Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To tie Senate and
House OF REPRESENTATIVES Of the q. S.

10 Tie senate anu
House Of Representatives. Of The q. s.:
transmit herewith, for the Information OF
Congress copies OF certain dispatches recently
received from MIR. Wise, our Envoy ExtTaordi-
nary and Minister Penipotentiary al The Court OF
Brazil, upon the subject OF the Slave Trade, De,
veloping the means used and the devices resoried
10, in order 10 evade existing enactments upon
that subject.
AnxiouSv DESTROYS as are The United States 10
suppress traffic so revolving 10 humanity, IN lie
efforts 10 accomplish which they have been The
pioneers OF civilized States, il cannot but be
subject of the most profound regret, that any
portion Of our citizens should be found acting
in cooperation with the subjects OF other Pow-
erS, in opposition 10 the policy OF their own
Government; thereby subjectins 10 suspicion
and 10 the hazard oil disgrace, The flag OF their
own country. II is true, that this traffic is car
red on altogether in foreign ports, and that our
own coasts are free from its pollution. But the
crime remains the same wherever perpelraled;
and there are many circumstances 10 warrant Tue
belief, that some OF our citizens are deeply IN
volycd in its guilt The mode and manner oil
carrying on this Trade are clearly and fearless,
IL set forth in The accompanying Documents ana
i, would seem, thai regular system has been
adopted for The purpose Of ihwarting the policy
and evading the penalties OF our laws American
vessels with the knowledge, as there are good rea-
sons 10 believe, Of the owners and masters, are
chartered or rather purchased by notorious slave
dealers in Brazil, aided by English brokers and
capitalists, with this intent. The vessel is only
rominally chartered al so much per month,
while in truth, il is actually sold, 10 be delivered
ON the coast OF Africa, The charter party binding
the owncis in The mean lime. 10 take ON board,
as passengers, a new crew in Brazil, who when
delivered on The coas, are 10 navigate her Dack
10 The ports OF Brazil with her cargo of slaves.
Under this agreement, the vessel clears from The
United States for some port in Great Britain,
where cargo OF merchandise known as coast
goods" are designed especially for the African
trade is purchased, shipped, and consigned, To-
eeiher with the vessel either To The slave dealer
himself or 10 his agents and accomplices in Bra
iii. On her arrival a crew is put on board as
passengers and the vessel and cargo consigned 10
an equally guilty factor or agent on the coast OF
Africa, where The unlawful purpose originally
designed is finally consumma,ed. The mer-
chandisc is exchanged for slaves-lhe vessel IS
delivered up-her name is obleraed, her papers
destroyed, her American crew discharged. To- he
provided for BY The charlcrcrs, and the new or
passenger crew put in command 10 carry back its
miserable freight 10 the first conlrvers Of llc voy-
age, or their cmpiGyers in Brazil.
During the whole progress of this torluous
enterprise, il is possible That neither The Amerl-
can crew originally enlisted, nor the passenger
crew PIT on board in The Brazilian ports, are
aware OF the nature Of the voyage, and yetit IS
On these principally, ignorant, il not innocent,
that the penalties Of The law are inflicted while
the guilty conlrvers, the charlerers brokers,
owners and masters-in short, all who are most
deeply concerned in the crime and It's rewards, LOT
the most part escape UNPUBLISHED.
| 1t will I've seen from The examinations which
have recently taken place al Rio, that the subjects
other Britannia Majesty, as we'll as our own Gill
Gems, ale deeply implicated in this inhnman trail
fc. British factors and agents, while they supply
Africa with British fabrics in exchange for slaves,
are chiefly instrumental in The abuse OF The
American flag; and the suggestions contained in
The letter of Mr. Wise (whose judiciolls and
Jealous efforts in the matter, cannot be too highly
commcnded,) addressed TO MIR. Hamilton, the
British Envoy, as TO The best mode Of suppressins
the evil, deserve your most deliberate considera-
lion, as they will receive, doubt not, that Of the
British Government
Ii is also worthy OF consideration, whether any
other measures than those now existing, are ne
cessary 10 give greater efficacy 10 the inst and hu-
name policy Of our laws, which already provide
Tor The restoration 10 Africa OF slaves captured at
sea by American cruiZers. From lime TO time
provision has been made by this Government for
their comfortable support and maintenance du-
ring limited period alter their restoration, and il
is much 10 be regretted. that this liberal policy
has moi been adopted by Great Britain. As il is,
it seems 10 me, that The policy il has adopted, is
calculated rather TO perpetuae than 10 suppress
The trade, by enlisling very large interests in lis
favor. Merchants and capitalists furnish the
means for carrying il on; manufactures for which
the negroes are exchanged are the products OF her
workshops; the slaves, when captured, instead Of
being returned 10 their homes are transferred 10
her colonial possessions in The West Indies, and
made the means oil swelling The amount of their
products, by a system OF apprenticeship for a
term of years and The officers and crew who cap
tire the vessel, receive on The whole number of
slaves 50 many pounds sterling per capita, by way
ut bounty.
II must be obvious, that while these large in
lerests are enlisted in favor of its continuance il
will be difficult il not impossible TO suppress the
netarious traffic. and that It's results would be in
efec, but a continuance OF the slave trade ofano-
ther and more cruel form; for il can he but
matter Of little difference with the African whe.
Their he is torn from his country and transported TO
the West Indies, as slave, in the regular course
OF The trade, or captured by cruiser, transported
10 the same place and made TO perform the same
labor under The name of an apprentice; which is
at present the practical operation Of the policy
adopted
Ii is 10 be hoped that Her Britannia Majes,y's
Government will upon a review at all the cir
cums,ances stated in these dispatches adopt more
clicientmeasnres for The suppression of The trade
which she has so long attempted 10 put down, with
as vel, 50 lille success, more consonant with The
original policy of restoring the captured African
10 his home. JOHN TYLER.
Washington, Feb. 10, 1915.