Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-06
The Slave Trade.
NJ

A letter recently received from a gen.
tleman on the coast Of Brazil gives II
gloomy picture OF the horrid traffic in hu-
man beings which is carried on by the
merchants and government of the Brazil
lian Empire, many Of our own people
(American) being also engaged, it is be-
lieved, in the same detestuble business
sour present duty on this station is
the humane one of watching and search
ing American vessels fitted out for the
coast Of Africa from this port, and sus-
pected ofbeing engaged in the slave-trade,
in which hellish traffic a large number
Of vessels under the American flag arc
engaged. Yes, this damnable traffic in
human souls, the details Of which in all
its horrors would actually make your
life-blood curdle in your veins, is carried
on with the most perfect impunity under
the stars and stripes-the ensign Of lib
eriy and human rights-but whose broad
folds are proslituied to the base purpose
of shielding and protecting the inhunan
tyrant in daily enacting the most revolt
ing Of human crimes. True, our gov
ernment, in its philanthropy, enacted a
statute against any American citizen en-
gaging in this trade, and whomSoever so
engaged shall suffer death. But The same
law which denounces il as piracy, legal.
ICES every article that is traflicked for
slaves.
"The law says, that any vessel sus-
pected Of being engaged in this prescribed
trade may be remanded for trial. Now,
uaeeal that c1o,r, car ,bn oonrt
from this port is suspected Of being en-
gagged in the trade, and Justly too, Cor
nine-tenlhs of them, directly or Indirect
ly, are engaged in the traffic which fact
is notorious. Now, what proof have we
10 bring forward, before a court of admi-
rally, to justify us in arresting her (bound
as she is to a lawful port, with a cargo on
board, testified to by the American con-
sul,) as u SLAYER Mere suspicion will
&c. condemn her-nothing but positive
proofs Of the t.1Sc.. Of tina! being her object.
And those proofs she does not present
within herself. No officer Of the navy
is stupid enough TO send vessels home as
slavers under these circumstances, when
he is held personally responsible for all
damages accruing from the arrest and de.
ention of the vessel, in the event Of her
not being condemned.
"American vessels engaged in this
trade ouinumber the vessels of all other
nations put together-and are chartered
at much higher prices by slave dealers, as
they are not subject TO the right of search
by the British, who swarm the African
coast, you know-and our laws are TO-
tally insufficient and inadequate, in the
great majority Of cases, 10 their condem-
uation and so vessels sailing under our
flag, being the moro safe, are much
more desirable.
"The whole law in reference to this
trade is a farce, and the sooner it is abro-
gated the better, as The demands of the
slave market here will be supplied in de-
fiance Of all laws, as long as the trade
continues so profitable as il is-when men
can make fortunes in a few trips. And,
in fact, these penal enactments enhance
the value Of The slave in proportion to
the risk run in carrying on the trade, and
renders it the more profitable, as zone
but the most daring engage in it; and,
from want Of competition, me supply is
not greater Than the demand. lfone ves-
sci in three returns safe, they are salts
fled and we'll ~remunerated.
"To show you the horrors attendant
on this in human beings,
was assured by a slave dealer himself
that some time ago, a Brazilian vesse'
had taken a cargo of slaves IN The eastern
coast Of Africa, and before he had got or
board his provisions and water, he wa.
discovered and pursued by an English
m~an-of-war, chased off the coast, and pre-,
vented from returning. His provision:
and water on board were not more than
sufficient for himself and crew-tht
matches leading to the negroes were fas.
tened down and secured against being
~forced-and the vessel came into this
port with 800 human carcasses in hel
hold, presenting a spectacle the relation
of which caused even him 10 shudder
Injured as he was 10 human suffering ant
hideous sights. But there is a fearful re
tribution al hand !; for the time will come
and that not far distant, unless slavery il
here abolished, or very much miiigated
when this beautiful land will be sieepet
with the blood of thousands Of victims o
all ages and sexes-and the untutored anC
savage African will remain possessor o
The soil. Fears are daily entertained o.
systematic revolts throughout the pro.
yinces."
REvENUE.-The custom revenue at al
the ports Of The United States for The
months Of January and February, is on
ly a fraction under five millions, three