Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-05-30
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WAsH1NaroN c1rr. Mar ab. 1850.

Florida, again presents to Congress the pertezihg
necessity of making provision for their care and
final disposition Heretofore these cases have been
provided for by special legislation when Congress
was in session, but during the recess, the govern
ment finds itself seriously embarrassed in disposing
of these captured savages.
To remedy this, Mr. Benjamin, Of Louisiana. re-
ported on Yesterday bill to amend the act prohib-
iting the slave trade The bill, after amendment,
authorizes the President to contract With some per-
son. or society, or corporate body, for term not
exceeding five years. to receive from the United
States through thir constituted agents TIE coast
of Africa all negroes seized on board vessels prose
cutting the slave trade, and to provide for their
clothing, shelter and subsistence for the period OF
one year after being returned to the African coast
the price not to exceed 800 per head 1t further
authorizes the President to issue instructions TO the
officers of our Navy that whenever practicable all
slave vessels captured shall be carried direct to the
coast of Africa, the negroes delivered to the United
States Agents, and the vessel and crew brought to
this country 1t further stipulates that there shall
be placed at the disposal OF the President 5000 600
to carry out the provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Mallory offered an amendment, which he sub
sequently withdrew authorizing the President to
cause these Africans landed in Florida to be appren
ticed for not more than five years. to pay the cost Of
their return to Africa. This of course reused all
republication, and the stale cry of the South at
tempting to revive the slave trade at once grew
camorous.
This question of the suppression of the slave trade
has been troublesome and embarrassing and it ap-
pears to me that the modification or repeal of the
Ashburton treaty, and adoption of some more equt-
able treaty for the extinction of this traffic is i'm
peratively demanded. The English policy on this
subject differs materially from ours. In fact while
engage to suppress the trade they are indirectly
engaged in its prosecution. For every cargo cap
tured by the English Navy, the officers of the cap
turing vessel receive five pounds per head for every
negro; these negroes are not returned to their
homes but taken to the various English colonies
where slave labor is -enumeratve, and apprenticed
for term of ten years which is the average dura-
ton of life among them after being apprenticed.
The English law does not believe punish slave
traders but simply confscates the vessel engaged in
the trade This is done with little or no expense,
as the government have established an Admiralty
Court on the coast of Africa for the adjudication of
such cases. In many instances these confiscated
vessels are purchased by their former owners, who
man and provision them for another attempt to run
off a cargo CT negroes Our laws not only confs-
cate the vessel, but declare those engaged in the
slavetrafc guilty of piracy on the high seas and
to this fact is owing the rarity of captures by Amer
lean men of war; the traders preferring to risk be-
ing taken by English cruisers thus saving their
necks and only losing their ship and cargo. Per-
haps it would not he exaggerang to say that twen-
ty slave vessels are captured by the English where
we capture one. The recent seizure of those now
on the coast of Florida WILL before our hands are
clear Of them, cost eighty one hundred thousand
dollars for their support transportation and one
years clothing and provisioning, while the same
number if seized by English vessels would have
yielded 'eUenue to their government far exceeding
our disbursement. The suppression Of the trade,
in keeping eighty guns on the coast of Africa, in
transporting captured Slavers, and the return and
support of the negroes and the trial of the guilty
parties involves heavy expenditure of money for
IL
eminent would be the recipient, from the same
source, of liberal per centage for the exercise Of
their so-called humanity.
As you may well suppose the nomination of Lin
coin at Chicago rather upset the equanimity of the
! Seward wing of the Republican party and deranged
all the nicelyarranged plans of the wire-puilers at
this point. The Sewardtes reluctantly give in their
adhesion to Abe accompanied, however by courses
loud and deep" against those who were instrumental
in effecting the defeat Of their rrepressible conflict
favorite Greeley comes in for the most liberal share
of abuse. Even his old hat and that dra5 coat"
cannot escape the fierce onslaught # Stewards
| friends. He is caricatured, reved, spit upon by
many of his former admirers. Horace is evidently
in trouble and fast losing the influence so
| mighty in the abolition camp. This ebulition of
fury will soon spend its force, however and We will
find Stewards friends, outside of New York at least
the loudeSt Observation-Disclosures Of the whole Lincoln
! tribe Indeed some of his intimates now hint that
|
daily endorse the Chicago nominees If he should,
and then goes into the heartily and earnest
w. an enthusiasm will be infused into the Republican
ranks unprecedented in the history of parties and
the contest will be the most exciting known to
the country. And to oppose this party, formidable
IN numbers, wealth, energy and reckless unscrupu-
lousness as to the means used to triumph,
we have only the Democratic party, now distracted
and disrupted, frttering away its giant strength in
petty quarrels and unnatural strife. This is the
force have to bring in opposition to the solid col
umns of the Republicans; for of course do not
cognize the existence of third party. There was
one which died in Baltimore in May soon after CIV
ing birth to its nominees and notwithstanding the
perservering efforts recently made by the saturnne
Maynard of Tenn, and the fun.loving Vance, of
n. c., in Alexandria Va, to impress upon the minds
of the people that Bell is not dead but only
sleepeth the people only looked. solemn when
Maynard declared it. and grinned and winked at
Vance when he testified to it asthough it was cap
ital joke, and one understood and appreciated. But
seriously the present condition of the Democratic
party is which awakens the gravest fears of our
best men to the future of our country. That dis
rupted and rent into fragmentary factions where is
the help to come from to stay the tide of abolition
fanaticism Many here who have thrown them
selves boldly in the thckest Of this unnatural strife
are beginning to adopt more temperate line of &C
ton and to be impressed with the necessity Of
mutual forbearance; many who were disposed to &c
extreme lengths in widening the breach, now evnce
an earnest desire to heal all differences and make
sacrifices for the well being Of their whole party
The people who have interest in the plots of poll
ticians are growing weary of this discord-this in
cessant wrangling and desire peace, union and q
thorough consolidation of our strength. From my
own observation and converse with prominent gen
tlemen feel sure that the Convention of June 18th
will act in spirit of Cancellation, and that, whoever
may be the Sominee, the party will be unit in hi:
support. 1t will be far better to wait the action
the patriotic men composing the Convention, anc
then fire our hot-shot into the Republican camp in
stead of among our own friends. Doubtless YOU
readers have perused the Address published by sew
eral Southern members of Congress The Demo
cratic portion of the N. @. delegation did not ap