The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-10-16
From the Portsmouth On. H Journal
MR WISE AND THE SLAYER.

From the Portsmouth On. HI Journal
MR. WISE AND THE SLAYER.
"Your young men shall see visions and your
old men shall dream dreams"
If the above quotation is not correct, Mr.
Editor, please make it so. Taking it as it
stands, | suppose | must call the following
sketch a dream, as have long ranked myself
emong old men. ltmay come true; there is
nothing in The nature Of things 10 prevent it.
The premises are facts, and the conclusion
is likely 10 follow as a natural consequence.
The scene lies aboulshalfa days sail from
The coast of Cuba. Day is just dawning up
on the deck of one Of our lrigates, returning
from the Brazilian station, and upon the wide
waste of walers, gently undulating beneath
the mild t%radewind. On board the ship is
Hon. Henry A. Wise, Of Virginia, our late
minister plenipotentiary to the court of Bra
iii. He has been recalled by Government a
little sooner than he wished; but he has not
quite given the death-blow to the African
slave trade, and is anxious TO signalize HIM
self, ere he returnes TO his beloved country,
by the capture of at least one SLAYER under
LAmerican colors. He has Jest emerged from
his state room an bid good morning 10 the
officer of The deck, when "sail hot" is called
from the mast head. "Where away? p shout
ed the officer
"Two points on our lee-bow, sir"
The ships course was slightly altered, and
as the sun rose, a handsome Ballimore-built
brig was seen about three miles Distant
The frigate rapidly came up with her, and
through the spy glass it was easy 10 preceive
that her deck was crowded with negroes.-
Mr. Wise, in high glee, called up the Cap
tain:
"Now.' said he, sis our chance. Run up
the British flag: he knows full well that John
Bull dares not search a vessel over which it
waves, whether she be q piratical vessel, a
SLAYER, or what not. Let the fellow once
show the stars and stripes, and he is Ourg.''--
Every thing worked as Mr. Wise wished
the SLAYER answered a gun from the frigate
by running up the American flag and saucily
continuing her course; what cared she for a
British man of-war? The cross OF old En-
gland was then reversed, the stars and stripes
took their place at the mast head of the fri
gate, and anoather gun was fred. This ma
neuvre proved successful; the chase backed
her topsail and lay 10, as did the frigate also;
MIR Wise donned his official costume, and be-
ing determined 10 manage the whole matter
himself, stepped into the boat with the lieu
tenant, and was soon along side the slaver.-
He mounted her side with agility, leapt up
on her deck, (now clear Of Negroes,) and
placing himselfi in an attitude of one about to
make a speech, with one hand pointing up
ward, addressed the captain thus:
'sSir, if that flag Come on this broad ocean
the sacred personiication ola patriots hopes
and a patriots honey were trailing in the dust
of defeat, in glorious war, | could weep over
it, and love it, and honor it still; but TO see II
lift It's folds like the bold contenance of a bad
woman. over a traffic at once Infamous and
horrid, is shockingly revolving, and enough
to turn its white into red with shame" lSee
Mr. Wlse's late correspondence on the Slave
Trade.
The Captain looked first at Mr. Wise, then
I'D at his flag, and then at MIR Wise again:
..Sacred personiication!" quolh he, swell, |
never! You ought 10 be made Professor of
Poetry in he University of Virginny. And
as for traffic in Niggers; never heard tell OF
its being infamous and horrid before, and I've
carried it on all my life"
"Wretch - retorted Mr. Wise, 'syou shall
swing for this; you are caught at last. Do you
know who | am?'
sNo, nor don't care.n
MIR Wise's face turned as red the American
flag ought to have done.-"Well then, I'll lei
you know; | am the great slave trade exter-
minaior, Henry A. Wise of Virginia"
"Wise or not, in my opinion you're making
a great fool OF yourself. sailed from Old
Virginia only a fortnight ago, and nobody there
thought the trade in Niggers so 'shockingIy
revolving as you seem 10 fancy ii; else,
how did | manage 10 load my vessel at Nor
folk!
Mr. Wise here looked as streaked as the
flag at the mast head continued TO do