The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-08-03

vana, and We should certainly Withhold
our belief were not tie main statements
substantially confirmed by the commanders
of British cruizers on the African coast,
Iby the declarations of several intelligent
citizens of Liberia, by the dispatches OF
our colonial Governor, and by the testimo-
nv of American citizens residing at Ha-
yana. With this array Of evidence press
ing upon us, we are painfully constrained
to believe that the statements are substan-
tally correct, and what spectacle DO they
present TO the civilized world
There is system of trade carried on
from this city, under the protection of the
American flag, which deserves notice, and
which if not in violation of re laws of the
United States, is so near akin and SO pal
pable an evasion of its intent, as to call for
the censure of every good citizen. The
trade referred to, ought to be considered as
participating, aiding and abetting, in the
slave trade for it is uader such an arrange
ment as protects the vessel with United
States papers and flag, for the outward
bound voyage, and until the cargo of slaves
is procured. The operation is effected in
this way. Vessels of such tonnage and re-
putcd speed, as are necessary for the trade,
sailing under United States papers, are
purchased here by persons engaged in the
slave trade, and contract entered into be-
fro Nd ha fhot
the vessel shall retain her American papers
for certain time, and security is given
| by the purchaser that the register, and all
tho vessels papers shall be returnedto the
proper authorities in the United States
within that time. By this contract the pur-
. chaser secures the vessels papers for the
voyage to the coast of Africa. The pur-
chaser puts on board here new crew,
and some American citizen as master-no
matter who, or Of what profession, SO that
he is desperate felow-and he takes the
title Of hag-captain, without any COM
mand whatever, serving only as protec-
ton for the vessel against British cruizers
on the coast of Africa, and until the slaves
are secured. After this object is attained,
the captain in fact, or the person who SUI
perintends the expedition. presents apower
Of attorney for tie transfer Of the vessel,
and takes charge as captain; she is put
under the Portuguese flag, and starts for
Cuba and the fag-captain returns in her
as passenger, with his American papers Sc
curing to himself par, Of the profits Of
the voyage for his services with a full
knowledge of the intention Of the voyage
at the time it was commenced. This is
a daily operation here, and number of
vessels within the past month have been
despatched in this trade.
The M. of Philadelphia, has recently
cleared under nominal command; the G.
also undera nominal command and short
time since, another vessel cleared for New
Orleans to procure papers for her nominal
| captain And there are now number of
vessels in this port, sold for the same trade,
and preparing for the voyage.-.N Y.Star.
The AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.-Captaiu
M'Donald, of the brig North, arrived al
Baltimore, from the coast of Africa. Cap
tain M'Donald has informed the editor of
the Republican that thirty-one shaving YES
sells had been captured, carried into Sierra
Leone, and condemned between the lst
of January and the lst Of April, of this
year; that the British cruisers had also
landed their men, and broke up several
slave establishments on shore, particularly
at the Island of Boolana, place settled by
Portuguese.
! The commander Of the British brig Of
war Partage, told Captain NJ Donald that
he had fallen in with several vessels which
had the appearance of being slavers, but,
carrying American colors and papers signed
by the consul at Havana, he was obliged
to let them pass. Some of them he after.
wards fell in with, and captured with slaves
on board.
More slave vessels had been captured
lately between the river Gambia and Sierra
Leone than at any given time before; that
part of the coast being SO near the British
settlement and one of the principal rem
devious for men"of-war, that they did not
think it required watching so closely, and
thereby thousands Of slaves were let slip,
most Of which would have been retaken
and liberated had they been aware of the
extent to which the traffic had been carried
on, almost under their own eyes.
The British Government have several
cruisers constantly on the coast, and the
number is shortly to be increased, and no
means left untried to put stop to the hor-
rid traffic.
Captain M'Donald further stated to the
editor that the ship Transit. of New York,
in passing down the river Nunez, had been
boarded by the people of one Of the kings
Of that country, and robbed of consider
able amount of property, and one man
killed, belonging to the shin before they