Excerpt from An Argument Against the Policy of Re-Opening the African Slave Trade

The question of re-opening the African Slave Trade, when first sprung by the Southern Convention, was supposed by most people to be of' that class of unreasonable and ultra notions, which would, everywhere, meet with discountenance from the temperate judgment of the people; and would no ver assume an attitude of sufficient importance to require serious opposition. The agitation of it by those Conventions, however, has resulted in calling attention to the subject; and although no very strong support has been derived to the pol V icy, by the action had upon it, at the late Convention in Montgomery, yet it is evident, that the result has been to invest the question with a degree of importance which no longer admits of its being treated with silence or contempt. The fact that many of our people - particularly of the Southern Rights' School - and who, whether always within the limits of true wisdom or not, are never to be denied the credit of being foremost in their devotion to our cause, are becoming interested in it, and favorably inclined to it, is sufficient to entitle the question to be regarded, as a grave question at least, and one worthy to be considered. I pro pose, therefore, in a temperate Spirit to examine it; and while I appreciate the generous Southern warmth, in which it has originated, and entertain for it that respect which is emi I nently due to even the virtuous errors which in these evil times fall on the side of the suffering South, I shall attempt, by dispassionate argument, to show that it is a misguided policy, and one which, if efl'ectuated, would prove anything but advantageous to the cause of Slavery.

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