The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-19
Late and Interesting from Martinique,

usSd III tiic uAh VI
of Oregon, comes up in the Senate tomorrow.
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Late and Interesting from Martinique.
BY the arrival of the brig Columbus, Captain
Webster, we are placed in possession If inte
gence from Martinique, one of the French West
India Islands, to the I'd instant.
All the previous accounts relative to the horrible
butchery of the white inhabitants of the island, by
the slave population, are corroborated, and many
additional particulars furnished
On board the Columbus are Messrs. ]. B. Du-
champ, L. Duchamp, L. Duchamp, f. Crassous, T.
Regnal, and T. Desgrotto, formerly wealthy plant
ers of the island who, with their families, in all
thiry-6ve persons, were obliged suddenly 70 seek
refuge on board the vessel to save their lives They
escaped from the shore in the night, leaving all
their property behind Fears were entertained
that the blacks would attack the brig, but Captain
Webster galautly determined, and made every pre-
paratlon, 10 resist any attempt Of the kind. For
Capt WIS efforts in their behalf, the above unfor-
tunate persons express their heartfelt gratitude,
and that all that they have to offer him, not hav-
ing saved hardly dollar of their valuable property
The blacks were massacreing the white inhabi.
tan,s daily. Some thirty-six persons, including
women and children, were on occasion driven
into house, the building set on fire, and with its
unfortunate inmates, entirely consumed.
The white inhabitants were fleeing to every
place that afforded the possibility of an asylum
from the vlndictive assaults of their foes. num-
Der had escaped to New Orleans. Some captains of
vessels had declined taking any of the refugees on
board their vessels, fearing an attack from the
blacks.
Business of all kinds was at stand several
vessels were in port, unable to dispose Of their
cargoes
Capt. Webster is of opinion that if assistance
were not speedily received the place would be en-
tirely destroyed.
The new governor, appointed by the French re-
public, had not arrived, but was daily expected.
The decree of the French government, abolish
ing slavery in the colony, took effect on the
2Sd of May. The official announcement of
the fact fact is contained in the Courier
dc Ia Martinique of the oath of May. A
general amnesty for all political offences is an
nexed to the decree, coupled with some local pro-
visions for the future tranquility of the colony,
which recent disturbances have rendered needful.
Further particulars will be found, detailed in
our correspondence, and in the extract which we
give below.
DEAR SrR-The American brig Columbus, Cap
tain Webster, leaving this day for your place, af-
fords me the opportunity of enclosing with this
the ST. Lucia Palladium of 9th inst and the Cou-
rier of Martinique, of oath inst. beg to refer you
to both Of these papers, for the official account
rendered of the deplorable events that have taken
place in this Island more particularly in this city
previous to the emancipation of the slaves in this
t, v,l t~f< sc &l,;
which you will find recorded in the said Couie,
Having but little time to write, beg to call
your attention to the mention made in the Paiia-
dunn, herewith transmitted, for full, exact and
impartial account Of the events that have tran
splred here, and to which nothing more can be
added to render it more faithful.
At the present time, matters here appear to be
more settled although order is far from being re-
able to Judge. Business of every description
is at complete stand, and confusion has
bewildered the mind of every one This
state of things has destroyed all confidence,
and caused wretchedness unequal to any de-
scrption.
We received news yesterday from Guadc-
loupe, and we are informed that the Governor
of that Island, on being made acquainted
ed slavery likewise, in the Island Of Gulde
loupe and its dependencies; but in doing, took
such precautionary measures as to protect hie and
property, and matters there passed oil III quiet
The inhabitants of this Island rcpose all their
trust and all their hopes for the future, In the ab
ties and wisdom of the recently appointed Governor
(Perrinon,) to this Island, aud whose arrival is
looked for with very anxious eagerncss
Many families and private individuals are leav-
ing this daily, for other counnics, principally TO
the United States, which is, IN fact, the only coun
try at the present tire where one can live in peace
and find protector. The brig Columbus takes
away no less than 30 passengers and every vessel
leaving the island Will have as many in proportion
Hoping that this short aud very defective ac-
count may prove available, refer you again to the
Palladium for al! the details.
[From the 81. Lucia Palladium, May 27l
MURDEa !-iNt ENDiARisM ABOLITION OF SLA-
VERY Our worst antlcipatons, find with
pain, have been surpassed in the state of general
confusion and anarchy into which things have
fallen under the new system at Martinique of Ii
bcytf, Egaiste, Frate1rte." Fire and bloodshed
have been resorted to by the negroes, to hasten
that freedom which, unfortunately, had not been
given them before and, thus suffering themselves
10 be in,imidated, the authorities have surrendered
their power into the hands of the rabble and sa-
very has been abolished, There is no safety, un
der the existing saurnaa, to life or property, in
Martinique and numbers of the inhabitants have
been forced to seek it by flight to other countries
We have only space for the following hurried de-
| tails given by an eyewitness.
| On Monday, the 22d instant, negro slave was
| sent to gaol by his master, Mr.. Leo Duchamp, a
planter in the neghborhood of st. Pierre, for some
thing he had uttered of cutting his master and mis-
| treSS IS headS OH ana Durylng tnenl III Inc sand
Shortly after, the whole gang the estate, Joined
by great many others, went to the gaol to rescue
! their fellow slave. On seeing this, the Mayor had
some soldiers called out to resist the mob, and was
on the eve of dispensing 1t by the force of arms
when Mr. Papy, adjolnt-mayor, found proper to set
the prisoner at liberty The mob, pushed on by
some cvil-minded rascals among the colored free
continued to complain of Mr.. Duchamps behaviour
towards evening, they began TO show the intention of
| firing the town. About o'clock the first incend-
airy torch was applied, the house of Mr.. De Sanois
being the first taken in their diabolical design it
(the Lesueurs and Lilettes,) to whom some other
persons had joined themselves, making in all 81 or
"a persons, mostly women and children. The
mob entered the house below, and began by break
ing up some furniture. Unfortunately, whilst they
were leaving the premises, one of the inmates (Mr
Desabaye. J standing on the staircase above fired