The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-15

Peaceiui radiance oi lis fighteo usness and His
Justice npon tho prosperous and happy citizens
OF free and sovereign Stales7
Slave Trade In Brazil -Oyer-netIo Of Brit
lsh Cruisers. -
A correspondent of the London Daily Ne,os
writes as follows, under date OF
Rio DE JANEIRo, Aug. 81, 1851.
In former letter, after having detailed TO
you the vigorous and effective measures taken
by the Brazilian government for the sur preston
OF the slave trade, expressed fear that some
act of violence injustice, on the part of our
cruisers, would change The favorable course
which things were t king am sorry to state
that my prediction has been fulfilled, and will
now state to you some of those proceedings,
which are greatly to be lanented, inasmuch as
they tend to Illustrate the object in view, but
doubly so in that they disgrace our English
flag, and reflect deep dscredit upon our naval
officers. The first case which | have to report
is the capture and destruction Of the brig
Piratinin, and the facts of the case will state
in as few words as possible, leaving you to form
your own opinion of the legality. of the capture.
The Piratinim sailed from Bahia. with cargo
of 1000 alqueires of salt, 81 packages of earth
enware and china, and few barrels of Sherry
and Madeira wines Her passengers we're the
Senior LeItao, the owner of a &c sugar estate
near Cawpos, and 81 slaves belonging to the
same gentleman. cit is unnecessary h re to re-
mark that about one-tliird of the number were
mulattoes, and that all the others were creoles.
and speaking the Portuguese language.) Each
slave was furnished with passport from the
police authorities of Bahia, had been duly de.
spatched from that port, and had embarked
publicly, and during the day time 10 short, the
cargo OF the Piratinm was in all respects u legal
one, and she pursued her voyage with all the
confidence 'nd fancied security of an honest
trader few days after leaving port, she was
encountered by the Sharpshooter steamer.
whose signal to lie to was immediately re-
sponded to; her dispatches, &c. were produced,
but, undenah'e as was the evidence offered of
her innocence, the Piratinm was aijudged to
be lawful prize, the slaves were transferred to
the Sharpshooter, and to crown all, ga general
division (says the ia, nal do Commercial of the
wines, china, and other spoil was made amongst
the officers and crew of the Sharpshooter the
Piratinim was then set fire to and sunk !"
The excitement and Indignation caused in Rio
by the disgraceful proceeding was intense and
scarcely had the popular feeling in some degree
subsidized, when new outrage was reported,
even less justi6able if possible than the proceed
ing. The Brazilian brig Moro Mello lett this
port for Santa Catharna on the Goth Of July,
with cargo of merchandise of the value of
about $4,000 sterling; on the 2Sih she was de-
tanned by the steamer Locust, and although
absolutely nothing was found on board to
crimnate her, ct she was made prize of and
sent to st. Helena. Her passengers amongst
whom was Brazilian clergyman returning to
this parish in Santa Catharina) were landed in
boat of the Locust "Ther domestic slaves"
says the journal do COmmercio were allowed
to accompany them only upon the payment of a
sum equal to I'll per head, the receipts for which
payment are still in the hands of the passengers.
Other cases, of similar nature to those above,
are reported, one of them in particular of a
peculiarly piratieal character; but as have not
the means of assertanng the truth of those
statements abstain from giving you the par
ticnars. Part of the cargo of the Nouo MelLo
consisted of 80 barrels of -four. shipped for
Santa Catharina by the eminent American firm
of Maxwell Wright and Co. You are perhaps
aware that this firm stands at the very head of
the foreign commercial houses of this city; and
this fact alone conceive to be sufficient to con-
vince You Of the ilegality of the capture. For.
tunate is IT for the of Justice that this has
occurred, as the position Of Messrs Maxwell,
Wright and Co, is such as cannot fail to procure
for them the Naturalization which, ns Rrazil-
ians, they would probably have been denied
In word, so unjust are the proceeding, of
our cruisers, that the British residents in Rio de
Jnneiro are placed in the painful and most unu-
sual position of being almost asha ned to ac-
knowledge themselves to be Englshmen; and
passive as the Brazilians have been under re-
peated insults and injuries, yet if this system is
perseyered in, an outbreak of popular feeling
will most assuredy take place, and English life
and property be seriously jeopardised The
foregoing facts | communicate to YOU. in tho
hope that you will give them all possible pub
licity, that Englishmen at home may learn how
their fig is being disgraced upon the coast of
Brazil, by being made to cover such acts of in
justice and oppression; that the opponents If
the slave trade may Judge for themselves whether
The present system is calculated to bring about
the long desired result; that British merchants,
may consider how it will effect their extensive
commercial relations with the empire and that
public opinion at home may declare :ganst this
abuse of our superior power in thus employing
1t TO trample upon and oppress weak and I'M
offending nation. All that she con do, Brazil
has done and Is still doing for the suppression Of
the traffic, but, If uni ustice is thus allowed to
be practiep All u impnnity. and lawlees outrsee
on the part or bur officers il TO be followed BY
the promotion and rewnrd of its perpetrators
then the means employed will most assuredly
defeat their end the Brazilian government will
be thrown into difficulties which will oblige tito
its present energetic opposition to the
trade II has proved that our cruisers of them.
selves are entirely inefficient TO repress it, and,
after having had the end so earnestly sought for
Almost In our grasp, we shall find ourselves far.
Their than ever from its attainment, and the only
gaia to the nation after the expenditure of much
treasure, and at the cost Of infinite trouble. will
be the promotion and enrichment Of half dozen
naval officers Observer
DINNER TO THs OFFICERS OF THE ARCTIC Ey-
,RpirioS-,it rs announced that the St Georges
Society and other British residents of Neu Yort
,ity will Of, dinner to Henry Grinnel. ESQ
Liept De Haven, Passed Midshipman Griffin,
Dr. Kane, and other officers of the Advance and
Rescue.
More Whisky is shipped from Cincinnati than
al. -