Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-01-05

express terms. from Exercising a specified
power befo'e an appointed day, necessarily
involved the right TO exsrcisp this power
a(ter that day had arrived.
II this were not the case, tho trainers of
the Constitution had expended much lsbor
in vain. Had they imagined that Congress
would possess no power to prohibit the trade
either before or after 1903, they would not
bavs taken so mu:h care to protect the
States sg,inst the exercise of this power
before That period. Nay more, they Ssuld
not have attached such vast importance to
this provision as to have excluded il from
the possibility of future repeal or smsndmen Mt
10 which other portions of the Constitution
were exposed. 1t would. then, have been
wholly unnecessary to e,,gruft on the fifth
article Of the Constitution, prescribing the
mode of it's own future amendment, the pro.
viso, "that no amendment which may be
made prior to the year one thousand eight
hundred ana eight shall n any manner of.
fest" the provision in the Constitution
securing 10 the States the right 10 admit The
importation of African slaves previous to
that psfol.
According TO the adverse cors,ruc ion
the clause itself, on which so much care nd
discussion had been mployed by the mem
brrs Of the convention, was an .bsclute
nul.ity from The beginning, ard oil tha, has
since been done under /, mere usnrpa,ion.
Ii was we and wise to confer this power
on Congress, because, had it been left 10
the States, lis efficient exercise would have
been imposs hle In that event my one
State could have eiicctually contin, et the
trade not only for itself but for II The other
slave States, though never SO much against
their will. And Why! Because African
slaves, hen once brought within the limits
u. any Que State where slavery exists. And
even it'a'l the States hutss separately passed
laws pfohibl ing the import ,lion OF slaves,
these laws would have ialec OF effect for
want OF naval force to capture the slavers
aud 10 guard the COASTS. Such force no
State con employ in time of peace without
,he consent Of Congress.
These acts Of Congress, it is bplived have
with vdry rare aud lnsiiinifcant exceptions,
accomplished their purpose. For a period
OF more than halt century there has been
nO perceptible addition TO the num0er q.
our domestic slaves. During THIS period
the advancement ia c.v,l,zit!on has far
surpassed that of any olher potion of the
African race. The light and tn, blessings
oi Christianity have been extended to tl.em,
and Sota their moral and physical condition
has beer greatly improved
ReUpea|the trade, and ii would be difficult
to dsterm ne whether the effect would be
mFe dcleterous on the interests of the
master or on .l6se OF ihonative b5ra s!ag,
o OF ,''.,i 'o evils to master the one e'ss' 70
be dFeaaed wnuh be the iutroduc ion OF
wild, ...heuthen, and isuorlnt barb ,rions
| among 'ils suburly, and quiet slaves, wh
ancestors have been ON tn. So, for seyeral |
'nera ions. This might tend TO barbarize.
demofalize, and exasperdte tie whuie mass,
aha produce msst d,plorable consequences
The I'll CT upon the existing slave would,
if possible. be still m1re dsplo.abie. At
present he is troatel with kinlncss and sshu.
IN 'uity. He is well led well clothed, and
not overW o. ked. HIS condition is incom
paraUly better thSn that of the coolies
which modern nations vi high civ: zation
hsve employed as Il substitute isr African
slaves. Both the philanthropy and the self
interest oi the master have combined to
produce this humane result. But let this
trade be REQ, ,ened, and what will be the eff.
iect! the same, Ia considerable extent
us on ncighborins isidnd-ihc only SPOT
now ON carln where the African slave trade
is openly tolerated; and this IN defsnoe Of
SO emn treaties with a power sbundanty
able Ut uny moment to enforce their execu-
lon. There the mater, intent upon pres.
ent gain, extoSs from the suve as much ID
Dor as his physical powers are capable OF
MISUNDERSTANDING that, when death comes
t. his relief, his place Can BE- supplied at
prizes reduced to the lowest point by the
competition OF rival African slave traders.
Should this ever be the case in our country
which do not deem possbIc--the pres
ent useful character OF the domestic ins.itu-
ton, wherein those too old aud too young 10
work are provided for with care aud human.
ity, and those capable of labor are not over
tasked, would undergo an Unfortunate
change. The feeling OF reciprocal depend.
ence and attachment which now exists be-
tween master and slave would Zoe converted
into mutual distrust AMI hostility.
But we are obliged as 4 Christian and
m lral nation to consider what would be the
effect upon unhappy africa Itself we should
reopen the save trade. This would give
the trade an impulse and extension which it
has never mad even in its paImiest days.
The numerous victims required to supply il
would convert the whole Save coast into a
perfect Pandemonlum, Tor which this coun-
try would be held responsible in the eyes
both OF God and man. Its petty tribes
would then be constantly engaged IN preda-
torA wars against each other for the purpose
OF selzing slaves to supply the Amercud
market. All hopes Of African civilization
would thus be ended.
On the other hand, when market for
African slaves shall no longer be furnished
Ia Cuba, and thus all the world be closed
against This tra.e, we may then indulge u
reasonable hope tor the gradual Improvement
OF Africa. The chief motive of war among
the tribes will case whenever there is nc
longer any demand tor slaves. The resources
oi tnat fertile but miserable country nigh,