The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-12


letter by yesterdays southern mall Ii came from
Vera Cruz by the way of Pensacola, the shortest
land and water route to Mexico. 1t reached the
latter place in the sloop OF war Falmootb, Captain
Mcintosh, and is much later than any news recey-
ed by the way of New Orleans.
This intelligence is important just at the uucture
while the right of search question is under discus
sion. 1t is clear by this that our cruisers can do
nothing towards suppressing the slave trade.
U. s. SHIP VINoKNNEs.
VERA CRrrZ, March 20 1873 s
Cruise of the Vi1cennes-Capfure and Release of a
Slaur-Right of Searoh-Ow Difficulties 10Th
Merico, &c. ...a.
Since leaving New York in January last, we have
been actively employed cruising along the south
side of Cuba, from Cape Mase to Cape Antonio,
thence the Cult to this place. visiting SANTA
go and Trinidad de Cuba. When of the "JardInes'
a cluster of islands TO the eastward of the elsie of
Pines" Capt Buchanan despatched boat expedl-
ton, consisting OF the Launch, First Cutter and
Whale boat, under the command of Lieutenant
Mitchell, accompanied by Lieutenant WainWrighf,
Purser Bryan, Asst Surgeon Henderson, five Mid
shlpmen and forty men, for the purpose of making
a thorough search of the elsie of Pnes' and the
keys in its neighborhood. In
While engaged on this arduouS DUTY on the after.
noon of the 10Th otfebruary then off the River Gu
anna, they discovered vessel whose sus icious
movements induced them to give chase to. have
been politely furnished by one of the officers with
the following sketch of the AFFAIR."
con clearing Point Cartas, we discovered sail
beating up on her sarboard tacks, hauled our wind
to cut her oil, made her out to be taunt rugged
brganne, sitting ,aulfully on the water and sail
ing very FAST a chase was Immediately ordered,
and while in pursuit the brig tackled, and stood off
| to the westward, at the same time casting off
small sloop she had in tow with two men in IT.
Having ascertained from the men in this boat, that
the brig "A SLAYER, the chase was continued, At
q O'clock, came up with and boarded heron taxi
ing possession, we found three Spanish Custom
Ions m ybo cd he
under their colours. The Captain was then ordered
to produce his papers, which, after careful exami-
nation, We're found to be correct, viz: Spanish Re-
siser Sea Letter. and an authentic list of her crew
| and armament Lieut.. Mitchell having satisfied
himself that the brIgantine could not be seized in
formed the Captain that he was free to pursue his
course The matches were now removed (by the
officers OF this vesseD and saw the lower decks
| filled with negroes These poor wretches
miseraby slowed, being closely crowded together,
| but they seemed healthy, well fed and quite clean
| The men, women and children were all placed in
separate apartments; and they showed no marks OF
personal cruelty indeed their condition was far bet
| ter In every respect, than what we would suppose
from the description of English writers. The lraf-
| hc is horrld. Every way atrocous but .aking this
| as criterion, most OF the accounts we have heard
| of slavers, are highly exaggerated The brsantine
is beautiful vessel, exceedingly taunt, and very
neatly risged her present name is ella Constantine"
built in New York in 1856 sent out and sold un-
der the name of LA Bolandra," CThe Flyer,) after
four or five cruises she took the name OF LA Scor
| plan, and THIS cruise assumed the present one oil
| "La Constanlla." She is 242 tons burthen, com
| manded by Capt Juan Antonio Zavala; her crew
consisted OF A souls and her arrnament long twelv
| FOUNDER, muskets, bunderbusses and cutasses; was
last from the Portuguese Isle of ST. Themas, coas
| of Africa. out % days There were on board wher
she left $50 slaves; thirty our had died, and two
jumped overheard in delirium.'
II is possible that this affair may give rise TO
(perhaps invldious) temarks, particularly amone
the AbOltlonsts in the United States, who will
maintain that the Constantla should have been made
prize al, and the slaves liberated There can be
question as to the result had the officers of the
Vincennes, who boarded her, possessed the right TO
act, but they could not. for who have strenu-
ously commended (and properly SOY against the right
search, must not forget that the rights OF other
| tons also to be- respected.
| am fully satisfied that under existing laws and
treaties it is impossible for cruisers officers TO
break up the African slave trade. The savers are
equally well versed in a knowledge of the statute
book and never fail to be provided with coors and
| papers TO suit any emergency.
| The Boat Expedition before referred to, returned,
to the ship after absence OF thirteen days. during
| which time the Vncennes visited Capes Corentes,
| San Antonio, and the adjacent coast.
We arrived here on the 9th. and found the u. S.
| ship Falmouth, Com. Mcintosh, cutter Woodbury.
and the Spanish brig OF war Patricia. The Dol phin
sailed few days since Tor Pensacola
1t is reported here good authority that the Tex
| ian prisoners captured by Gen. Wo, ut San Anto-
these were taken at Santa Fe, and subsequent
| " liberated, but having been again found in
| against the Mexican government, have been con
| demned TO die.
There are various reports here touching our affairs
with Mexico. One is, that Santa Anna has refused
TO pay the first nstament of the indemnify due the
United States, and that war is nevabIe others state
positively that every thing will be amcabiy settled
| The Falmouth sails to morrow for the Baze and
| Pensacola with dispatches from Gen. Thompson,
| our minister at MeyIcOo