Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-14

J
plnger obtained his freedom.
lSouikern Patriot.
Boston, jugs.
On Thursday last the brig Rehecca, capt.
Snow, arrived from the Cape de Verd Is
lands, and brought as passengers Midship-
man James K. Vallstte. and in bis charge
eighteen persons as prisoners who were ia.
ken by the U. S. sloop OF war Cy ane, from
the schooners Plattsburgh, Science and En-
dymion.
Yesterday the prisoners were brought be.
fore the hon. Judge Davis, TO De examined on
the charge Of being concerned in The slave
trade. Among them were Joseph L. Smith,
.eputed master of the Plattsburgh, and A.
dolphus Lacoste, Frenchmsn, but some
time resident in the United States, repLted
master of the Science. There were other
persons, said TO be Spaniards. who were no.
minally masters Of these vessels. The pri-
soners appeared to be principally foreigners,
Of almost all nations and shades OF complex.
ion. Two of them were negroes, one OF
whom said he was born at sea; one called
himself Dane, one Prussian several ap.
reared TO be natives OF the East and West
Indies.
The vessels 10 which these men belonged
were seized by the commander of the Cy-
ane, under instructions of the government,
in pursuance of the acl of 1919, by which
the president is authorised TO employ the
armed ships Of the United States to take and
bring in vessels Of the United States, hat
shall have taken any slaves, or that shall be
intended to take any, and 10 bring in all per-
sons on board such vessels, tina: they may be
proceeded against according to law. By
the law of April 90, 1918, the fitting out and
being concerned in vessels tor the purpose
OF being employed in the slave trade is pro-
bibited, under penalty OF from 1000 10 5ooo
dollars and Imprisonment and ell persons
concerned in transporting persons intended
to he sold as slaves, are liable to the penalty
of from 1000 to 5000 dollars, and imprisoD.
iDent.
The master of the Endymion was Andrews.
midshipBan in the United States Navy on
furlough, belonging to Baltimore. Andrews
has been sent into New York. Southco'nb,
one of the prisoners, stated on his egsmina-
ton. that he was born in Virginia, tlat lie
shipped on board the Endymon at Matan-
zas. at 40 dollars per month. Tie mate,
named Anderson, and five of the crew. were
Americans Among them were James Iur-
ner of R. leland, McKoy OF Philadelphia,
and Butler of New-Y York.
1t was suggested that the boarding officer
OF all these vessels. and the principal testi-
mony against them were now in New York.
The Hen Judge, however, seemed to be of
opinion, that the evidence against the pri.
soners was such as TO require Of him 10 hold
them to bail. But at the reques! of the coun-
selfor two of them, j. 7. Austin, Esq. who
had had no opportunity 10 consult with them
on the grounds of their de fence, lie deferred
a definite order respecting them, and adjourn
ed the further examination 10 this day at ii
o'clock, to which time the marshal was or
dered to keep the prisoners in custody.
We do not deem it proper to publish the
details of the examination. But we leg
leave TO make one remark. The seamen as
far as Aey were examined, protested igno-
rance of the objects OF the voyages for which
they shipped, and seemed TO consider that it
was no part OF their business to know whe-
Their they were engaged in lawful or an un-
lawful trade. John Thomas, black. said
that he did not know or inquire any thing
about the object of the voyage, he shipped
only as a seaman before the mast, and stu
, died only what wages he was to have" Ii
is extremely important that seamen should be
better instructed. They ought to know that
they are all individually responsible for the
enterprises they engage in-and thatit these
enterprises are unlawful, they are not only
liable to suffer the penalties OF ayiolation OF
the law. but that they are much less likely
to escape detection and puaishmen. than
their employers,