Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-08-15
THE SLAVE TRADE.

stitution we CLEAN the following heart-rending de-
tails, relative to the extent to which the slave trade
is still carried, and the horrors attendant upon it,
Since the period to which the report REFERS 1885,
we hope that much has been done to check the sys-
tenn of outrage humanity, and libel on that holy
religion, which breaches peace on earth and good
will to man, and that at distant period, the truly
phllanthropic institution will have satisfaction Of
halllng contamination devoutly to be wished,
and to which they will have contributed SO much
the arrival of the period when the unhappy negroes
shall no longer be regarded outcasts from hu-
manity, and treated as beasts of burden but be ac
knowiedged as entitled to all the blessings which
the great Creator has conferred on all his. crca-
lures, without distinction nation, cline, color
We know no way, in which man, or body OF men,
can evnce more devotion to the cause of religion,
and humanity, than by doing all that lies in their
power to blot out at once, and forever, the Dire adj
iul stain Of slavery. Our ewn country has, unhap-
PLY. been but too deeply dyed with it, and it beho-
YES us, therefore, to take the most prominent part
in IFS removal. This can only be done by striking
at the root of slavery itself: for as long as that is
permitted to exist, aMl encouragement held out to
the unprincipled and the avaricious, the trade
IN slaves can never be eifecually abolished. Were
there market for the human cargoes, obtained in
so infamous manner, we should soon cease to be
shocked by details in which we know not whether
most 10 pity the snllerngs of the victims or exc
crate the villany of those who ntlict them. WE
shall now mention few instance s. the barbarity OF
which gives them painful -eminence over thou
sands of others Of similar character which might
be adduced.
r French vessel, La Perle, Gbbin, master had
landed part ola cargo of $50 slaves at Guadalupe,
when an armed French cutter observed stand
ing towards her. The brutal captain, in order TO
avoid detection, threw the remainder, 65 in num-
Der, overheard, and they all persisted. Several
Of the bodies ofthe murdered negroes being washed
ashore, some slight inquiries were made, but the
authors of this inhuman murder we're not appreheI-
ded, and they have moi yet been brought to any aG-
count for it. It's to be regretted that, notwtsta
, ding the measures recently adopted by France
there has been dimlnuon in the slave trade
carried on in French vessels from the coast to the
colonies. They, in order to avoid capture from
their crulzers, furnish themselves with Dutcl
papers, which they procure by the criminal comm
vance of the Dutch Government. The number o
0, Spanish vessels employed in this nefarious trade il
y immense but, as the treaty between England ant
y Spain only permits the seizure of vessels which
~ have actually slaves on board, the scoundrels wh(
y" command them cruise about until they spy favora
~ Bile opportunity for shipping the human cargo which
r. is waiting for them. When this occurs. they &c
py their slaves board in day, and frequently es
" cape. The ravages of disease consequent on tn
crowded state of these vessels and the scarcity an
wreched quality of the provsians served to tn
victims arc considered nseparable from the trade
that they excite little notice. One instance is mer
toned of Spanish schooner, of SO tons burhen, II
m TO which 90 slaves were crowded, their only prt
n vision being bad vans, and putrld water. lMrt
5o died the passage, and the rest were landed IN
frghtful state of weakness and emaciaton. Tf
Spanish slaves also act frequently as pirates, spa
ing none who come within their reach, and SOM
"a times even preying upon their brethren in iniqu
10. a, ,.o;,o ell # pfor he
- generally murder the whites, and take possessit
Of the living cargo. The slave trade IS carried {
:, unblushingy at Havana; amongst the instances me
,. toned that of the Minerva, which being chase
iy into port by British cruiser, the slaves were Ia
Ad- ded whilst the Government were pretending to
eet quire into the complaint Of the British othcer wi
dav was sent ashore the authorities connived at Il
landing ofthe slaves, and screened the deinqueI
from punish INT. Shortly afterwards the Britt
officer, on seaIching steam vessel bound to M
ee tanzas found Ia ofthe negroes slowed away betwe
the bukhaadng which separated the boilers ire
the vessels side, and exposed to the intense ne
produced by the lighted stoves These wretch
beings thought, at first, tthey were doomed
death button being undecelved their Joy was c
the cessve and one of them pointed to another part
i. the vessel, where, after dillgent search, SIX
the males were found concealed undera coil OF rop
and a hawser. The slave trade to the Brazils
carried on to great extent, and is frequently attic
ded by circumstances of the most revolving barba
tee ty From numerous instances of a similar natur
we select the following The lnterplda, of Il
tonds burden, when captured, was found to conta
$40 slaves, in state of great wretchedness al
emaciation seventy of them had died on passa
of as DAYS. Another, the Invincible, contain,
0. i4o slaves, so crowded together that it was impos
ne Bile to separate the sick from the healthy or the
rs) ing from the dead their provisions and water wei
,cls of the worst kind the filth and stencil was b
yond descriptions and the dysentery, opthalmi
and scurvy, carried off 1876 ofhese poor wretch,
in less than 60 days. .
ttee Every facility has been hitherto given by Braz
AZ, rof,rouc troda hut II is consonr to ref1ac