The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-05

he has got lawsuit on hand which will last
him for life. The territorial law of New Mexi-
CO, under the law of nations and by the decision
of our own courts, is anti-slavery; and that has
got to be got rid of before slavery can be kept
there. Nevertheless, it is good enough Nor
gan to keep up excitement on"
British Intervention on the Coast Of Africa.
The English papers give the particulars of the
destruction of the town fLagos on the African
coast by the British forces, and the substitution
ola new king of their own creation in place of
the former, whom they have deposed.
A despatch from Commodore Bruce Comman
der of the squadron, dated on board the Pene-
ope, off Lagos, on the I'd of January, addressed
to the Secretary of the Admiralty, says:
"The instructions of the Lords commission
ers of the Admiralty as far as respects Lagos,
have been most faithfully fulfilled by the ex-
pulsion of the slave-dealing chief Kosoko, and
his people. the utter destruction of his town,
and the establishment of the friendly chief Aki-
toye, with his followers, in the seat OF power at
Lagos.
"Ther lordships are aware that Kosoko very
recently rejected the proffered friendship of
| England, and opposed, with fire and sword, the
approach of flag of truce proceeding to his
seat of government with Mr.. Consul Beecrofi,
who offered to negotiate and to advise with him.
Il, therefore, determined to send strong and
we'll organised force TO punish this refractory
chief, and having, through the energy and exer-
tons of Mr. Beecrofi, procured the attendance
of Akitoye and nearly 500 ofhis followers, near
the scene of action, ready to take advantage Of
clean sweep when we should make it, ] con.
certed measures with Captain Lewis |. Jones,
of the Sampson, and Captain Henry Lyster, of
| this ship, " no were both volunteers on the oc-
ca.ion, and entrusted the detail and execution
of the service TO Captain Jones, seconded by
Captain Lyster, and their lordships will see from
the accompanying reports the complete success
with which the enterprise has been crowned.
81 am at loss to do justice TO the chivalrous
bearing and devoted bravery of these two Off
Gers; Captain Jones, who, commanding the ex-
pedilion, was no less conspicuous for his gal
lantry and firmness than for his judgment and
energy; and Captain Lyster, who, finding him
self, by unavoidable circumstances, exposed in
the Teazer to be snmmariIy destroyed by the
enemy's guns, made noble rush into the midst
ofarmed men on shore, and with his undaunted
followers, spiked the obnoxious guns, and turn
ed the fortune of the day at that point. 1t is to
be borne in mind that our people could expect
no quarter, nor did they get any,
A letter written by one who engaged in the
attack closes thus:
"On tho 28th, at daybreak, the town was
found deserted, the enemy having left on the
other side of the island in their canoes. The
forces then landed and took possession 81
guns were taken and destroyed, and Aktoye
placed on the throne, and all his men with him;
and thus finishes the capture of Lagos and with
it we hope the suppression of the slaye.trade
A fe~J eaths have taken place from fever. The
stockafes consisted of green cocoa-nut trees
hence they had no splinters. In each stockade
was trench, SO that when shell was fred at
them, they jumped in the trench, and hence es-
capped danger. Each stockade had ditch to
communicate, 80 that they could reinforce or re-
treat at leisure. About Is feet from the shore
in 8 feet water, were quantity of bamboo
stakes, so firmly driven in, and so secure, that
100 lbs. Of gunpowder could not effect breach,
and hence prevented any one from landing. Our
| total force was about 400 the enemy from 10,
600 to 10000.
This is the official statement made by the VIC
tors. Other statements, however, have been
made which put very different face on the
whole affair.
In the New York Times we find the follow
ing very different version of the affair.
Two or three weeks since we had intelligence
of the fOrcible " intervention" of the English
squadron in the domestic affairs of the town of
Lagos, on the coast of Africa. The English, rs
our readers know, keep cruisers on the coas: to
prevent the slave trade. Lagos is situated upon
a river at some considerable distance from the
sea- The English officers sent to the King
request that he would permit the whole armed
force to come in boats to Lagos and consult with
him about suppression of the slave traffic, in
which he was himself extensively engaged. He
declined, but said he would cheerfully consult
with them in the ordinary way-by deputa-
lion. This did not suit their purposes, and they
accordingly attempted to force their way into
the royal presence. They embarked very large
force in their boats and started up the river, but
we're driven back by the multitude of armed
natives who lined the banks and opposed their
advance.
By the Franklin, we have news of the further
prosecution of this negotiation A dispatch
from the Commodore of the squadron announces
the expulsion of the slave dealing chief Ko.
soko and his people, the utter destruction Of his
town, and the establishment of the friendly chief
Akitoye, with his followers in the seat of power
at Lagos"
The dispatch goes on to say:
"Their lordships are aware that Kosoko very
recently rejected The preferred friendship of Eng
land, and opposed, with fire and sword, the APP
proach of flag of truce proceeding to his seat
of government with Mr. Consul Beecroft, who
offered TO negotiate and to advise with him." (
As we have already stated above, the chic
Kosoko did not refuse to negotiate with the
English, but expressly agreed to receive depu.
tation for that purpose. He only declined to
allow them to ascend the river with their fleet
and thus to place his town completely under
their guns. twas for this offence that the com
modore, rs he proceeds to state in his official
dispatches, sent up strong force to destroy this
rebellious chief and set up another in his place.
lie first concerted measures with a rival chiel
named Akitoye, who was stationed with some
300 OF his followers near the scene of action
SO that he could take advantage of clean
sweep when they should make it." The fight
lasted two days, and the English lost 80 killed
and 90 wounded. The English deposed the
old chief, and SET up another in his place.
lt,l. %