The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-25
The Presidents M ssage-slave-rrad

- ~ We AAio OSAOAS Jul
the admirable business like Message of Presi-
dent buchanan. Of course, it was expected
sectIonsl men in all parts of the Union would
not>be satisfied. Accordingly we hear the
how OF dissatisfaction from the fanatics north
and south. The former call it pro-Elavery while
the latter denounce it for its opposition to re-
viviDg the slave trade.
Calm and considerate in its tone, sensible
and strong in its argument, this message how
ever will receive much sincere praise from the
unbiased minds of all patriotic conversative CT
tizens. The manner in which the President
treats every subject embraced in his message
is emineItly praiseworthy, and has even re-
ceived the commendation of Journals bitterly
opposed to his administration The method in
which John Browns Virginia raid is spoken
of is extremely timely and correct: and moth
ing printed upon the subject is more entitled
to attentive consideration. Certainly none but
the slavery agitators and diSunionists can take
exceptions to it. And not only of the attempt
ed insurrection in Virginia does Mr.. Buchanan
speak words of wisdom and truth, but on 9th
er equally important topics.
The Republican Press has been during the
past year lndustriously asserting that President
Buchanan and the Democratic Party are in IA
vor of reopening the slave-trade,-that the
federal Government has not adopted suitable
measures to prevent the prosecution of this
barbarous trafic-and that if a Democratic
President should be elected in 1860, the slave
trade will be reopened. Such balderdash never
had the shadow of a foundation. We doubt
not some timid persons were persuaded into be-
lieylns the Democratic Party to be an organi-
cation having for its prime object the fitting
out of hips to bring native Africans to our
shores, and that James Buchanan was the
chief controller of the movement. To all
those indlTlduals-to the conductors of the
Republican Press, and to every member of that
Party-to every man in the Union, we point
to the language OF our Democratic President
on this question. Not the vituperative slang
of the Republican leaders,-nOt all their hor-
rid pictures of the evils of slavery and the
slave-trade, mostly the fruits of their morbid
and cloudy imaginations,-not all the senseless
cant OF partizan presses, nor the active circu-
latlon of false accounts of the landing of Afri-
cans at our Southern ports.-not one nor all of
these Vaccinations of lying p~artizans have ac-
complished a 1.-THE of the good sure to result
from the Presidents few paragraphs on the
subject. Because those sentiments in his own
language proceed from the "heart of an old
public functlonary whose services commenced
in the last generation, among the wise and con-
sentative statesmen of that day, now nearly all
passed away, ard whose first and dearest earth
iy wish IS to leave his country tranquil, pros
PSAohs, uuiIe aHQ powerful. lie SaV VS. /: \
a lawful means at my command have
been employed, and shall continue to be en-
pioyed, to execute the laws against the African
siave-trade. After a most careful and rigorous
examination OF our coasts and a thorough in
vestIsatIon OF the subject we have not been
able to discover that any slaves have been i'm
ported into the United States except the CARGO
by the Wanderer, numbering between three
ana four hundred Those engaged in this UNI
lawful enterprise have been vigorously prose-
cuted but not with as much success as their
crimes have deserved. A number Of them are
still under prosecution"
Speaking to the South he exposes and dwells
upon the i'll effects the introduction of African
would have upon the American
born slaves, and upon the commercial and So
interests of the slave owners. 1t is lust
such talk as this that will discourage any de-
sire that may be entertained by the South to
Introduce wild, untamed Africans into their
communities of civilized slaves. Mr.. Buchan-
an thus mentions the evils that would ensue
rom the adoption of such a course on the part
IF the South
"These acts of Congress, it is believed. have !
With very rare and insignificant exceptions, ac-
'ompllshed their purpose. For a period of
more than half a century there has been no :
'erceptible addition to the number of our do !
nestle slaves. During this reriod their adj
In civilization has far surpassed that I
II any other portion of the African race. The !
light aud blessings of Christianity have been !
extended to them, and both their moral and !
condition has been greatly improved. ;
"Reopen the trade, and it would be difficult d
0 determine whether the effect would be more
.cleterioas to the Interests Of the native born {
lave. Vi tho evils to the master, the one !.
lost to be dreaded would be the Introduction y
t wild, heather and ignorant barbarians among 9
he soberly, orderly and quiet slaves, whose :
n~cestors have been on the soil for several GEN .
rations. This might tend to barbarize, de- y
and exasperate the Whole mass, and ="
reduce the most deplorable consequences. 9
''ihe effect upon the existing slave would, if y
ossible, be still more deplorable. At present U
E is treated with kind. ess and humanity y
lie is well fed, we'll clothed, and not overwork- VI
1. His condition is comparatively better d
ian that of the coolies which modern nations -
high civilization have employed as a substi- -
lite Tor African slaves. Both the philanthro- "
by and the self interest of the master have
to produce this humane result 8
ut let this trade be reopened and what would d.
the effect! The same to a considerable ex- ncs
ON earth whore the A fr;oan s1ne o4.y sp?1 tn
lly tolerated; and this in defiance of solemn :
Gates with a Power abundantly able at any
oment to enforce their execution. There the =
aster intent upon the present gain, EFFORTS @
om the slaves as much labor as his physical
'wers are capable of notwithstanding that, =
hen death comes to his relief, his place can s
supplied at a price reduced to the lowest
int by the competition of rival African slave I
lders. Should this ever be the case in our i
L do not deem possible-the o,l
esent useful characte r of the domestic instr de
ton, wherein those too old and too Young to ly
'rk are provided for with care and humanity,
d those capable of labor are not overtasked, =
'uld undergo an unfortunate change. The A0
cling of reciprocal dependence and attach =
ent which now exists between master and
I'VE would be converted into mutual distrust \
d hostility" j
Nothing more, as we think, need be said in ed,
of the charge that the Democratic /.