Mobile register and journal., 1845-05-02
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

WALTER SMITH, Secretary.
From the N. Y CONNIE rcial Advertiser
NEW YORK, April, Il, 1885.
friend at Rio deJaneiro has sent me such pal tic
ulars o the slave trade, between Africa and Brazil,
AS duplicate citizens OF the United States, and also
Of the steps taken there 10 prevent the abuse Of our
flag by Brazilian slave trFders and our country
men, ured by hope of gain.
Noticing, lately, in many papers. illusions, to Mr..
Wise's conduct, particularly in your paper Of 10 day
an extract from the National Int eencer, {on the
whole nearer correct than any have SEEM and ano
her from the Cleveland Plamdealer, giving very in
curiect IMPRESSION, think particulars of this
matter may be interesting to your readers and will
therefore give them 10 you.
THIS affair was mt commenced by Mr. Wise, but
by our former cotsul al Rio, Mr.. Slacum, who IN
April 1888, learned that American vessels sold
at Rio, to slave traders 10 be delivered IN Africa,
there 10 change the flag and bring slaves to Brazil;
lie at once tried 10 stop i, but was opposed by our
Minister MIR. Hunter, who appeared 10 think il was
pity 10 stop good sales OF Amer lean vessels. Some
correspondence upon this subject took place between
Mr.. Sacum and Mr. Hunter, md both wrote to our
Government, by whom Mr.. Sacum was supported,
but SO ieebiy that he could only make his intention
TO stop il evident.
From that time to the present the schooners Pa
mella, Leda and Illinois, and brigs Yankee, Solon,
Pilgrim, GarTailia, Duan, Kentucky, Sophia, and
Porpose, are known or suspected 10 have been in The
slave trade, but probably twice this number,
not noted, have been in il.
The following account will show the method pur-
sued in many cases.
About July lS4l, the brig Sophia, Of New York,
was at Rio sold TO slave dealer by Messrs. Max
well, Wright & Go. The master A. W. Krook, put
his mate, Matthew Hale IN charge, and she went
an American vessel 10 Benguela, Africa; there she
fiIteu SLAYER, and night tookn the slaves
The next morning Mathew Hale only passen-
ger, and a man who had been a passenger from Rio
was captain. The American were put on shore,
(where most died.l The brig was the "Bea Union -
under the Monevidean flag, and she sailed for Brazil
witt Portuguese found The coast A sea
the captain and mate died, and Matthew Hale took
command, with w. p. Summer This former second
maie) as They took The vessel to Brazil, Ian
ded 500 slaves Rio and burned the vessel.
So say the slave traders at Rio.
Mr.. Slacum continued to send TO the u. States
Government the information he obtained aud 10 do
what he could against the trade, until he cd.
Mr. Hunter appeared to do what he could 10 thwa
Nr. Slacum until he wis himself removed.
Mr. Gordon, who succeeded Mr.. Slacum, has fol-
lowed that genlleniaD's example.
Mr. Profit, when Minister at Rio. showed his de-
terminal ion 10 do as MIR. Wise has done
When Mr.. Wise arrived at Rio, he met Messrs.
Profit, Slacum and Gordon, learned all that had been
done, and though Soulhei and stakeholder, he
saw his countrys flag sold TO the slave dealers at
Rio and disgraced and from the first used all his in
fuence against it, and hope he will YET succeed;
being Soulherner. and STAKEHOLDER he deserves The
more credit Tor his conduct il only he caused by
pure and patriotic motives.
Mr.. Wise obtained much information upon the sub.
iect, most Of which is probably now at Washington.
The hrst case IN which he took an active and open
part was that OF the Porpose, about which SO many
different statements have appeared.
The brig Porpoise had been trading between Rio
and Africa IN very suspicious manner Two years -
she was said 10 be owned by noted slavetrader, but
still sailed as an American vessel, and Messrs. Max
well, Wright and Company managed her business
nominally at Rio. She last arrived at Rio January
20, lS4S; as usual and American man. f-war's boat
VISITED her, and when leaving letter thrown in,
signed by four sailors, addressed to any commander
oil an American vessel of war, denouncing the Por-
pose as SLAYER. Captain Gregory Commodore
Turner received the letter ard sent il consul,
Mr. Gordon, who came off, and, with the consent of
The proper authorities, the Porpoise Was put under
the guns of the Raritan and Lieut.. Sbubrick was
gwen command Of her. The next day the Americans
on board were taken on shore TO the consul to be
questioned, and The Brazilian and Portuguese pas
sengers were allowed TO 60 on shore.
MIR. Wise and the Brazilian Minister Of Foreign
Affairs had some conversation upon the subject, and
all appeared 10 be going on slnOoihy when II became
known that the passengers, on going on board again,
had been detained much excitement was caused by
line slave dealers and tn ir friends, and the minister
OF Justice foolishly allowed himself to be persua-
ded To send off SIX armed boats charge Of Bra
lillian officer, who was ordered TO l,ke possession Of
the Porpoise, crew and passengers, and force
necessary. lie found Lieut.. Shubrick board the
Porpoise, and by him ordered off; he then went
to Commodore Turner board The Raritan and tod
his errand Com. Turner told him he could not do
any thing by fore, he had 500 armed at his
command on board the karitan; he must send away
his armed boats and then he would treat with him
and Tell hun whar to do.
The boats were sent AWAY. the BrziIians and Por-
tnguese were given from The Porpoise the officer,
hut not one American the vessel was he allowed
to have. The Minister Of Justice appears to have
been influenced by the slave deales, and have act
ed very foolIshly. When Mr. Wise and he Minister
oil Foreign Affairs were corresponding the subject
he had no right 10 interfere at all; and 10 send six
aimed boats 10 compel Com. Turner, in the frigate
karitan, TO give up an American vessel, perfect
ly absurd but still at the time it created much ex-
element, and the Brazilian officer deserves much
credit for his manner Of carry ing out his foolish or
ders. Com. Turner also acted rightly. P,
few days after the Porpoise was released, as
but little could be proved against her, well her
business hidden, and no law treaty authorizes A.
meicans to seize in Brazilian port anv vessel with
out the consent OF the Brazilian authorities. They,
heng all in favor Of The slave trade, insisted their
right, and she was given up. She VAS first held by
their courtesy, and that would have lasted ill
any other subject but the slave trade. that is sore
one. NH
Mr.. Wise will no doubt go on with his investiga-
ton, and may Yet have difficulty with the Brazilians
but the Porpoise case is probably now remembered
by few at Rio. At the last date, March L. few ap-
peared to think Of il besides those Immediately inter-
ested, and they feared no difficulty. G.