The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-13
Our Madeira Correspondence

banks and lts grassy BOSOM PAT.
Our Madeira Correspondence
MADEIRA, August 25, 1919.
The Nary Of the United States, as connected rith
the SlSve Trade.
Many Of our citizens complain Of the expense of
our navy, but l believe there are few persons, if
any, in favor of entirely abolishing it.
However, there is some cause why persons
should complain Of unnecessary expense, as | shall
attempt to chow in the following remarks relative
to the African squadron.
A squadron, mounting so guns, Is ordered to the
coast OF Africa, there to cruise, order to do all
in their power TO suppress the slave trade. To do
that in proper manner, what is required Ger
tainly, great vigilance the part Of the officers
who are connected with the squadron, and the
actual presence Of the squadron the coast, only
leaving IL when absolutely necessary to obtain q
supply Of provisions from our naval depot at Porto
Prsya, and then at returning to the coast. II
is slso necessary that our ships should at night
keep near the shore, and blockading the mouths Of
rivers, in which slave vessels lie hid during the
day, waiting for the darkness Of the night to allow
them to get clear of the coast without being seen
by man oi-war.
In order to give some idea of how differently the
squadron IS conducted from what it should be, I
will state how il has been employed, since |
have had the honor of belonging to it. Beng my
self on beard Of one vessel all the time, may not
be exactly correct In all the particulars but the
errers, il any, will be trihng and make material
difference.
The " Portsmouth," !" after Commodore Benjamin
Cooper took command of the sqadron, made
flag -shp, and ma ase one cruise down the coast az
far as Monrovia and after taking on board her
allowance Of kroumau, returned again TO Porto
| PIaya-snd after lying there about one month,
then made cruise Of lese than three moaihs down
the coast, as far as Princes Island After remain
| Ing about one month at Porto Pfaya, she went TO
| Madeira, where she renamed about SIX weeks,
when Commodore Cooper's health became so bad,
that he forced TO return home. II che had not
/ have returned home, the remainder Of her cruise
was 10 have been spent at Madeira, the Canary
! Islands, and the Cape de Verdes, as Commodore
Cooper said he would not go down the coast again,
20 that, curing her time on the coast, she die not
cruise where slavers frequent, nor did she see any
The Decatur, during the two years she has been
this siatoD, has made three short cruises do ~n
the coast, and during that time mas not seen
SLAYER or been where she might expect TO do go
The cambridge has made two ulps down The
coast since Commodore Cooper took commind oi
the squadron, and, during one oi these tnps, shc
sAw n suspicious looking vessel and gave chase,
hut the vsssel hsvog run up English colors, the
The Porpoise, dsInp the same time, has made
two iiips down The coast, and has not slav-
tr, or a suspicious vessel.
The Yorktown LETT Boston on the 22d Of Nover,-
bsr, lSIs, which time che has, up to thls date,
been at sea l2S days, and IN port lJ5-thc several
ports and ancborsges being Madeira. Porto Prays,
Bathurst, Monfoyis, Cape Palmss, Trade Town,
Cspe Mount, and CsdlZ IN Spain, ~ all at which
places slayeTs seldom seeD aud At those parti-
cular places her stsy was very short The time
passed at sea was the passage hom one port To an-
| other not an cruising about tor slayers.
During the time she iIas been ont. she has not
/ seen \ suspIcous-looking vess' ana has not be,n
/ as yet where che could expect 20 SEE one.
The Yorktown hss not been further south tsn
| Cete Palmas, end has spent nearly all her time
while on the coast at Monfovie. with the exception
/ If about two weeks at Bathurst, IN the River
Gsmbia, where she was sent TO repair her rudder.
! The whole object, when down ;he coast, seems
20 be, 70 wesr away the time allotted to stay there,
suo th,n ic get TO windward again as soon az pos
/ sibe. And on The other hand, while AZ the wind-
wsTd, the object is 10 pass away a. much time as
| potsible, and get back TO the coast az slow as
\ ,hor sail will carry the ship. No one thinks of
catching slaves, noI do believe the officers OF the
| squadron, as general thing, wish 10 catch them.
! Cne reason why we do not do 80, is, n comman.
I der Of our navy TAKES vessel on Suspicion, and
I sends her home, u fhe is not condemoed, the
cou.mBnder ~ subject 10 law suit for damages
\ end generally has been st considerable expense
l and much Inconvenience.
]
seli responsible for the actions OF our commanders
IN such cases. aud until they do, we never shall do
much towards suppre sslng the slave trade.
Look at the English They hold themselves re-
sronsbe for the actions OF their commanders OF
vessels, and the consequence ls, where We capture
SLAYER hey capture hily. IL is on this account
that cur officers do not 20 on board OF vessels and
examine their papers, Nc., and they ceftainy do
not, but merely run down near vessel, hed hei
name and destination, unless a supply of potatoes,
Nc., is wanted, then boat may be sent.
ID slavery ~ 10 be stopped by the AID OF thu
s.usdrcn, u Will never be till entirely different
llan is pursued; till our government assumes the
responsibility of sendng home suspicious vessels
and I'LL the commanders Of our vessels Try more et
fcIent meaBs, than by keeping out at sea, durinl
The gh,gying every olportnnlty Tor tlavers to get
clear of the cuatt which, N they once do none o
l our squadron will catch them.
Our vessels should board every vessel they NEE
on the coast, and should also cruise on sone othe
pant than the republic OF Liberia, wnere there ar'
| no slave stations.
this was done, it would do more towards sup
prefsIpc the slave trade than a0y thing else
60. Bot, is it possible ! believe not asd fc
tbot reason | say that those who complain OF th'
unnecessary expense OF the navy, have s~,ne cause
10 DO 80 for, our squadron is conducted Al pre-
cent, II - useless piece Of expense, and only ad
. cause the government is desirous of pstting
| supto.
ido no, consider our squadron OF the least use
here. on the contrary, 1t ~ great evil, and pro
| lection To tavefs, especially under the presrn
resiy, fer we cen lake nothing but vessels iiyini
American colors, and an men OF wHr are not "
sDy manner disguised, all an American SLAYER ha
| "a DO, when one Of our squadron heayes IN sight
~ TO hoist English or some foreign flag, and W.
! must pass on and leave perhsps a cargo OF slave
| TO be earned TO msTke for sale.
We have tried the experiment long enough
does not, end cannot answer, and the sooner th'
| squadron is abolished the better for the credit o
cor eoverument, the pockets Of our people and th
ceuse At slavery.
There is sliong naval force now required on tn