Part 51 (1/2)

”For executing the provisions of the act approved 3d of March, 1819, ent.i.tled 'An act in addition to the acts prohibiting the slave trade,'

$20,000.” Amendment agreed to, and bill pa.s.sed. It appears, however, to have been subsequently amended in the House, and the appropriation does not stand in the final act. _Congressional Globe_, 32 Cong. 2 sess. p.

1072; _Statutes at Large_, X. 214.

~1854, May 22. Congress (Senate): West India Slave-Trade.~

Mr. Clayton presented the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to:--

”_Resolved_, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for such restrictions on the power of American consuls residing in the Spanish West India islands to issue sea letters on the transfer of American vessels in those islands, as will prevent the abuse of the American flag in protecting persons engaged in the African slave trade.” June 26, 1854, this committee reported ”a bill (Senate, No. 416) for the more effectual suppression of the slave-trade in American built vessels.” Pa.s.sed Senate, postponed in House. _Senate Journal_, 33 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 404, 457-8, 472-3, 476; _House Journal_, 33 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 1093, 1332-3; _Congressional Globe_, 33 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 1257-61, 1511-3, 1591-3, 2139.

~1854, May 29. Congress (Senate): Treaty of Was.h.i.+ngton.~

_Resolved_, ”that, in the opinion of the Senate, it is expedient, and in conformity with the interests and sound policy of the United States, that the eighth article of the treaty between this government and Great Britain, of the 9th of August, 1842, should be abrogated.” Introduced by Slidell, and favorably reported from Committee on Foreign Relations in Executive Session, June 13, 1854. _Senate Journal_, 34 Cong. 1-2 sess.

pp. 396, 695-8; _Senate Reports_, 34 Cong. 1 sess. I. No. 195.

~1854, June 21. Congress (Senate): Bill Regulating Navigation.~

”Mr. Seward asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (Senate, No.

407) to regulate navigation to the coast of Africa in vessels owned by citizens of the United States, in certain cases; which was read and pa.s.sed to a second reading.” June 22, ordered to be printed. _Senate Journal_, 33 Cong. 1 sess. pp. 448, 451; _Congressional Globe_, 33 Cong.

1 sess. pp. 1456, 1461, 1472.

~1854, June 26. Congress (Senate): Bill to Suppress Slave-Trade.~

”A bill for the more effectual suppression of the slave trade in American built vessels.” See references to May 22, 1854, above.

~1856, June 23. Congress (House): Proposition to Amend Act of 1818.~

Notice given of a bill to amend the Act of April 20, 1818. _House Journal_, 34 Cong. 1 sess. II. 1101.

~1856, Aug. 18. United States Statute: Appropriation.~

To carry out the Act of March 3, 1819, and subsequent acts, $8,000.

_Statutes at Large_, XI. 90.

~1856, Nov. 24. South Carolina: Governor's Message.~

Governor Adams, in his annual message to the legislature, said:--

”It is apprehended that the opening of this trade [_i.e._, the slave-trade] will lessen the value of slaves, and ultimately destroy the inst.i.tution. It is a sufficient answer to point to the fact, that unrestricted immigration has not diminished the value of labor in the Northwestern section of the confederacy. The cry there is, want of labor, notwithstanding capital has the pauperism of the old world to press into its grinding service. If we cannot supply the demand for slave labor, then we must expect to be supplied with a species of labor we do not want, and which is, from the very nature of things, antagonistic to our inst.i.tutions. It is much better that our drays should be driven by slaves--that our factories should be worked by slaves--that our hotels should be served by slaves--that our locomotives should be manned by slaves, than that we should be exposed to the introduction, from any quarter, of a population alien to us by birth, training, and education, and which, in the process of time, must lead to that conflict between capital and labor, 'which makes it so difficult to maintain free inst.i.tutions in all wealthy and highly civilized nations where such inst.i.tutions as ours do not exist.' In all slaveholding States, true policy dictates that the superior race should direct, and the inferior perform all menial service. Compet.i.tion between the white and black man for this service, may not disturb Northern sensibility, but it does not exactly suit our lat.i.tude.” _South Carolina House Journal_, 1856, p. 36; Cluskey, _Political Text-Book_, 14 edition, p.

585.

~1856, Dec. 15. Congress (House): Reopening of Slave-Trade.~