Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-24

THE AMIsTAD SLAVES.

Mr.. EDiToR.-As the President recommends the
payment OF TINS most unjust and infamous claim in
his late message, it may not be nmss to bring before
your readers statement of tho facts relative to this
case
In the year 1877, Spain concluded treaty with
'he british Government for the suppression Of the
African Slave Trade. The trade was TO terminate
completely in the year 1870 and the king cf Spain
issued an ordinance in conformity with the treaty,
prohibiting the trade after that date and declaring
that all negroes brought into any portion OF his du
mlnlon, especially referring to the colonies, should
Immediately become Tree.
About the year 1887, treaty to provide for the
more cheotual execution of this original treaty
entered into between Spain and Great Britain, aud
another ordinance was issued particularly admOnish
ing tho authorities of Cuba to take care that the
treaty be iniOrced Under this treaty every negro
imported into the island of Cuba or any other span
ish possession, altor 1890 was free and entitled
his freedom by law.
In the year 1889 slave trader imported into Gu
ba cargo Of slaves OF which Rfty-thrce were ship
ped ON board the iHistad from one part Of Cuba to
another. These being recently imported negroes,
were OF course free under tho treaty. They had
been kidnapped in thcirown native land torn from
Their families and friends, thrown into oathsomo
prison snip, to breed pestencc and death, and
brought to Cuba in contrayention Of treaties, and in
contempt OF the laws of nations. They worc abso-
lutely Tree. In tho course of this transportation
from one part to another these negroes asserted the
"
they were entitled by the laws uf nations and took
possession Of the vessel, and insisted ON being re-
tlrnod to Africa On this condition, the lives of
tho Spaniards who claimed them as slaves were
spared. They now were imprisoned. But instead
otdirecting the ship to Africa the Srannrds direct
cd II towards our Shores Thencgroes were at last
landed in Connecticut
The Spanards claimed them rs slaves, and the
claim became the subject of judicial Investigate N
The District Court OF the United States held nom
tnrmity with the treaty that the negroes were free
that they had committed no crime against the Uni
ted States. An appeal was taken from this decision
TO the Supreme Court ofthe United States not by the
Spanards, but by the AatiORai CorcrnmenL Our
government in compliance with its proslavcry ten
dency wished to ensavc these free mon and women
vi this claim Gen. Pierce says truly, when he says,
Its (the claim for pay justice was admitted in our
diplomatic correspondence with Spain as early as
March, lS47 &C." Our general government and
our diplomatic correspondence" has always been
on the side OF the Oppressor. Even the great Dan
iel Webster, who claimed the Wilmot provso at his
thunder, in his diplomatic correspondence with
Great Britain, in the celebrated Creole case claimed
the negroes who hal landed upon English soil, as
flavcs. 1t was tho General Government then that
took 80 deep an interest in the matter as to appeal
from the decision of the District Court to the Su
preme Court and thus throw it's potent influence
against these poor frendless Africans, who with.
out any fault Of theirs thrown upon our shores
Tho supreme Court, which MIR. Hale called the
strong hold OF Slavery, affirmed tho decision oithc
District Court, and the freedom OF the Africans was
establishcd-thcir right TO liberty was so evident
that that prO-slayery BODY the Supreme Court, was
compelled to declare them free These Amistnd
mcn and women were returned to Africa by anti
slavery men, who furnished money for their defence
and their return homo
Now this Democratic President presents this
claim TO the early and favorable consideration" Of
Congress. lie wishes Congress to take $4,000
out ct tho Treasury and pay it over to these Span
iards (who are by the laws Of nations-of ours in
particular pirdtcs, and who would be hung if they
were Americans, under our laws for persons origi-
nally free mover reduced TO slavery and declared
by United States Court to be free
Why don't the President recommend Congress to
pass an insurance law by whichthc slave trader may
be indonniied when he meets with loss in his IL
legal and neiarous business? ? 1t would be better
for We should then know what we wore doing.
The truth is, the STAKEHOLDER is determined that
the General Government shall acknowledge or re-
cognize the right of property is slayos Then il is
very pretty way 10 cOncate the suspicious Gov
ernmen Of Spain, aud it may not hurt any in our
bargain for Cuba
This claim has been pressed upon Congress year
alter year with most dogged pertinacity. James
k. Polk, in his annual message Of Dec, lS4l urges
it upon Congress In ISIS, on the 9th Of August,
$5OOOO was added as an amendment to the appro-
pratOn bill, just at the close of the session. 1t
passed. the Senate, but was lost in the House. It
was again before Congress in 1851, when Mr.. Win
throp said he had during his career in Congress
hoon called to vote this question some half dozen
times, and that he had always voted against allow
ing the claim
fit is the design of this administration to stop
agitation, and crush OUT Free Slilism why does il
press these exciting subjects on COnross? 1t must
lead toangry and exciting debates. The slave pow
er does not wish the subject of slavery kept uut Of
Congress only opposition to slavery is to be con
dcmned. aud in the language Of General Cushing
"crushed out" Of freomcn.
Yours truly JAY.
Dec. 10, 1858.