Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-04-24

would seem that Mr.. HUNTER, our late
Minister to Brazil, connived at the slave
traffic while at Rio. We are unwilling
to credit this statement, and believe that
The official correspondence will not war
rant such an inference.
From tho N. Y. Comm. Adv. Of Tuesday.
TIE UNITED STATES AND DRAZIL.
The reports from Rio dc Janeiro, of a
collision between the commander Of our
squadron and the Brazilian Government,
oc asioned by the seizure Of slave
brig, having created SOME inlerest, i
affords us much satisfaction to give a
correct history Of The affair, furnished to
US by gentleman Of this city, whose
ma me has been communicated to us with
his letter.
New YoRK, April 81, 1914
A friend at Rio dc Janeiro has sent
me such particulars Of the slave trade,
between Africa and Brazil, as implicaie
citizens Of the United States, and also Of
the steps taken there to prevent the abuse
of our flag by Brazilian slave traders
and our own counirymep, lured by hope
of gain.
Noticing, lately, in many papers,
illusions 10 Mr.. Wise's conduct, particu-
larly in your paper Of to-day, an extract
from the National lntelligencer, (on the
whole nearer correct than uny have
seen) and another from the Cleveland
Plaindea aler, giving a very incorrect i'm
preston, think some particulars Of this
matter may be interesting to your read
ers, and will therefore give them to
you.
This affair was not commenced by
Mr.. Wise, but by our former consul at
Rio, Mr.. Slacum, who in April, 1888,
learned that American vessels were sold
at Rio, to slave traders, to be delivered
in Africa, there to change the flag and
bring slaves to Brazil he at once tried
to stop it, but was opposed by our Minis
ter, Mr.. Huater, who appeared to think
it was pity to stop good sales Of Amer-
can vessels. Some. correspondence
upon this subject took place between
Mr.. Slacum and Mr. Hunter, and both
wrote to our Government, by whom Mr.
Slacum was supported, but so feebly
that he could only make his intention to
stop it evident.
From that time to the present the
schooners Pamela, Leda and Illinois,
and briggs Yankee, Solon, Pilgrim, Gar
rafilia, Duan, Kentucky, Sophia and
Porpoise, are known or suspected to
have been in the slave trade, but proba-
bly, twice this number, names not noted,
have been in it.
The following account will show the
method pursued in many cases.
Abou, July 1911, the brig Sophia, Of
N. York, was at Rio sold TO slave
dealer by Messrs. Maxwell, Wright &
Co. The master, A. w. Krook, put
his mate, Matthew Hale, in charge,
and she went as an American vessel to
Benguela, Africa there she was fitted
as SLAYER, and at night took in the
slaves. The next morning Matthew
Hale was only passenger, and man
who had been passenger from Rio was
captain. The American crew were pu'
on shore, (where most dicd.l The brig
was the "BelIa Union," under the Mon
levidean flag, and she sailed for Brazil
with Portuguese crew found on the
coast At sea the captain and mate
died, and Matthew Hale took command,
with W. T. Summer (his former second
,nate) os mate. They took the vessc
to Brazil, landed 500 slaves near Rio
and burned the vessel.
i So say the slave traders at Rio.
II Mr.. Slacum continued to send to the
i U. States Government the Information
he Obtained, and do what he could
against the trade until he was removed
MIR. Hunter appeared to do what he
could to thwart MIR. Slacum, until he
was himself removed.
/ Mr.. Gordon, who succeeded Mr.. Sla
cum, has followed that gentleman's ex
ample.
/ AIR. Profit, when Minister at Rio
showed his determination TO do as MIR
| Wise has done.
| When MIR. Wise arrived at Rio, h,
| met .neSSTS. IIOit, O'dCuut uhu ooi
don, learned all that had been done, ant
though SoutherDer and a STAKEHOLDER
he saw his couniry's flag sold to the stays
dealers al Rio and disgraced, and from
the first used all his influence against it
and hope he will yet succeed being
! Southerner and STAKEHOLDER, he de-
serves the more credit for his conduct
it can only be caused by pure and patri
otic motives,
/ Ar. Wise obtained much information
upon the subject, most of which is proba
| bly, now al Washington The frs, case
! in which he took an active and oper
part was that Of the Porpoise, abou
which so many different statements have
appeared.
\ This brig Porpoise had been trading
between Rio and Africa in every sus
picious manner two years she wa
said to be owned by a noted slave-irader
but sill sailed as an American vessel
and Messrs. Maxwell, Wright and Go
managed her business (nominally) a
Rio. She last arrived ut Rio, Januar,
%, I943 ; as usual, an American man
of wars boat visited her, ppd when leag