Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-20
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Something has been sa'd IN he newspapers lately
about the introduction Of saves in.o this cnuHiry from
ebro sd particularly nto Florida. The " inleigenceT
publishes communication from person who has re
sided Florida for the last Is years, which he says
of that Territory:
81 am enabled 10 stale, with as much confidence
negative such subject can be affirmed, that
excep, in two instances, where the attempt sgnaiy
tailed, importation OF foreign slaves has heen al
tempted
He gives the history Of those two attempts, which he
himself assisted in detecting and frustrating
Five or six years ago, Ffenc!nan who had recently
em'graed TO Florida, imported cargo of slaves from
Cuba intending to engage largely in the trade if sue
cessful in this experiment. Slaves then bore low
price Cuba, and very high in the U. S. The
plan well LAID:
"fhe slaves were landed in the nigh. from light
schooner, desert strand, the mouth OF ST.
Jossphs Bay, West Florida, aud were immediately
CONT into the interior TO small plantation prepared Tor
their reception. The country whereabouts was very
sparsey settled; the place OF their reception remote
from any white settlements: the only white person
ln'omed of the facts Of the case, except those int
rested in the speculation being hired take charge OF
the place and people, was engaged 10 silence. The
landing and position of the slaves were thus secured.
and, i'll all reasonable probability, beyond The reach OF
discovery Yet almost Immediately runors OF the affair
began 10 circulate, and suspicious were excited. the
Judge Of the middle disirc. of Florida whose CIR
cul the present district Of ArPallchicol1 then belonged
despatched from Tallahassee his marshal, who, after
search IN the wilderness, discovered and arrested tie
s'a"cs. The appearance, language, and condition OF
these people proved al oucc he.r foreign origin and
illegal importation. u, claimant dared to present
himself TO assert his right to them. They were de-
cared free, and only detained in the care of The
sha and al the expense of the Government OF the u
States, until provision could be made for their re-
turn To their native Africa. Ia due time this was eli
fec,ed"
The persons engaged in this foul traffic were ndict.
ed. The Frenehnau drow nee before conviction,
BY which he escaped being hanged the others escaped
with difficulty, favored by Of full proof hut
mayed in fortune and character The vessel employed
was condemned and forfeited
The other case was attempt 10 introduce from
The British West Indies their colored apprentices be
fore 'he time OF their enamel patton had arrived. The
matter came before the IT, S. Cour, in the same dis
trie'.
1.-THE Claimant in that case acted oneniy and proba-
bly, ah TO criminal intent, he asserted No further
right 10 the services ri the apprentices Than Tie British
laws imposed upon him a, the place whence he
moved. But II was Obvious that such practices, il al.
loved, would be snbvcrsve of the policy Of the u 81
and in The end would lead 10 the greatest wrong and
oppression. These coorcd people would have bee car.
red into the INTERIOR remote from the evidence of their
title to freedom; and, becoming mixed IN the OF
slaves, from whom they were not disinruishable by
language or physical llneamenis, won!d in the end,
have been consigned slavery. For these reasons,
the Judge decrecd the aud claim 10 service 10
ne Illegal snd void, wresied The person from the power
Of his "wrer and caused him 10 be returned 10 his
former don,icii"
The writer ADDS, very justly believe, that pre-
sent the introduction OF Slaves from abroad would be q
CRIME without temptation, nasmuch as the imporia
ton could by no means he profitable. Besides this,
there could be no concea!ment OF The Feet The writer
says:
1.-THE only slaves a,tainabe for such purpose are
new slaves from Africa such are of recent i'm
poriation into Cuba. These (and even the Creole