Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-03-09


Captain Hale for voyage to the coast Of Africa.
There were some twelve in the crew. The ship
was to return Immediately, with a lawful cargo
out and in. They sailed, and arrived safely on
the coast, and soon the ship was discharged
The captain coming on board, one afternoon, call
ed all hands on deck and informed them that he
had sold the ship to a Portuguese Captain, who
would take command of her, take in cargo of
slaves and sail for Brazil. But if they wished to
do so they conId go in her, either sailors or as
passengers. They were, of course, thundcrstruck
at so fragrant a violation Of the articles of agree
ment under which they shipped, They held a
council among themselves and determined to insist
upon the fufment of the terms of agreement, and
reported accordingly to the captain. The heart
less creature replied, " TO talk, is of no usethe
ship is sold--you can go in her as sailors or pas
sengers, or you can 90 ashore and take your
chance; and YOU must decide immediately" They
finally determined to 90 ashore, and did so.
In the course Of two or three days they all fell
victims to the African fever After the greatest
>utlerings under an African sun, without houses,
without PHYSICIANS and without friends, they all
died except this solitary one. He was found by
Portuguese captain, who had also come for cargo
Of human beings, upon the beach, almost IN dy-
ing state. He offered to take him on board and
bring him to Brazil, and did so--puttng him a
shore some 0mes below Rio. A coaster being
there, he obtained a passage to Rio; and here |
found him in the street, without money, without
friends, and almost without clothes, and reduced
almost to a skeleton. | obtained place for him
for the night, and early the next morning report
ed his case to the Consul He thanked me and
desired me to fluid HIM Il boardng-housc and call
physician, if he needed one. In few days he
was able to give his affidavit, which was taken
and forwarded to Mr.. Webster. But did our
Government take any notice Of it? Why mott
Can any one answer? But you will like to know
what became Of Capt. Hale. He sailed as a pas
senger in the same ship, for Brazil, with the cap
tain to whom he sold it. The Portuguese captain
died on the passage, when captain Hale was fore
cd to take the command and brought her in and
discharged the cargo, some $50 miles below Rio
de Janclro. As he was getting up anchor he spled
an English cruiser, making towards him. He let
all drop-seizcd his trunks, set fire to the ship
and roWed away The cruiser came up, cxtin-
gushed the fire and took the ship into Rio, where
often saw her. In few days captain H. arriv-
ed in the city with a trunk which required two
stout man to carry. He was in the city when the
poor fellow above described arrived. Ever after,
he manifested the greatest anxiety. He sought,
and obtained, at the earliest 0pp0rtunitv a pas
sage to the States. Consul Slocun learned where
he was and that be was 10 sail the next morning.
In the dead of the night he arose, took his boat
and rOWcd some four or five miles to the trigate
Potomac and desired Comod0rc RidgeIy to order
one of the men Of war, the schooner Enterprise to
90 and take him and bring him prisoner TO his
office that he might be sent home in chains for
trial. And will you believe it, comodore RidgeIY,
though entreated in the name Of our nations hon
or, in the name Of our common humanity, and IN
the name of God, utterly refused to let the Enter
prise be moved one inch from her mo0ringS!-
These facts were sent also to Washington. But
who has heard word from them since? have
not. Probably they have gone under the table, as
unworthy the attention Of great men and phiIan-
thropists. The last | heard Of captain Hale he
was in New London, Conn. and for au&ht know
he is now living like uabob upon the 10000
Spanish dollars, it was said he received for his IN
iqutous voyage to Africa!
This, my friends, is the way in which our gov
eminent is trying to stop the slave trade! But, it
is said the government has recently sent squad
ron upon the coast of Africa on purpose to put it
down. Yes, they have. But who has heard Of 4
single capture by them? have not, aud do not
expect to soon. The English ships Of war are
taking sluvers and bringing them prizes, weekly,
into the various ports Of Brazil, the " est Indies,
Siere Leone, &C., Sc; but ours have not taken
one! Why is it: Are the English better seamen
than Americans? For the sake Of our nation's
character | wish it was so. The fact is people
who think c0lOred men were made to serve white
men all their lives for nothing-that it is right to
take them from their native land and, as they say,
clYlllZC ana ChrlSanZe lNetl, anu pay them lOf IL
by ensavng them and their children, generation
after generation as long as the world stands, will
not, apprehcnd, Ito much to stop the slave trade.
At least, do not expect much from them; 40 you?
Is. The slaVe-rade, so far as money IS con-
ccrned, is Il very profitable business. Slave mcr-
chants can afford to give our captains from to
10 thousand Spanish dollars per voyage, which
can be made in from to weeks. The raptIVCS
cost in Africa, from 10 to % or so dollars per
head Ships will carry from 500 to 900. When
landed in Brazil they are worth from zoo to 800
dollars per head. So, you see, it is a smoking
hlSneSs Five or ten thousand Spanish dollars is
a great temptation to a poor American captain,
which he can earn in six or eight weeks; and ann
sorry to say, we have many who have neither viz
tue, principle, fear or shame, to resist ii. They
can suuder the strongest, tendcrcSt ami most sa
cred ties of nature, kindred, country and home,
was deeply affected to hear the result of Il CONVEX
,ation which took place between a black man who
then lived with me, and my little boy. The boy
was inquiring respecting his conntry-f he had
vet living parents, brothers, siStcrs-What they
ate, wore, Sc To which he replied in mean-
choly and desparlng tone. (to use the words OF
his adopted language, the Portuguese, III minha
terra he boa tenn muitaS fuctas, Como as bananas
as loranjas, as batatas docas, mHho le'fa das
CaJras, as galinhas, etc. TodoS nos eramo5 ttd-
-es ale poUo branco do inferno Chegarao Ia nos
Icuarto CatiUOs para eS'G terra. '4gor@ 0" mao
connie, co mem DIe0 PAL, mem neuicA@ nl"' mem oS
,neos irDlnos mem as milhaS arMHS, mem oS me0S
amigos mas. The English of which Is, "My coun-
trv i GOOD. it gives many fruits, as bananas, Or
oHoes sweet potatoes, corn, milk of goats, fouls,
SC, We we're all happy until the white people
II ...,,o tI,oro ,u1 fOo< cADtiVGS for this