The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-23
THE GOVERNM EMIT AND THE AT.
RICANS

Since making the remarks in Tuesdays pal
per, on the action Of the Federal Government
with reference to the Africans taken in the Am.
istad, additional facts have come 10 cur knowl.
edge TINT exhibits some of the officers OF HE
government in no envabIe light. In what puri
ports to he the original passport tor the 40 me-
groes claimed as belonging to J. Ruiz, they are
therein described as negros Lndinos,' which
every one acquainted with the Spanish language,
or the state Of things on the islnnd OF Cuba, IN
derstands mean negroes nccljnnted or long
RESIDENT in opposition to negros boZals.'
which means negroes recently imported In
common parlance Lddino means native born
negro and BoZal means an African just brot'
over The terms Bozal and Lndino are nearly
| anti,hetcal The passport then, as published,
authorized Mr.. Ruiz 10 take from Havana tO
| Principe 40 Ladino negroes and it is evident
that, under this passport 40 EoZai negroes were
shipped. Mr. Ruiz may settle this matter WIN
his own covernment-all we have to do is with
our own. In Pub. Doc. No. 1885, containing
the official correspondence, &C., communicated
TO Congress Ivy President Van Buren,, in conse-
uuence of the resolution of the Hon. John
! Quincy Adams, the original passport. as it 10
styled, is published with transl aon. Now
mark The word negros' is not in the original
ps ssport! We have examined ii in the District
| Clerks office. Besides the words Negroes iadi
! nos are translated SOUND NEGROES thus
Disgusting the fact, that Lndinos were authorized
to he shipped, and Bozals actually taken on
board the Anistad Who ever heard of such
frauds perpetra,ed in government documents,
| transmitted to Congress by IL President OF tie
United Staes There was no accident in this
| inalter-it was cunningly devised fratd-as
will appear from a similar translation in the
same Pub. Doc. The passport, published us
the original, authorizing =. Monies to take the
three little girls from IIavnnnah TO Principe, re-
fers to them in these Words tres negras la,ii-
mas which is, three ladnos negresses.' But
how is this expression translated by the ohcers
| But here too The word negras' is interpolated,
| thus making it a double fraud We hope the
people will talk Spanish to such an adminisirn'
ton MS this. Were these frauds committed to
aid the defence of RCiz and Monies to the suits
brought in this city by the Africans?
Afer Secretary Pnulding, in obedience 10 the
command of President Van Buren,, had ordered
the United States Schooner Granpus OF New
Haven, TO take the Africans OH board for Cuba
before their counsel could intrrpose an appeal,
the following carefully wor'ied warrant was sent
post haste, from Washington to New Haven:
"The Marshall or ,he United States for the dis
trict of Connecticut will deliver over TO Lieuten-
| ant John s. Paine. of the United States navy, and
aid in conveying on board The Schooner uramPus,
under his command, all the Negroes, iate OF me
| Spanish schooner Amstad, in his custody, under
! process now pending before the Circuit court OF
the United States for the district of Connecticut
For SO doing this order will be his warrant
! Given under my hand at the City ct Washlng-
tom this 9TH day Of January, A. d. lS4o,
BY the President:
JOHN FORSYTH, Secretary of State.
But it so happened that it was the District
i Cont TINT was in session and not the Circuit
Court therefore the willy District Attorney, MI
J HoIalairti sent an express back TO Washing
| ION to have The warrant amended teihng the
4 Secretary of State that the Marshal would not
he able TO Justify under the order first sent
What Numbering is this for the high officers
of government They thought to circumvent
the friends of the poor Africans; hut 10 and he
hold, they found themselves in the vocatlve'-
owing to the righteous decision OF C onnec,l,
cut i,;dge. When the warrant returned
corrected, an appeal had been taken, the Afr'4
cans were safe in prison, the Grampus return
ed as she went, ard the Spanish minister, win
the ohsequious President Van Buren,, had eac"
q flea i'm his ear