The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-09-21
Letter from Hon. William jay.
BEpFoRp, 9Th Sept. 1899.

BEpFoRD,7 9Th Sept. 1890.
Dear Sir,-Observng from the papers that you
are one of committee appointed TO receive con-
trlbutions for derayng the legal defence of the
kidnapped Africans committed for piracy and
murder | enclose check for 500, which | will
thank you to add TO your fund.
1t appears that these men have been arrested
and imprisoned on " the complaint" oftwo persons
who, although they prefix Don" to their names,
| cannot but regard them as villains" By their
own confession, they purchased those they call
their slaves, from "a cargo just arrived from AZ
RIGA" and among them "chidren between the a
ges Of 7 and 70
On the 28lh of June, 1885, Spain concluded
supplementary treaty with Great Britain for the
suppression of the slave-trade. The LIST article
declares the slave trade on the part of Spain to
be totally abolished in all parts of the world -
and by the End article Spain provides that with
in two months after the exchange of ratfcations
"a penal law shall be promulg gated throughout the
Spanish dominions, inhictng severe punishment
on Spanish Subjects who shall under any pretext
whatsoever take any part in the traffic in slaves"
The 18th article requires that every vessel con-
demned by the Mixed Commission Court shall be
broken up entirely" and sold piecemea, to pre-
vent it from being again employed in the trade.
From the LIST January, 1929, to lst JAN, 1886,
90 Spanish slavers, with S,3l2 slaves were con-
demned by the Mixed Commission Court at Ha-
rama The slaves thus illegally imported are
manumitted.
In the six months from Both June to 3lst of De-
cember, 1888, eleven Spanish vessels were con-
demned by the Mixed Court, at Sierra Leone,
merely for being fitted out for the trade, having
been captured before they had received single
slave on board
On the 2nd Nov, 1888, the queen of Spain is
sued Royal Order" to the Captain General of
the Island OF Cuba" directing him "to apply the
strongest zeal in debating the necessary meas
ures for preventing this deplorable contra6and, OBJ
lging the local authorities to prosecute with ener
gy those who are engaged in it. and bring the per-
petrators before the competent tribunals for their
exemplary punishment" A copy of this order was
also sent to the naval commander of the station,
sin order that he may contribute with the forces
under his command, toward carrying into effect
the benefcent wishes of her majesty.
1t appears from letter addressed the Goth of
June 1888, by the Spanish Sec'y of State, to Sir
George Villiars, British Minister of Madrid, that
ii is lawful only for "legitamate proprietor of
slaves" to transport them from one port in Cuba to
another by sea and then only proUided he car
ried the documents probing his legitimate proper
ty."
Ruez and Montez admit that they bought these
Africans out of cargo which they well hneao had
just been struggled into Cuba in defence of rea-
ties and laws they kpew the men and children
they bought and intended to hold as slaves were
entitled 10 their freedom; and they hneaO that the
official permits for their transportation which they
now exhibit were obtained fr0udulently and there
fore void and hence they are guilty of an act of
atrocious wickedness, and ought to be regarded
and treated telons, subject by the laws of their
own country to exemplary punishment" Yet
these two " gentlemen" enter complaint against
the men they were thus illegally holding in bond
age, for piracy and murder; and our authorities,
with full knowledge of all the facts, sent to pris
on thirty individuals for act which but for the
color of their skin would be generally regarded as
most heroic and praiseworthy. What would be
the feeling and conduct of this nation had an A
merican crew captured and sold as slaves by
carried into London, and there, on the complaint
of their Algerine masters, sent to Newgate under
a charge of piracy and murder!
observe it stated in one of the papers, that
these Africans will undoubtedly be surrendered
to the Spanish authorities The Federal govern
ment interfered to pyeoent the surrender of the
Bambers, charged with murder to the British
government; and still later, decided it had no
power to surrender murderer to the Canadian
authorities. Whence does it derive power to sur
render native Africans to Spain for a homicide
committed in self defence against Spanish felons?
If our courts assume jurisdiction over the Afri-
cans; are they not bound in common decency and
justice, to try their kidnappers also?
| am sir,
Yours very respectfully,
Lewis Tappan Esq WILLIAM JAY.
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