Vote on African Slave Trade, 1856

The African Slave Trade.

The revival of the horrid traffic in slaves – a business which the Yankee ancestors of those who are now expending so much unnecessary sympathy for the negro in servitude carried on with great profit years ago – has recently been talked of by Northern politicians of the Disunion school. But the proposition meets with little favor beyond the limits of the crazy State of South Carolina. It was discussed in the Southern Commercial Convention, and voted down by a large majority. It was also brought up in Congress last week, and to test the sense of that body the following resolution was introduced. “Resolved, That it is inexpedient, unwise, and contrary to the settled policy of the United States, to repeal the laws prohibiting the African slavetrade.”

This resolution was adopted by 183 yeas to 8 nays. As the Hagers-Town Democratic Association may feel some desire to know how their champion and correspondent, Preston S. Brooks, voted on this question, we will state that his name is recorded against the resolution!