The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-06

from the Portuguese settlements in Africa 10 America
and the West Indies but the English nation had not
vet engaged in the iniquitous tanc' one "hiam
| Hawkins an expert English seaman, having made
| several VOYAGES 10 the coast OF Gunear and from
thence 70 brazil and the West Indies had acquired
considerable knowledge Of these countries. AT his
death he left his journals with his son. John Hawkins
| in which he describes the lands OF America ana the
West Indies as exceedingly rich ana fer'he, Du'
utterly neglected for want OF hands to improve thein
Uo renresented tho nations of Europe as unequal to
the task in such scorching climates but those OF
Africa as we'll adapted TO undergo the labors requi,
site Upon which, John Hawkins Immediately lermeo
a design of Transporting Africans into the western
World and having drawn plan ior the exec pt
of IT, he laid ii before Of his opulent neighoo
for announcement and appreciation To them IL APP
pearcd promising and advantageous. subscription
was opened and speedily hed up, by or Lione,
Duckett Sir Thomas Lodge, Sir William Winter ana
others who plainly psreevoJ inc oSs PoT1' three
sbips were fitted out and manned by an hundred
select sailors whom Hawkins encouraged to go with
him by promises Of good treatment and great pay.
In the year 1862 he set sail Tor Africa, and IN e"
weeks arrived at the country called sierra Loona'
where he began his commerce with the negroes.
While he traicked with them he found the means OF
giving them a charming description of the country
to which he was bound The unsuspicious Africans
listened to him with apparent Joy and satisfaction
and seemed remarkably fond Of his European trink-
barrenness of the country and their naked and
wretched condition and promised, If any OF them
were weary of their miserable circumstances, ana
would go along with him, he would carry them to
plentiful land whore they should nee h0Ppy, and re-
ceips an abundant rec0mDenss for their labors. he
told them the country inhabited by such mon as
himself and his jovia companions, and assured them
of Kind usage and great frismdShip. In short the
negroes were overcome by his hattering promises,
and three hundred stout fellows accepted his offer,
..,lo taI 20 III m
thing being settled on the most amicable terms be-
tween them Hawkins made preparations for his voy
age But, in thennght before his departure, his ne
groos attacked by a large body from different
quarter. Hawkins, being alarmed with the shrieks
and cries Of dying persons. ordered his men to the
assistance Of his slaves, and having surrounded the
assailants, carried number of them on board as
prisoners of war The next day he set sail for His
PAMELA with his cargo of human creatures; but,
during the passage he treated the prisoners Of war
in different manner from his volunteers. Upon his
arrival he disposed of his cargo great advantage,
and endcayored to incucate on the Spaniards who
bought the negroes the same distinction to be OBJ
served; but they, having pnrcha@d I'LL at tie same
rate considered them slaves of the condition
and consequently, treated all alike.
Hawkins having returned to England, sOOn after
made preparations for n second voyage In his pas
sage he fell in with the Minion man-of-war, which
accompanied him TO the coast of Africa. After his
arrival, he began, as formerly to traffic with the
BIOcS ciucdNoi1uS, Dy pcTsuhslOns anu prospects "
relcard, to induce them to go along with him. But
now they were more reserved and jealous of his de-
signs; and as none of their ncighbors had returned
they apprehensivo he had killed and eat them.
The crew Of the man Of-war, observing the Africans
backward and suspicious, began to laugh at his
gentle and diatory methods of proceeding, and pro
posed having immediate recourse to force and com
pulsion; but Hawkins considered it cruel and
just and tried by persuasiOns, promises and threats,
TO prevail on them to desist from purpose so un-
warrantable and barbarous In vain did he urge his
authority and instructions from the queen; the bold
and headstrong sailors would hear of restraints
Drunkenness and avariee deaf to the voice of hu-
manity. They pursue their violent design, and, after
several unsuccessful attacks, in which many of them
lost their hUes the cargo at length completed by
barbarity and force.
Hence arose that horrid and inhuman practice OF
dragging Africans into slavery, which has since been
pursued, in defiance of every principle of justice
and religion. Had negroes been brought from the
flames, to which in some countries they devoted
their failing prisoners of war, and in others sacri
feed at the funeral obsequies of the great and power
full among themselves; in short had they by this
traffic been delivered from torture death European
merchants might haUe to plead in its vim
dication. Bm, according to tie common naOde a.
whtch 1t has been conducted, We must confess it ;
difficult matter to conceive StUgi6 argument in III
defence. And though policy has given countenanc'
and sanction to the trade, yet every candid and i'm
partial man must confess that it is atrocous and
justifable in every light in which it can BIO viewed
and turns merchants into a band of robbers ana
trade into atrocious acts of fraud and violence
Historical account Of South Carolina and Gcorgia
Anonymons. Lonion, printed az 1879. Page 20, Nc
The number of negro slaves bartorcd for in year
wiz, 1863 the coast of Africa, from Cape Banco
to Rio Congo, amounted to 100000 souls, whereof
moro than half wiz $4,000 were shipped on account
of British merchants and $500 on the account OF
British Americans.-THe Ldw Of RaribHtt0R, By
| GraRUiH SHARP Esq, page l47 Note
(29) Bill of Rights, Article 1.
ITo RE Continued