its conve-
nient instruments United States Court
to set it aside as void The slave
holders having absolute control of the
Court, teach the doctrine, which must
be acquiesced in by the party, that the
slave holding majority of the judges may
change, alter, or abrogate any provision
of the Constitution, and the nation must
submit without redress.
Under this teaching, it is we'll known
that the slave trade is in successful op-
Grafton in the South, winked and con-
nived at by the leaders of the party, and
the officers of Government, whose sworn
duty it is to see the law enforced. A
slave ship, the Wanderer, Was captured
and brought into Charleston, and the
Capt. indicted under the law. But the
judge has just ruled that to transport
slaves from Africa to the South is no Of
fense, and that unless the Captain
actually kidnaps them himself he can
not be punished. This decision, absurd
and corrupt as it is, will, of course, be
claimed by the party, as that in the case
of Dred Scott, to be the law Of the land,
and binding upon Congress and the
people. If it is allowed to stand, it is
clear at once, that the piratical and in
famous slave trade is legalized, and every
Democrat who can raise hundred dol
lars can have his "nigger.'
If Democracy should ever repair its
torn banner, it should be inscribed
"Democracy! the slare trade! and cheap
mtggers torerer!