The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-08-06
From the LjUerpo0t .Hercury,
THE SLAVE TRADE.

From the LiUeryoot Mercury,
THE SLAVE TRADE.
From the twenty first Report of the African
Institution, we CLEAN the following heart-rend-
ny details, relative to the extent to which the
slave trade is still carried, and the horrors at
.endant upon it. Since the period to which the
report refers, 1926, we hope that much has been
done to check the system Of outrage on human
lty, and libel on that holy religion which preach
es peace on earth and good will to man, and
that at no distant period, the truly philanthropy
lc institution will have the satisfaction of hail
ing consummation so devoutly to be wished,
and to which they will have contributed SO
much--the arrival of the period when the I'M
happy negroes shall no longer be regarded as
outcasts from humanity, and treated as beasts
of burden but be acknowledged as entitled to
all the blessings which the great Creator has
conferred on all his creatures without distinc-
ton of nation, cline, or color. We know no
way, in which man, or body of men, can evince
more devotion to the cause of religion and hui
manity, than by doing all that lies in their pow
er to blot out at once and forever the dreadful
stain Of slavery. Our own country has unhap-
PLY, been but too deeply dyed with it, and it
behooves us, therefore, to take the most prom
inent part in its removal. This can only be
done by striking at the root of slavery itself, for
as long as that is permitted to exist, and en-
enlargement held out to the unprinciped and
the avaricious the trade of slaves can never be
effectually abolished. Were there no market
for the human cargoes obtained in so infa-
nous manner, we should soon be shocked
with details in which we know not whether
most to pity the sufferings of the Victims or
execratc the villany of those who inflict them.
We shall now mention few instances, the bar
barity of which gives them painful pre-emin-
ence over thousands of others of similar char
acter which might be adduced
A French vessel, La Perle, Gibbin, master,
had landed part of cargo of $50 slaves at Qua
daloupe, when an armed French Gutter was OBJ
served standing towards her. The brutal cap
tain in order to avoid detection, threw the re-
mainder, IS in number, overheard, and they all
ra-;ah~I Sovoral of the bodies of the murder
ed negroes being washed ashore, some slight
inquiries were made, but the authors of this in
human murder were not apprehended, and they
have not yet been brought to any account fer
1t. 1t is to be regretted that, notwithstanding
the measures recently adopted by France, there
has been no diminution in the slave trade car
ried on in French vessels from the coasts to the
colonies They, in order to avoid capture from
their own cruisers, furnish themselves with
inal connivance OF the Dutch government The
number of Spanish vessels employed in this ne
tarious trade is immense but, as the Treaty
between England and Spain, only permits the
seizure Of vessels which have actually slaves on
board, the scoundrels who command them cruise
about until they spy favorable opportunity for
shipping the human cargo which is waiting for
them When this occurs, they get their slaves
on board in one day, and frequently escape
The ravages of disease consequent ON the
crowded state of these vessels, and the scarcity
and wretched quality of the provisions served
to the victims, are considered so inseparable
from the trade that they excite little notice
One instance is mentioned of a Spanish schoon-
er, of 60 tons burthen, into which 22l slaves
were crowded, their only provision being bad
vans and putrid water. Thirty died on the
passage, and the rest we're landed in frightful
state of weakness and, emaciation. The Span
lsh salvers also act frequently as pirates, spar
ing none who come within their reach, and
sometimes even preying upon their brethren in
iniquity. When they seize SLAYER of inferior
force, they generally murder the whites, and
take possession of the living cargo. The slave
trade is carried on unblushingly at Havana
amongst the instances mentioned, is that of the
Minerva, which being chased into port by
British cruiser, the slaves were landed whilst
the Government were pretending to inquire in
TO the complaint of the British officer who was
sent ashore; the authorities connived at the |
landing of the slaves, and screened the dein.
quents from punishment Shortly afterwards |
the British officer, on searching steam vessel !
bound to Matanzas, found ID of the negroes
sstoYed between the bulb heading, which separ-
doeo rho ho'ia~s Fssna the vessers -;A~, -
posed to the intense heat produced by the light
ed stoves These wretched beings thought, at
first, that they were doomed to death but on |
being undeceived their Joy was excessive, and
one OF them pointed to another part of the YES I
sci, where, after diligent search, six females
were found concealed under coil of ropes and |
a hawser. The slave trade to the Brazils is |
carried on to great extent, and is frequently |
attended by circumstances of the most revolt. |
ing barbarity. From numerous instances of a |
similar nature, we select the following The |
lntrepida, Of one hundred tons, when captured,
was found to contain three hundred and ten
slaves, in state of great Indebtedness and |
emaciation; 70 Of them had died in passage
Of 46 days. Another, the Invincibe contained I
i4O slaves, so crowded together that it was i'm
possible to separate tho sick from the healthy,
DR. the dying from the dead their provisions
Ind water were of tho worst kind the filth and !
stencil were beyond description; and the dysen-
tory, opthalmia, and scurvy, carried off 1856 of
.hese poor wretches in less than 60 days
Every facility has hitherto been given by
Brazil to this nefarious trade; but it Is consoi-
ng to reflect that, according to a treaty signed
with Great Britain in March, 1927, the Brazil
an slave trade is to cease within three years
rom that period. most singular contrast is
presented by the United States Of America,
ermed the country of freedom, and Austria, a
iespotic kingdom, with regard to the slave
Il IL u. p Al n.
,agcd in the traffic, in, and her southern prov.
ncea denraded BY the nresenca Of elnvea thn