The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-03
rAe African slave Trade,

We attempted, the other day, % chow tina
the charge. SO often made ngainot Southern
shareholders BY the hamanturiannA Of retain.
ing In bondage unjustly mon whose lbrefa Their,
were stolen from sh6ir ls0mes In Africa, wa.
not sustained by the Facts OF the case II
doing 50, we dweit at some length upon the
condition Of the African in his native land
We aseersed. JIM the co6rse Of opr argument
that slavery Is universal in Africa. and thai
snc persona sent thence 70 this country, only
exchange one species Of bondage for another
and miider. In describing the State Of So
ciety existing there, we attributed the SLAVE
hunts 10 causes wholly independent Of the de-
mand for slaves existing in those countries in
which African slavery has been established,
and ex pressed the belief that the foreign slave
trade had very little agency in stimulating
them. We had In view an Interior object,
which we intended to have pursued in another
article. 1t was to show that from the very fact
Of the existence of such = state Of things in
Africa, nfter it had been in constant contact
with civilization for four thousand years, we
were warranted in the belief that the race, if
left to ITSELF would never improve, and that
the only way in which 1t could attain to any
degree Of civilization, was to continue in
such bondage as is established here. We
meant in the end to have shown the folly Of
setting the slave population of the South tree,
when the inevitable conseQ uence would he re-
turn TO such a tate of barbarism as that which
now prevails almost universally in Africa
We expressly disclaimed all intention to Of
fer an argument in favor of re-opening the
slave trade, that being subject on which we
did not choose to enter. Our own feelings
and views are repugnant to that measure, but
we do not deem ii at all necessary to enter in
TO = discussion with regard TO it, We confess
~ little surprise, then, when we found, in
spite Of our special disclaimer, that we had
i,een classed among those who are III favor OF
the measure indicated A gentleman among
the number Of those who conceived this i'm
preston, has sent a pamphlet upon the SUBJ
iec., written by Rev. J. LEIGHTON WILSON,
formerly missionary to Africa, and now Sec.
rotary to the Presby ,erian Board of Foreign
Missions. The authors not only Il gentleman
and Il scholar, but what is far better, man
whose piety admit Is of no doubt, aud who may,
therefore, be implicitly trusted. He is c South
Carolinian by birth. a resident of Charles
ton Mt this time, and a considerable slave
holder. He was born and educated among
and abhors Northern aboli-
iionsm as much any Southern man can
do. We can do no less in common courtesy.
han notice some of his statements which con-
dict directly with those which we laid before
the public the other day, upon, what we con-
,cived to be, the best authority.
DIR. WILSON begins by an averment which
would settle all doubts as to his loyalty to
the South, did any such exist in any quarter.
He says that the removal Of the forefathers OF
the race now existing in America, has proved
1 great blessing to their descendants, who are
happier, better, and more useful men and
women than they would have been had those
forefathers been left in Africa, or turned loose
imong our swamps and forests, upon their |
arrival in this country. Nor does he see any |
hing to prevent still greater improvement |
without any material change in their present |
social condition. This fact ought to moderate |
he zeal of the fanatic, who sees nothing but |
vii unalloyed in slavery, but it is no argu-
nent in favor of re-Opening the slave trade
That he conceives to be evil and evil only. To |
eize a man on the coast of Africa by fraud |
r violence, leading to bloodshed-the only |
leans he says by which it can be done-and 1
0 bring him here slave in order to amelio-
ate his condition, is sheer wckedness and |
othing else. To justify it is 10 maintain the
rinciple of doing evil that good may come OF
"a principle totally subversive Of all the
Avs hat govern the social and religious
World Such Il principle is not to be tried by |
he results Of which it is the parent. The
lurder Of our Saviour has been productive
I blessings to the human race, which it would
g vain 10 attempt to calculate or appreciate.
-et, hey ond All question, ii was the most aw-
III crime ever perpotrated, aud its results do
OF in the least excuse the men who Were guilty
it. DIR. WILSON does not oppose the re-
pening Of the slave trade on political So
al ground he leaves that to others. His
round Of opposition is that already enuncia-
ID, and that alone 1t cannot be done, he says,
'ithout giving encouragement to fraud, vio-
nee, perpetual warfare and eternal blood
he'd.
To prove this position, DIR. w. gives brief
eserip.ion of the manner in which the slave
'ade, in its more vigorous days, was carried |
n in Western Africa upon line of four
lousand miles Of sea coast He confines him. |
If to the Western shore because it is from
lis quarter that the American market has |
zen supplied. OF a portion of this region. |
IL: Semgambia, Ashanti, Dahomey, Yoruba,
enin, Congo, and Guinea, he speaks, from
e testimony Of other writers, such rs BRUCE,
ENHAM and CLAPrERTON, AsHMUN, LANDER.
ARD, Col. NICHOLS, Rev. Mr. Fox, Rev. Mr.
CRRIAR, Mr.. MORGAN the Missionary. JNo.
uNCAN, Esq, DR.. BARTH, and Rev. T. J..
OWEN, the last of which named gentlemen
lys that the whole numb of people destroy
in the section Of country in which the King
Dshomey's armies have been slave hunting
no Ia at 70 lShn |
500, 900, and that on a single occasion one
these armies killed and captured 10000. the
ing presenting Portuguese slave merchant
it'll 60O slaves. The crueities inflicted on the
ayes during their passage to the sea coast, and
ter they have arrived, Mr.. WILSON thinks.
I'VE not been exaggerated. To get 100 slaves
I'd deliver them in America he esteems it ne
ssary to sacrifice at least I5o lives Under
is terrible system, numerous smaller tribes |
we disappeared al altogether, and all the larger
les are rapidly following in their footsteps
ven the great kingdom of Dahomey, once re.
owned for its military power, has sunk to
e condition of adisorganized banditti. Such
the aspect Of the slave trade, in that part OF
. country where it is carried on by open
arfare.
In that portion of it from which the greater
dy Of American slaves is obtained, consist.
& Of numerous small and popul0us, for for.
erly populOus,) communities, it has as
med the outward form Of a peaceful com.
cree. This country may be described under
. general name of Guinea. In speaking of
manner in which slaves are obtained here
. WILSON denies, from his own personal
owiedge, that they are born in seryi.l
De. He says that those persons who ara
rn in q state Of slavery in Africa, are never
d 10 thA traders. Their mnsfers ,uonIa ma