Hanging Captain Gordon

[elektratig]

In composing the slave-trade provisions of the Confederate Constitution, the deep south representatives were acutely aware of the sensibilities of the border slaves states, particularly Virginia. Indeed, Article I, Section 9 was drafted precisely to put pressure on states such as Virginia and Kentucky to join the Confederacy, by threatening to deprive them of the ability to export their slaves to the Confederacy if they remained in the United States:

"Sec. 9. (1) The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.

"(2) Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy."

In other words, if Virginia joined the Confederacy, it would continue to have the right to sell its slaves to the deep South; if it didn't, the Confederate Congress had the power to prohibit the importation of slaves into the Confederacy by the State.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by elektratig

In composing the slave-trade provisions of the Confederate Constitution, the deep south representatives were acutely aware of the sensibilities of the border slaves states, particularly Virginia. Indeed, Article I, Section 9 was drafted precisely to put pressure on states such as Virginia and Kentucky to join the Confederacy, by threatening to deprive them of the ability to export their slaves to the
Confederacy if they remained in the United States:

"Sec. 9. (1) The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.

"(2) Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy."

In other words, if Virginia joined the Confederacy, it would continue to have the right to sell its slaves to the deep South; if it didn't, the Confederate Congress had the power to prohibit the importation of slaves into the Confederacy by the State.

Now that's an interesting point, tho it does not specifically address the issue of the 'African slave trade'.

Then

I had the impression that some of the opposition to the reopening the overseas (African) trade, was based on the fact that Maryland and Virginia had an "excess" of slaves and to reopen that open African slave trade might discourage those states from joining the confederacy (supply and demand!, capitalists all).

?

[elektratig]

Sam,

I don't think the idea of reopening the African slave trade ever came close to commanding a majority even in the deep south in 1860-61. As I think I've said elsewhere, there were too many negatives -- fear of increasing the black population for one. The point I was trying to make was that another one of those negatives was the perception that the border slave states, Virginia in particular, were net slave exporters and adamantly opposed to reopening the African slave trade.

The deep south knew and believed that it desperately needed Virginia in particular to join the Confederacy if it were to be a viable economic and, if necessary, military entity. In order to convince Virginia to join, the deep south used different aspects of the slave trade as both a carrot and a stick. The carrot was the affirmation that the African slave trade would not be reopened. The stick was the threat that, unless it joined, Virginia might not be permitted to continue to unload its slaves via the interstate slave trade.

[Battalion]

Originally Posted by unionblue

Ole and ewc,

We don't have to leave Captain Gordon out of this thread, no matter how many twists and turns we take.
....
Enjoy,
Unionblue

Question is-

Why did they hang only One?

[unionblue]

Battalion,

Timing.

Unionblue

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by elektratig

Sam,

I don't think the idea of reopening the African slave trade ever came close to commanding a majority even in the deep south in 1860-61. As I think I've said elsewhere, there were too many negatives -- fear of increasing the black population for one. The point I was trying to make was that another one of those negatives was the perception that the border slave states, Virginia in particular, were net slave exporters and adamantly opposed to reopening the African slave trade.

The deep south knew and believed that it desperately needed Virginia in particular to join the Confederacy if it were to be a viable economic and, if necessary, military entity. In order to convince Virginia to join, the deep south used different aspects of the slave trade as both a carrot and a stick. The carrot was the affirmation that the African slave trade would not be reopened. The stick was the threat that, unless it joined, Virginia might not be permitted to continue to unload its slaves via the interstate slave trade.

E,

I think you have given us the most concise summary of this question.

Tho it does not refute Battilion's contention.

[matthew mckeon]

Read "Captain Gordon" over the summer.

Good explaination of how the slave trade flourished and was protected in New York by the courts, until the election of Lincoln. Horrifying last chapter on the slave trade today.