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 institution. 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 institutions. 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 institutions in all wealthy and highly civilized nations where such institutions 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. Competition between the white and black man for this service, may not disturb Northern sensibility, but it does not exactly suit our latitude." South Carolina House Journal, 1856, p. 36; Cluskey, Political Text-Book, 14 edition, p. 585.
1856, Dec. 15. Congress (House): Reopening of Slave-Trade.
"Resolved, That this House of Representatives regards all suggestions and propositions of every kind, by whomsoever made, for a revival of the African slave trade, as shocking to the moral sentiment of the enlightened portion of mankind; and that any action on the part of Congress conniving at or legalizing that horrid and inhuman traffic would justly subject the government and citizens of the United States to the reproach and execration of all civilized and Christian people throughout the world." Offered by Mr. Etheridge; agreed to, 152 to 57. House Journal, 34 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 105–11; Congressional Globe, 34 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 123–5, and Appendix, pp. 364–70.
1856, Dec. 15. Congress (House): Reopening of Slave-Trade.
"Resolved, That it is inexpedient to repeal the laws prohibiting the African slave trade." Offered by Mr. Orr; not voted upon. Congressional Globe, 34 Cong. 3 sess. p. 123.
1856, Dec. 15. Congress (House): Reopening of Slave-Trade.
"Resolved, That it is inexpedient, unwise, and contrary to the settled policy of the United States, to repeal the laws prohibiting the African slave trade." Offered by Mr. Orr; agreed to, 183 to 8. House Journal, 34 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 111–3; Congressional Globe, 34 Cong. 3 sess. pp. 125–6.