The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06
Freedam of Thought and Opinion.
BEDFORD Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 6, 1860

/ CIsing specified power before an appointed day
/ necessarily involved the right to exercise this
/ power after that day had arrived.
! fthis were rot the case, the trainers of the
Constitution had expended much labor in vain.
| Had they imagined that Congr ess would possess
no power to prohibitthe trade either before or
! after 1908, they would not have taken so much
care to protect the States against the exercise OF
/ ths power before that period. Nay more, they
would not have attached snch vast Importance
10 this provision as TO have excluded it from the
possibility Of future repeal or amendment, to
which other portions OF the Constitution Were
exposed. II would then have been wholly uH-
/ necessary to engraIt on the fifth article Of tnq
I Constitution, prest riding the mode OF ITS own
! future amendment, the proviso, 'lhat 40 amend
/ ment which may be made prior to the year one
/ thousand eight hundred and eight, shaft 10 any
manner affect" the provision in the Constitu-
ton securing to the States the right TO admit the
! importation of African slaves previous TO that
/ period.
/ According to the adverse construction, the
clause itself, on which so much care and discus
( sion had been employed by the members OF the
convention, was az absolute nnllty from the
! beginning, and all that has since been done
under II mere usuTpaton.
! 1t was we'll and wise TO confer this power
on Congress, because, had 1t been left to States,
/ lis efficient exercise would have been impossi-
! bic. In that event any one State could have
egectual, continued the trade not only for
all the other slave States, though never 50
! much against their will. And why Because
African slaves, when once brought within the
limits OF auy one State, in accordance with its
laws, cannot practically be excluded from any
other State where slavery exists. And even It
all the States had separately passed laws pro-
hibiIng the importation 81 slaves, these laws
would have failed oi effect for want OF navel
force to capture the savefs aud TO guard the
coasts. Such force % State can employ IN
time Of peace without The consent OF Congress,
These acts Of Congress, it is believed, have,
with very rare and insignificant exceptions,
accomplished their purpose For period OF
more than halt century there has beea n3
percepiible addition to the number Of oar do
mestc slaves. During this period theIr ad-
vaGcement Ia civilization has td- surpass I'd that
of any other portion of the African race. The
light and the blessings OF Christianity have been
extended to them, and both their moral and
physical condition has been greatly improved.
Reopen the trade, and it would be oiEicnlt
to determine whether the efIec: would be more
delelenous on the interests Of the master Or on
those of the native-born slave. Of the evils 10
the master, the one most to be dreaded would
be the introduction OF wild, heatben, and jgn9-
raut 5arbarians among the sober, orderly, and
quiet slaves, who's ancestors have been On the
soil for several generations. This might tend
10 barbarIZe, demordlIze, and eyaSprrate the |
whole mass, aad produce most dapl0fa5le con-
seqences.
The effect upon the existing slave would, II |
possible, be still more drpiora5ia At present
be is treated with kindness aud humanity. He /
as We'll Ird, wei. clothed, and not overworked. !
His condition Is iacampara5Iy better iaaa that /
Of the coolies which modern natIags Of high /.
Civilization have employed as a substitute for |
African slaves. Both the philanthropy and The !
seli-ineTeSt Of The master have combined to /
produce this humane result. But let this trade /
bp reopened, aud what will be the effect The /
same, 10 q considerable extent, as on a neigh |
boring islaud-,he only spot now on earth /
where theAtg;can slaye-iIade is openly toeFa- |
ted and this in defiance of solemn treafles |
WIKI power a5undaugIy able at any momen! |
20 enforce their execution. There the master. !
intent upon present gain, extorts from the slave
as much labor as his physical powers are capa-
bic Of misunderstanding that, when death |
comes 10 his relief, his place can be supplied
at price reduced to the lowest point b. the |
competition of rival African slave-tradsrs.-
Saould this ever be the case in our country !
which | DO not deem possible the present |
useful character Of the domestic lnSt!tG ton, !
wherein those too old and too young to work |
are provided for with care and humanity, and !
those capable of labor are not overtaskel, would
undergo an unfoItun te change. The feeling |
or reciprocal dependence ndaltachment wt,lch |
now exists between master and slave would be |
converted into mutual distrust and hostility.
But we are obliged as Christian and moral !
nation 10 consider what would be the effect /
upon unhappy Africa itself if we should REQ pen
the save-trade This would give the trade an
impulse and extension which it has never bad |
even in It's palmiest days. The numerous VIC
tins required to supply it would convert the |
whole slave coast into perfect Pandemonium, |
for which this country would be held response |
bic IN the eyes both of God and man. It's pet |
" tribes would then be constantly engaged in
predatory wars against each other for the pur- |
pose OF sezing slaves to supply the American /
market. All hopes Of African civilization |
would thus be ended.
On the other hand, when market for AfF- |
can slaves shall no longer be furnished in Cuba, |
and thus all the world be closed against this
trade, we may then indulge a reasonable hope !
for the gradual improvement of Africa. The |
chief motive OF war among the tribes will cease
whenever there is no longer any demand for
slaves. The resources of that fertile bat
miselable country might then be developed |
by the hand of indusry and afford subjects for
legitimate foreign and domestic commerce. In
this manner Christianity and civilization may
gradually penetrate the existing gloom.