The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-11
From the New York Globe.
TIL E. SLAVE TRADE.

Between the British and the Brazilians the
black ivory trade is likely to he kept alive for many
years, to the great profit of the British. at any
rate. whether the Brazilians make anything by it
or not. The BraZilians go To the coast of Africa
and purchase a load of slaves, and while they are
getting them on board a British man-of-war is
cruising about, awaiting The appearance of the sla-
yer outside. AS sOon as she heaves in sight John
Bull gives chase, and it matters not what flag
she shows, he keeps up the pursuit, fires into her,
gun after gun, and when he can get his broadside
TO bear gives her the whole of it as he can, until
she surrenderS or escapes and that too before he
has taken pains to ascertain what nation she be-
longs 10 or where she is bound.
If she surrenders, the slaves found ON board are
sent To the British West Indies. OF other colonies,
and hound To the planters as apprentices to till
the soil and suffer the Tyranny and oppression of
English iaskmaisters. If the SLAYER escapes the
negroes are carried to Brazil and sold 10 planters
there so whether she escapes or is taken it is all
the same to the poor negroes, for slavery is their
doom in both cases. The British government
sends armed vessels to Africa for the oslensible
purpose OF breaking up the slave trade, bnt in re-
ality to monupolIze it. Those who procure the
negroes on the coast are called man stealers. ,
Notwithstanding they purchase them and pay for
them, and we consider that the second party who
robS the Brazilian of them after he has incurred
the expense and trouble of obtaining them, stands
in rather a worse light than the party of the first
part for he steals from a thief, and appropriates
10 himself the stolen articles knowing them TO have
been stolen. The only difference between the two
is, that the party Of the second part gets them a
great deal cheaper than he of the first part does,
and can afford to sell them cheaper. They are
like the two broom merchants, one Of whom stole
the stuff of which he made his brooms, and con-
sequently, conld afford to sell his brooms very
cheap: but the other could undersell him because
he stole his brooms ready made.
The British have found out at last that they
must have negroes TO cultivate the soil in tropical
climates, and as they have made for many years
a tremendous outCTy against slavery and the slave
trade. they are ashamed 70 60 boldly and directly
to the coast and purchase them of the natives. so
they steal them on the high seas from vessels
which they know to be in a ce rtain river taking
in a certain number Of RegCoes. They allow the
vessels to get their living cargoes on board and to
set sail. and when they have obtained a good Of
6Dg, that Is TO say, when they are we'll out on the
blue water, they pounce upon them, as an eagle
would on a ish-hawk, take out the negroes and
carry them to their own colonies. This is done
under the cloak of philanthropy, but let it 90 by
whatever honied name it may, it is piracy in real
ity for if the slave trade itself be piracy, surely
then robbing vessels of slaves on the high seas is
the worst kind Of piracy.
Those nations which have declared against the
slave trade should look into this matter and see
that justice is done to the captured negro by re-
storing him to his native deserts, and preventing
as far as possible this outrageous system Of robbery
and piracy which the British are now carrying on
with inpunity. There would be- a terrible noise
made in England if an American vessel should ar
rive in Charleston, S. c., from the Coast of Africa
with a cargo of negroes, to be bound out as 'ap-
prentices to the cotton planters; and yet we have
just as good a right to make such a disposition of
captured Africans as the British have. If John
Bull wants slaves to repair the injury his mock
philanthropy has occasioned in his tropical colo
nies, let him go to the Coast as the Brazillians do,
md buy them or steal them, end run the risk Of
eing hung for piracy if caught in the act. The
crime would be no worse than that of taking them
lfer they have been purchased by another party,
md certainly it would be a much more honorable
way Of obtaining the article Of which he seems to
ptsnd 30 much in need.