Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-22
SpeciaI Message Of the President,

| To tie Senate and House Of Representatives
On the 2Gth day of April last, Lieutenant
| Craven, Of the United States steamer Mo
hawk, captured the SLAYER Wildtire, on the
coast of Cuba, with five hundred and seven
African negroes on board. The prize was
brought into Key West on the 3lst April, and
the negroes were delivered into the custody
of Fernando J. Moreno, marshal of the south
ern district Of Florida.
The question which now demands imme-
diate decision is, what disposition shall be
made of these Africans? In the annual
message to Congress of December =, 1858, /
expressed my opinion in regard to the con-
structon OF the act of the Sd March, 1919,
ain addition to the acts prohibiting the slave
trade" 50 far as the same is applicable to
! the present case. From this make the fol-
| lowing extract
Under the ID section ofthis act, the Presi
! dent is authorized to make such regulations
and arrangements us he may deem expedlent
| for the safe-keeping, support, and removal be-
yond the limits Of the United States OF all
such negroes, mulattoes, or persons OF color
captured by vessels of the United States, as
may be delivered TO the marshal Of the dis
| trct into which they are brought, and to APP
point such person or persons residing upon
the coast OF Africa as agent or agents for re-
ceiving the negroes, mulattocs, or persons OF
color delivered from on board vessels seized
in the prosecution Of the slave trade by
commanders of the United States armed
| vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose rs to the true
construction OF this act 1t IS quite clear
| from lis terms that the President was au-
thorzed to provide for the sale-keeplng, sup
port and removal Of these negroes up till
the time of their delivery to the agent on the
coast of Africa: but no express provision was
made for their protection and support after
they had reached the place of their deStlna-
ton Still, an agent was to be appointed to
receive them in Africa and it could not have
been supposed that Congress offended he
should desert them at the moment they were
received, and turn them loose on that lnhos-
pitable coast, to perish for want OF food, or
10 become arlin the victims Of the slave trade.
Had this been the intention Of Congress, the
employment OF All agent to receive them,
who is required to reside on the coast, was un-
necessary: and they might have been landed
by our vessels anywhere in Africa, and left
would certainly await them.
Mr. Monroe, in his special message OF
| Eth December, 1919, ut the first session al
ter the act was passed, announced to Con-
.reSs in his opinion, was It's true construc-
ton. lie believed it to be his duty un-
der it to follow these untOrtunatcs into
Africa, and make provision for them there
until they should be able to provide for
themselves. In communicating this inter
pretaton of the act to Congress, he stated
that some doubt had been entertained as To
its true intent and meaning; and he submit
ted the question to them, So that they might,
should it be deemed advisable, amend the
same before further proceedings are had UNI
der it, Nothing was done by Congress to
exrlain the act, and Mr.. Monroe proceeded
to carry il into execution, according to his
own Interpretation. This, then, became the
practical construction"
Adopting this construction Of President
Monroe, entered into an agreement with
the Colonization Society, dated 18th SeptenI-
Der, 1888, to receive the Africans which had
been captured on the SLAYER Echo from the
agent OF the United States i'll Liberia; 10
furnish them during the period OF one year
thereafter with comfortable shelter, clothing
and provisions; and to cause them to be III
structed in the arts Of civilized life suitable
to their condition, ut the rate ot SloO Tor
each individual Ii was believed that with
in that period they would be prepared to be-
come citizens OF Liberia, and tn take care 0!
themselves As Congress was not then III
session, and as there was no outstanding APP
preparation applicable TO this purpose, the
Society were Obliged to depend for payment
on the future action of that body. recon-
mcndcd this appropriation, and seventy-tiVe
Thousand dollars were granted by The act ot
Sd March, 1889. the consular and diplomatic
bin. "to enable the President of the United
States to carry into effect the act OF Congress
of Sd March, 1919, and any subsequent
acts now in force for the suppression oi the
slave trade"
OF this appropriation there remains unex
pended the sum OF twenty-iour thousand
three hundred and fifty dollars and ninety
cents, IS24, $50 30, after deluctiny from 1t
IN advance made bv the Secretary of the
interior out OF the Judiciary fund, Of eleven
thousand three hundred and forty-aght dol
lars and ten cents, Sll, 34S.lu.
regret TO say that, under the mode adopt
ed in regard to the Africans captured 81!
beard the Echo, the expense will be large; hut
this seems, to IL great extent, 10 be Inevitable,
without a violation OF the laws OF humanity.
The expenditure upon this scale for those
captured on board the Wildirc, will not be
I less than one hundred thousand dollars, and
may considerabl exceed that sum. Still it
ought to be observed that, during the period
when the Government itself through its
own agents, undertook the task providing
for captured negroes in Africa, the cost per
head was much greater than that which |
agreed to pay the Colonization Society.
But it will not be sufficient for Congress
to limit the amount appropriated to the case
Of the Wild:ire. It's probable, Judging from
the increased activity Of the slave trade and
the vigilance of our cruisers, that several
similar captures may be made before the end
of the year. An appropriation ought there
fore, to be granted, large enough to cover
such contingencies.
The period has arrived when it is indiS
pensihle t. provide some specific Legislation
for the guidance Of the Executive on this sub
iecr. With this view, | would suggest that
Congress might authorize the President to
enter into general agreement with the Col
ouization Society, binding them to receive
on the coast of Africa from our agent there
all the captured Africans which may be de
livered 10 him, and to maintain them for
I