New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-22

IL the shield OF the slave pirate on sea, under
cover of which he pursues his work of human misery
despair and death. The reports made 70 our Govern
ment by ministers abroad, and oyr naval officers
furnsh the amrest evidence that the American flag il
made TO this polluted commerce in flesh and blood
The sixth section requires the OF every ship
before sailing for any port the coast of Africa, to
notify the Attorney of the United States for that Dis
trct and II requires the Attorney, upon receiving
such notice. TO examine the vessel to ascertain whether
she Is designed TO be engaged in the African slave
trade, and TO continue such examination until her actual
Departure and every ship departing attempting TO
depart violation of this act, shall be forfeited. This
provision gives ample power to, and makes ii the duty
of the Distrct-AttOmeys of the United States, 10 in
stitue the most searching invest gaOns into the char
acer of all vessels sailing for the coast of Africa.
faithful execution of this section of the bill would
make it difficult to fit out these savers in American
ports The 9TH section of the bill provides that when
ever any American registered vessel shall be sold TO
citizen of the United States at any foreign port or
place in North or South America, the West India
Islands, the Cape de Verde Islands the coast
of Africa the sale Shall be utterly void unless executed
in the presence of Minister or Consul of the United
States and shall contain condition that the ship shall
return 10 the United States for new register. And
if any citizen of the United States in any such port
or place, being the owner or agent Tor the sale 81
an American ship or vessel shall sell such ship
or vessel, knowing that she is TO be employed IN
the African save-trade, that she is about TO
make a voyage 10 the coast OF Africa before re.
turning to the United States shall charter vessel
of which he may be the owner, or the agent Tor voy
aye to the coast of Africa with the intent to sell such
ship or vessel that coast every person 10 offending,
on conviction thereof before the Circuit Court OF the
United States for any district wherein he may be
brought OF afterward found shall forfeit and pay the
sum OF $40 600, and shall be Imprisoned for term not
exceeding three years. And makes every charter OF
an American vessel at any foreign port with the In
tent tina, such vessel shall be employed in the slave
trade and every sale of an American vessel on the
coast of Africa unless condemned as unseawOrthy NE
I. IL l.af hot xrbap my
shall lodge information with the attorney of the dis
frct against person for The violation OF tins act by
any sale charter OF any vessel contrary to the act
il shall be the duty OF the attorney To commence
prosecution against the offender, and upon conviction
every such vessel shall be forfeited. by the
ninth section of the bill every owner or agent
for the sale of an American snip who shall sell such
ship in any of the ports aforesaid and every purchaser
Of such ship shall at the time of the execution OF the
instrument Of writing in the nature OF bill OF sale for
the transfer of such ship make oath before minister
or consul of the United States residing at such port or
place that the said ship is not intended 10 be engaged
in the African slave-trade; and if any such owner,
agent or purchaser shall falsely in the prem
ises be shall he deemed guilty of perjury, and shall
on conviction thereof suffer all the pains and penalties
mIOsed by the acts OF Congress for wful ana corrupt
perjury The 7th, Sth, and 9Th sections Mr.. Wilson
sidl were prepared and introduced into the Senate in
1854 in the form of a bill for the more efiectua sup
preston Of the slave-trade by the late John NJ Clay
ton The bill unanimously passed the Senate but TINS
ana 1e0eNCcnl UtaSuIt, lhltiutu 10 ItiuCui "a
great abuse and to check the slave traffic, not
acted upon III the House OF Representatives mat
House was then engaged in great struggle to repeal
the restriction upon Slavery extension emOOdled I'D
the Missouri prohibition of 1890, and had time 10
act upon this humane and Christian measure. lie
had therefore incorporated this Till OF Mr. Clayton
entire into the bill he now proposed; and as received
the unanimous vote of the Senate in 1854 he confident
" hoped il would receive the sanction OF the Senate III
1870 The British Government with which We have, by
the Webser-A shbmtOn treaty, entered INTO spulaons
for the extrpation of the African saverade, employs
commissioners or agents resident IN Africa. lie pro-
possd in the tenth section OF tins BILL the appointment
of n Commissioner TO reside in Africa, whose duty II
shall be 10 aid III the suppression OF The saNefaue
under the direction and instruction OF the President OF
the United States. The service that an able and fahin
Slave Commissioner, resident IN Africa c; render 10
the great work Of extrpatng the traffic in must be
invaluable. Mr.. Wilson said III conclusion OF ms
speech iof which the above If an ABSTRACT: BY
existing regulations the naval officers sent TO the
African waters TO aid in the Suppression OF the illegal
slave traffic are responsible if the vessels captured are
not by court of law, proved 10 be sayers. The df-
6culties Of conviction unless slaves are found on
board are well known. The ott-repeated failures 10
convict III such cases are well known 10 the naVai
ofcers and cannot ia 10 repress their zeal and thus
restrain their action. BY the eleventh section pro-
pose 10 release the naval officers from any respohslo
tv for arestng any vessel suspected OF beng engaged
in the saveIade and thereby leave them Tree 10 eA-
ercise their own judgments in making arrests, unin-
huenced by any apprehensiOns OF legal prosecutions.
1t is proposed Mr.. President, by the enactment OF
this bill 10 construct five steam soOpsOiwar for ser
wee IN the African waters, - to assist IN the WORDS
Of Daniel Webster, " in scourgng from the seas the
worst pirates which ever infested them; 70 release
the naval officers from any legal responsibilities 1or
the capture OF suspected slaveTs not proved 10 oe
savers by the courts; TO nce the zeal OF otnceIs ana
crews bv increasing fourOd the bounty for captures
10 send commissioner to Africa 10 battle the schelnesO
the fesh-iobbers land and sea- to make the lttlng
out Of slaverf ike the sailing OF them, piracy 10 lac
tate the conviction Of the slave pirates OF land ana sea-
bv changing the penalty from death to imprisonment Tor
life 10 make the display the American flag badge
of nationality by a not legaly-reglstered Amer
can ship felony, the penalty OF which Is lmprlsoheh
of the crew and the forfeiture OF the vessel TO MAKE
the sale Of American ships the coast Of Africa lille
gal and 70 require the sellers and purchasers OF amer
lean vessels in any foreign por-ln Norm or ooutil
America the West India Islands, and the cape de
Verde Isands-lnake oath that such vessels are ol IN
tended 10 b. engaged in the slayetrade to forbid the
abuse of consular sea-etters by vessels sold abroad,
bv requiring them TO return 10 the United States Ior
new registers before making voyages to the African
coast: and TO enlarge the powers and increase te u
tier Of the judicial officers of the United States IN the
examination of ships intended 10 sail for the pOrs OF
Africa and III the arrest and examination OF coofeu
persons imported in violation OF the laws OF tne eouii
trv. Such Mr.. President are the provisions proposed
10 be incorporated into the statutes OF the Republic oy
the enactment Of this BILL Existing statutes however
wisely framed, inadequate to meet the necessi'es
Of the present They have not only ialed 10 preserve
unsuied the American flag upon the seas ana 10 pre-
vent American ships navigated by American seamer,
from participating in the guilty commerce IN flesh and
blood between Africa and Cuba and Brazil, but they
have failed TO preserve American SOL IRON tie
polluting tread of imported African blrbarianS'
/ move the reference of this bill to the Judiciary
Committee, and ask the members of that Com
nee TO give 70 it their earnest attention and favor
able consideration. Should it have the favor OF the
Committee should il receive the sancton OF Congress
and the approval of the President and should ITS pro,
visions be vigorously enforced by the Executive and
Judicial officers of the Government, IL WILL am sure
contribute something check the participation OF our
=. -, ,...,,ra.1 aud aItorred commerce. 10