Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-11-20
From The Pleasure Boat.
BarbarOuS Treatment Of COlOred Seamen.

DdfDaTOuS treatment Oh C0l0reG Seallen.
1t is estimated by one who has large oppor-
tunities for collecting facts, that in the Uni
ted States there are $4,000 colored seamen;
G,O00 of whom are engaged in the merchant
service; 1900 in the naval service; 1900 in
the whaling service, and 5000 in internal
navigation, on board canal boats, steamboats,,
&c. These men are not only deprived of
their birthTight to the earth, but on account
of prejudices against color, are shut out of
nearly all mechanical occupations and are thus
prevented from accommodating enough 10 pur-
chase back their birthright, and are driven
upon the ocean TO procure the means of sup
port for themselves and their families; and
the laws Of this barbarous nation are such,
that if they enter the ports of the slave-hold-
ing States, in the honest occupation Of sea-
men, they are taken from the vessels and
locked up il Jail, and compelled TO pay their
own board until the vessel is ready to sail.
/ have before me an extract from the laws
of Louisiana, providing that any free negro,
mulatlo, or person of color that arrives al any
port in the State, shall be apprehended on
warrant from the judge or justice OF the
peace in the parish, and committed to the
parish Jail, there to be confined until the YES
sci or steamboat shall be ready to proceed to
sea, when the master of the vessel shall by
the written permit or order of the Judge, or
justice, take and convey said colored person
from the State and pay the expense Of his or
her apprehension or detention: this Of course
comes out Of the seaman's wages.
Ii the master of the vessel departs without
taking the person of color, the Judge or JUS
lice shall order the sheriff to carry or send
him or her out of the State, and the person
Of ,,1.u H. I-~.,l-l ,,,~t 40, tr If- -.
her transportation, if he I'VE the means, if
not, the expense is paid by the State.
If the free person of color thus banlshed or
transported from the pious State, returns
again to that State, he or she shall be punish
ed by Imprisonment at hard labor five years,
and if he or she is found in the State thirty
days after the expiration of the five years, he
or she shall be punished by Imprisonment at
hard labor for life.
1t is further enacted that any person who
shall employ or harbor, or entertain as a
boarder or lodger any person of color of the
above description, shall be punished with a
fine not exceeding $500.
Reader, think how different the above law
is from the doctrine of Christ which declares
that black and white are all one in Christ
which says, forgive seventy times seven =
which says, if thine enemy hunger feed him.
Yet different as this doctrine is, while thou
art voting in either of the great political par
ties, and paying taxes to support this 'brolh-
erhood of thieves called the American I'm
ion, thou art a supporter of these abomina'
tions-thou ant trampling on humanity, and
it is in vain te offer any palliation.
Every vote cast for the high officers of thu
nation, is an expressed determination TO as
sist the President OF the Union in supporlin!
each and all the States. o! what a fearful
account will the people of this nation We
have 10 answer to, when the pure light Q
eternal truth and justice shall shine upoi
their guilty minds, in such a manner that the,
can no longer turn from nor resist it!
Who would desire 10 be in their place
when the blood of the millions they hav,
slain rises up in judgment against them!
In the above laws no provision is made 70
seamen that enter tho ports of Louisiana 70
a harbor in a tempest, or for the poor colore'
man wrecked on The coast and washed ashor
on a plank.
Whatever free person of color enters Oh,
port must be put in Jail ill his vessel is read
to depart! And after he has once been drly
EN- from the State, if he is driven back by
tempest, he must be imprisoned five years Il
hard labor, and then if sickness prevents hin
from fleeing from tho dominions of the barba
rians in thirty days, he must be imprisone,
to hard labor for life! Ii colored seamen @
forth in men-cf-war, and flight the battle