Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, with the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1875, Volume I
No. 259.
General Schenck to Mr. Fish.
London, December 29, 1874. (Received January 26, 1875.)
Sir: Inclosed with this I transmit an original communication addressed to you by the special delegates of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society and the Universal Alliance, who are constituted in London the international antislavery committee, calling your attention to an accompanying “memorandum,” and inviting an appointment, on the part of the United States, of a delegate ad audiendum et ad referendum to a conference proposed to be held in London on the 1st of February, 1875, “with the view of renewing, by a diplomatic act participated in by all the civilized powers, the declaration of the congress of Vienna, dated February 8, 1815, relative to the slave-trade, and the resolutions adopted by the diplomatic conference of Verona, dated November 28, 1822.”
The signers of this paper are gentlemen of such position and character, the organization which they represent so respectable, and the cause in which they are engaged one of such universal benevolence, that I cannot hesitate to forward at once their invitation, although you may not deem it necessary to depute any one to take part in their deliberation.
I transmit also a copy of the note of the delegates of the committee to me and a copy of my reply. Their note, although dated the 12th instant, was not received till yesterday.
I have, &c.,
Delegates of the Anti-Slavery Committee to Mr. Fish.
41 Pall Mall, London, December 12, 1874.
Sir: We have the honor to inform you that the international antislavery committee, constituted in London by special delegates of the British and Foreign Antislavery Society and the Universal Alliance, have charged us to call your attention to the inclosed “memorandum,” and to express the hope that you will appoint a delegate ad audiendum et ad referendum to the conference which it is proposed to hold in London on the 1st of February, 1875, with the view of renewing, by a diplomatic act, participated in by all the civilized powers, the declaration of the congress of Vienna, dated February 8, 1815, relative to the slave-trade, and the resolutions adopted by the diplomatic conference of Verona, dated November 28, 1822. The overtures already made, in accordance with the mission confided to us, to the other governments, signatories of the said treaties, having been favorably received, the conference will have to take into consideration the best means to be adopted in order to renew a declaration so conformable to ideas of civilization and humanity.
Accept, sir, the assurances of respect, with which we have the honor to subscribe ourselves, &c.,
The delegates of the said committee,
- EDMD. STURGE,
Chairman. - BENJ. MILLARD.
- BARON DE LINDEN,
Honorable General Secretary. - ELIHU RICH,
English Secretary. - HENRY DUNANT,
Originator of the Diplomatic Geneva Convention, and founder of the Bed Cross in Europe, Honorable International Secretary
To His Excellency the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs
Of the United States of North America,
at the Foreign Office, Washington.
Memorandum of the international antislavery committee, formed by the British and Foreign Antislavery Society and the various committees of the Universal Alliance.
The international antislavery committee, formed by the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society and the various committees of the Universal Alliance in Europe, respectfully submits to the governments of all the civilized states the subjoined memorandum, to which it is desirous of drawing the benevolent attention of the powers.
At the congress of Vienna a diplomatic declaration against the traffic in negroes and the slave-trade generally was signed in that city on the 8th of February, 1815, by the plenipotentiaries of the great European powers, under the title of “Declaration of the eight courts relative to the universal abolition of the slave-trade,” the said signatories being the celebrated diplomatists Castlereagh, General Stewart, Wellington, Nesselrode, Lowenhielm, Gomez-Labrador, Palmella Saldanha, Lobo, Humboldt, Metternich, and Talleyrand, representing Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, France, Spain, Sweden, and Portugal.
The said declaration of the eight courts was affirmed anew on the 28th of November, 1822, by the resolution adopted in the diplomatic conference of Verona, by the plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, under the title of “Resolutions relative to the abolition of the slave-trade adopted at the conference of the 28th November, 1822.”
The efforts that have been made in pursuance of the declaration of Vienna and of the resolutions of Verona by the powers signatory of the said treaties have received the approval of all civilized nations, some of whom, though not participating as signatories of the protocols of the congress of Vienna and the resolutions of Verona, have nevertheless, since that time, suppressed slavery in their states.
The principles recognized by the governments represented at Vienna in 1815 and at Verona in 1822 have, even in their spirit, been carried much beyond the question, then dominant, of the traffic in negroes, and have been happily applied to other men of different races and conditions.
The international antislavery committee, appointed by the British and Foreign Antislavery Society and the various branches of the Universal Alliance in Europe, encouraged by the said declaration and resolutions of the above-named contracting powers, who declared in conclusion that “their obligation would not be considered as accomplished until complete success had crowned their efforts,” respectfully submits to all the civilized powers certain facts to which they pray the said powers to deign to give their benevolent consideration. These facts are as follows:
The slave-trade is still carried on by land and sea in the greater part of Africa, and principally on the eastern coast of that continent.
The slave-trade is notoriously carried on in the southern basin of the Nile and on the shores of the Red Sea. In the district of Lake Tchad great numbers of negroes are carried into slavery by the caravans, which sell them to the Mussulman population of the north of Africa, perticularly in the Fezzan, and at Tripoli, in Barbary, from which places many of them are re-exported to Turkey. The kidnaping of negroes is also quite unopposed in other parts of the interior of Africa.
The exportation of slaves continues from the coast of Mozambique to the isle of Madagascar..
In Egypt slavery and slave-markets are still tolerated. The annexation of certain territories, which to the present hour are used by the slave-traders as their hunting-grounds, who dispose of the slaves in Egypt and elsewhere, has actually served to extend slavery and the slave-traffic in that country.
Many countries subject to Turkey still retain the institution of slavery, whereby great encouragement is given to the slave-trade throughout the greater part of the Ottoman Empire.
Slavery and the trade in slaves of various races still exist in Central Asia, notably in Afghanistan and the neighboring Khanates.
The slave-trade by land and by sea is also openly carried on in the states of the Shah of Persia.
The international antislavery committee, representing the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society and the various committees of the Universal Alliance in Europe, has thought it right to limit itself to these few instances; but it is very far from having exhausted the subject, whether regarded as to its extent or as to the various forms in which slavery and the slave-trade exist. It is not presumed to indicate the means of action which the civilized governments may adopt to arrive at the end which, the powers so nobly proposed at the congresses of Vienna and Verona.
With a view, however, to the realization of that end, the joint international committee has decided to propose, respectfully, to all the civilized states that they consent to the convocation in London, on the first Monday in February, 1875, of a semi-diplomatic conference, composed of delegates ad audiendum et ad referendum of the various [Page 587] governments; and that the object of the said conference be to study and take into consideration the measures to be adopted to carry into effect the engagements contracted by the signatory powers of the declaration of Vienna and the resolutions of Verona.
On behalf of the international antislavery committee.
- EDMUND STURGE,
President. - BARON DE LINDEN,
Honorable General Secretary.
November 25, 1874.
Delegates of the Anti-Slavery Committee to General Schenck.
41 Pall Mall, London, December 12, 1874. (Received Dec. 28.)
Sir: We have the honor to request your excellency to have the kindness to transmit to the Government of the United States of America the inclosed memorandum, of the international antislavery committee, sitting at London. We hope that the Government of the United States will condescend to entertain the respectful request of the international antislavery committee, for the sake of humanity, which is its only motive. We are happy to be able to add that the committee has great hopes of seeing at the conference mentioned in the memorandum delegates ad audiendum et ad referendum of the powers who were signers of the declaration of the congress of Vienna relative to the abolition of the slave-trade, which it would he so desirable to see reiterated with the participation therein of all civilized states.
Accept, sir, the assurance of profound respect with which we have the honor to be,
Your excellency’s most humble and obedient servants, the delegates of the executive committee,
- EDMUND STURGE,
Chairman. - BENJ. MILLARD.
- P. BROIS,
Honorable Treasurer. - BARON DE LINDEN,
Honorable General Secretary. - JOSEPH COOPER.
- J. O. WHITEHOUSE.
- ELIHU RICH.
- HENRY DUNANT,
Originator of the Geneva Convention, Honorable Lnternalional Secretary.
His Excellency General Schenck,
Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the
United States of America at London.
General Schenck to Baron de Linden, general secretary of the international anti-slavery committee.
London, December 29, 1874.
Monsieur le Baron: Yesterday I received your note of the 12th instant, with an enclosed communication addressed to the Secretary of State for foreign affairs of the United States, calling his attention to an accompanying “memorandum” and inviting an appointment, on the part of my Government, of a delegate ad audiendum et ad referendum to a conference of the delegates of the international antislavery committee, to be held in London on the 1st February, 1875.
In view of the high position and character of the gentlemen who are the signers of [Page 588] this address, the respectability of their organization, and the great benevolent cause in which they are engaged, Ihavehastened to forwardit to Mr. Fish, the Secretary of State, at Washington, for such attention and action as it may seem to the Government of the United States to require.
I have the honor to be, Monsieur le Baron, with sentiments of high respect, your obedient servant,
- ROBT. C. SCHENCK.
- Baron de Linden,
General Secretary to the Delegates of the International Antislavery Committee, London.
Declaration of the eight courts, relative to the universal abolition of the slave-trade.
The plenipotentiaries of the powers who signed the treaty of Paris the 30th May, 1814, assembled in conference, having taken into consideration—
That the commerce known under the name of African slave-trade has been regarded, by the just and enlightened men of all ages, as repugnant to the principles of humanity and universal morality.
That the particular circumstances to which this commerce owed its birth, and the difficulty of suddenly interrupting its course, have been able to hide up to a certain point whatever there was odious in its conservation, but that at last the public voice has made itself heard in all civilized countries, requesting that it might be suppressed as soon as possible.
That, since the character and details of this commerce have been better known, and the evils of every description which accompany it completely unveiled, several of the European governments have in fact resolved to cause its cessation, and that all the powers in rotation, possessing colonies in different parts of the world, have recognized, whether by legislative acts or by treaties and other formal engagements, the obligation and necessity of abolishing it.
That, by a separate article of the last treaty of Paris, Great Britain and France agreed to unite their efforts to cause to be pronounced at the Congress of Vienna, by all the powers of Christendom, the universal and positive abolition of the slave-trade.
That the plenipotentiaries, re-assembled in that congress, could not better honor their mission, fulfill their duty, and manifest the principles which guide their august sovereigns, than in laboring to realize that engagement, and in proclaiming, in the name of their sovereigns, the wish to put an end to a scourge which has so long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity.
The said plenipotentiaries agreed to open their deliberations as to the means of accomplishing a so salutary object by a solemn declaration of the principles which guided them in their work.
In consequence, and duly authorized to this act by the unanimous adhesion of their respective courts to the principle set forth in the said separate article of the treaty of Paris, they declare in the face of Europe, that regarding the universal abolition of the slave-trade as a measure particularly worthy of their attention, conformable to the spirit of the age and the generous principles of their august sovereigns, they are animated by the sincere desire of concurring in the promptest and most efficacious execution of this measure, by all the means at their disposal, and of acting, in the employment of these means, with all the zeal and perseverance which such a great and noble cause demands.
Too well aware, however, of the sentiments of their sovereigns not to foresee that, however honorable their object may be, they will not pursue it without just arrangements for the interests, habits, and prejudices of their subjects, the said plenipotentiaries recognize, at the same time, that this general declaration cannot prejudge the term that each power in particular may regard as the most proper for the definite abolition of the slave-trade. Consequently, the determination of the epoch in which this commerce ought to cease universally will be an object of negotiation among the powers; it being well understood that no means fit to assure and hasten its march will be neglected, and that the reciprocal engagement, contracted by the present declaration between the sovereigns who have taken part in it, will be considered as deferred only to the moment when complete success will have crowned their united efforts.
In acquainting Europe and all the civilized nations of the earth with this declaration, the said plenipotentiaries flatter themselves with the hope of engaging all the other governments, and notably those which in abolishing the slave-trade have already [Page 589] manifested the same sentiments, to support them by their approbation in a cause the triumph of which will be one of the most beautiful monuments of the century which has embraced it and which will have gloriously terminated it. Vienna, the 8th February, 1815.
- CASTLEREAGH.
- WELLINGTON.
- C. LOWENHEILM.
- PALMELLA.
- LOBO.
- METTERNICH.
- STEWART, Lieut. Genl.
- NESSELRODE.
- GOMEZ LABRADOR.
- SALDANHA.
- HUMBOLDT.
- TALLEYRAND.
Resolutions relative to the abolition of the slave-trade, adopted by the Conference of Verona, 28th November, 1822.
The plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, assembled in congress at Verona—
Considering that their august sovereigns have taken part in the declaration of the 8th February, 1815, by which the powers assembled in congress at Vienna have proclaimed, in the face of Europe, their invariable resolution to cause the cessation of the commerce known under the name of the African slave-trade;
Considering, further, that in spite of this declaration and the legislative measures by which it has been followed in several countries, and the different treaties concluded since the said epoch between the maritime powers, this commerce, solemnly proscribed, has continued to this day; that it has gained in intensity what it may have lost in extent; that it has taken a more odious and unhappy character by the nature of the means to which those who practice it are forced to have recourse;
That the causes of an abuse so revolting exist principally in fraudulent practices, by means of which the projectors of these despicable speculations elude the laws of their countries, evade the surveillance of the vessels employed to put a stop to the course of their iniquities, and conceal criminal operations, of which thousands of human beings become from year to year the innocent victims;
That the powers of Europe are called upon by their former engagements, as well as by a sacred duty, to seek the most efficacious means of ending a traffic which the laws of almost every civilized country have declared illicit and culpable, and to punish rigorously those who pursue it in manifest opposition to these laws—have recognized the necessity of devoting the most serious attention to an object of such great importance to the welfare and honor of humanity, and declare in consequence, in the name of their august sovereigns, that they persist irrevocably in the principles and sentiments that these sovereigns have manifested by the declaration of 8th February, 1815;
That they have not ceased and will never cease to regard the slave-trade as “a scourge which has too long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity;”
That they are ready to concur in all that can assure and accelerate the complete and definite abolition of this commerce;
That, finally, to give effect to this renewed declaration, their respective cabinets will give themselves over heartily to the examination of every measure, compatible with the rights and interests of their subjects, to bring about a result establishing in the eyes of the world the sincerity of their wishes and efforts in favor of a cause worthy of their common solicitude.