and we have reason to apprehend that many are also introduced into the United States. It is needless to expatiate upon the scenes of havoc and desolation from which this commerce is supplied; the sanguinary conflicts, the midnight conflagrations, and the toilsome march through inhospitable deserts and under a burning sun, must be familiar to the mind of every person who is conversant with the history of the slavetrade. From the concurrent testimony of numerous witnesses, we are warranted in the conclusion, that the number who perish by fatigue, famine, and the sword, considerably exceeds the number who reach the coast alive. The diseases generated in the holds of the slaveships, while the traffic was tolerated, are well known to have given to the march of death more than ten times its usual speed. But the circumstances under which it is now prosecuted have greatly increased the horrors and mortality of the middle passages. The ships engaged in it are constructed for rapid sailing. Hence the space allotted to the slaves is more limited now than before the prohibitory laws were enacted. Other causes, sufficiently obvious, augment the suffering and mortality attendant upon the passage across the Atlantic. A comparison, founded upon a considerable collection of ascertained cases, appears to support the conclusion, that rather more than onefourth of the number embarked on the African coast perish before they reach the place of their destination in the western world. Connecting this conclusion with the estimate already given of those who perish in procuring the slaves actually disembarked, we are brought to the dreadful conviction, that the African continent is annually despoiled, by means of the slavetrade, of from four to five hundred thousand of its inhabitants; or considerably upward of a thousand a day. If we could believe that this desolating traffic was carried on exclusively by foreigners, it might still be worthy of consideration, whether the influ ence of the United States with the other governments of the world ought not to be exerted toward arresting or mitigating so enormous an evil. But we have sorrowful evidence that a large part is prosecuted under the protection of the American flag; and that American citizens and American capital are deeply engaged in it. It is an undeniable fact, that numerous vessels are built in the United States and sent to Cuba and ports in the Cape de Verd islands, where a sale, real or pretended, is effected to a foreigner; and a few foreigners are taken on board, the American officers still retaining their places. With this mixed crew the vessel proceeds, under the American flag, to the African coast. If visited by a British cruiser, the American charac ter is assumed as an efficient protection; but, in case one of our national vessels fall in their way, the foreigners figure as the crew and the Ameri cans take the character of passengers. The flag of the United States being found the most efficient protection, is generally displayed until the slaves are embarked, when it disappears and that of Spain or Portugal usually takes its place. It is even said that the American flag has been used to cover this nefarious traffic, in its preparatory stages, in cases where neither the vessel nor crew had any claim to the American character. If the transfer to foreigners of ships built in the United States, by American citizens, equipped and prepared in all respects for the African slavetrade, should even be proved to be real bonafide sales, still such transac tions must be considered as deeply participating in the criminality of that horrid traffic. Trading with known pirates, furnishing them with stores, or fitting out vessels for their purposes, has been regarded as a crime of equal atrocity with piracy itself. We respectfully, but earnestly, solicit the serious attention of Congress to this affecting subject, and desire that they will adopt such measures as to rescue the citizens of the United States from the infamy and guilt of participating in this foul opprobrium of the Christian name. The Federal Government has been highly applauded for its early and active exertions for the abolition of this traffic; and we ardently desire that those who are intrusted with the legislation of this great and growing republic may humbly seek and experience the wisdom which comes from above to direct them in the adoption of proper measures, and that the powerful influence of the United States with other maritime nations of the world may be judiciously exerted, for the final and total suppression of a traffic so revolting to humanity and so totally irreconcilable with the character of a Christian community. Signed, by direction, on behalf of a meeting of the representatives aforesaid, held in Philadelphia the 17th of the 4th month, 1840. WILLIAM EVANS, Clerk. 1st Session. PUBLIC DOMAIN. RESOLUTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK, IN RELATION To the proceeds of the sales of the public lands. MAY 20, 1840. Read, and laid upon the table. STATE OF NEW YORK. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SIR: I transmit a copy of certain resolutions of the Senate and Assembly of this State, in relation to the national do nain. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Hon. PETER J. WAGNER. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. STATE OF NEW YORK. IN ASSEMBLY, April 16, 1840. Resolved, (if the Senate concur,) That the public lands, the national domain, is the common property of the United States, "and of right constitutes a common fund for their common use and benefit, and ought to be faithfully disposed of for that purpose, and for no other use or purpose whatever." Resolved, That we protest against the surrender of this common property of all the States to a portion of them, as unjust in the abstract, as in direct violation of the uses and purposes for which it was ceded to, and the conditions on which it was accepted by, the United States. Resolved, That we protest against the sale of those lands at a price below the present minimum, as a virtual violation of the trust and pledge under which they were received, as wasting the common fund, and by inducing exhausting emigration from, and as diminishing the value of, the old States. Blair & Rives, printers. Resolved, That it is not to be endured that a Government free from debt, and at peace with all the world, should use and consume, for its current expenses, the national domain; that the common resources, from imposts and tonnage, are abundantly sufficient, when faithfully collected, and prudently and economically applied, for all the legitimate purposes of the common Government. Resolved, That we recommend a separation of the proceeds of the public lands from the general revenue, and an equal distribution thereof among the several States, "according to their usual and respective proportions in the general charge and expenditure." Resolved, That the Senators and Representatives of New York, in Congress, will conform to the views and wishes, and promote the interests of the people of this State, by acting in accordance with the foregoing resotions. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward copies of the foregoing report and resolutions to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this State, with a request that the same be laid before the Senate and House of Representatives; and also to the Governors of the several States in the Union, with a request to lay the same before their respective Legislatures. By order: P. B. PRINDLE, Clerk. IN SENATE, April 28, 1840. Resolved, That the Senate concur with the Assembly in the above resolutions. By order: SAM'L G. ANDREWS, Clerk, |