The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-07
THE SLAVE sHAcKLEs AGAIN.


The las, "New York Herald" contains letter
from Gibraltar, September 30lh, which opens new
chapter upon "ihe saus shaekts board the steam
frigae Missouri" and describes s'the feeling in
Gibraltar on that subject The facts which il pro-
fesses to state strange, exciting, and, we must
say, Disgusting, II refers TO the outrageous article
in the "London Times" which we have already ex-
posed to the public indignation. The following is
the material part of the letter from Gibraltar; s..
he article in the London Tmes alleges that several
cart loads Of slave Ehaekles" recovered from the
Missouri by the diver employed to raise the wreck that
three OF these shuckles In his possession OF different
sizes answering for amlie and that they OF the kind
to be found on board Of all vessels engaged In this infamous
appears from reliable correspondent OF this gar
r,son he American consul Mr. spague. upon reading
this article Of the Times felt his duty by giving true
statement Of the case the effect intended TO be
produced by this Liberal and every particular false re-
signed by himself United States consul requested its
insertion in the Gibraltar Chronicle the only paper pub
shed in this garrison His article Of the consul was sup
ported Ly letter from the contractor OF the Missouri the
person alluded to by the London Times, in which he
pairs, were the whole amount of shaekes recovered
by him. which, II is well known is not half the num-
pement Of seamen as great as were on board the
souri, Yet this article with true English lberaty was
refused admission into The . Garsn which h ed TO an sp
refusal alleging that the statement Of the cont actor was
not correct and thus indirectly sustaining the infamous as
serion Of the Times although the evidence of its falsty
under his very eyes This high funetonary allowed
his prudces to carry him far that upon the arrival Of
NJ THEIRS the exFrench minister, the shackles were ex
hihed to that gentemsn and the story of the Times de-
tailed II in every particular true Comment upon such
conduct Is here unnecessary the American reader VIII
draw his own inference. You will readily imagine that
much excitement exists upon this subject and which is in
creased by the singular monomana which has seized upon
his excellency Sir Robert Wilson. The contractor has
directed by the consul to overhaul the whole wreck
and to send all hackles found to him at the Amcr
can consulate when, doubtless the whole affair of the
American SLAYER" its honorable supercargo, together
with the rloads of ayehackes will be the subject Of
another quarter The refusal of the governor and
his agents allow this act OF simple Justice to foreign
nation and courtesy Of its agents who
especially called upon to reply to charge serious
firms not only what have previously alleged as to the
feeling existing against the United States but must carry
with the conviction that this false and malicious report
communicated to the London Times by one whose
reputation truth might reasonably he brought ques
ton the appearance in print Of the article refused ad
mission in the Gibraltar Chronicle.
1t gives us no pleasure to repub!ish this state,
ment, because it evinces degree Of prejudice and
1--WE must reluctantly say of Liberal feeling towards
the United States, which we would not have ex,
pected from so distinguished an officer Sir Robert
Wilson, the governor of Gibraltar. 1t is still more
singular, because it is directly opposed to the cou
teous and the kind demeanor Of the British nava
officers, in attempting to exnguish the flames Of
the Missouri 1t is still more remarkable, because
one would suppose that Sir Robert Wilson must
have been informed by the officers of the British
navy for what very different purpose these shackes
were to be employed, than as manacles for the
confinement of slaves. We should have hoped
that courtesy, at least, might have prompted thu
governor of Gibraltar TO extend every facility ou
consul in explaining his own account of the tru.
history of this exaggerated transaction. W.
should, indeed be prompted by our respect for thu
governor of Gibraltar, doubt the accuracy of thu
whole statement, if we had not strong reasons tc
suspect, from other sources, that there mucl
foundation for the report