Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-23
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
Prom The Evangelist,
THE SLAVE-TRADE IN NEW YORK.

-. ~ mas olten Deen sad that the save-rade was
still carried on from New York. but as the charrel
has been Of vague and general character, it has
attracted little attention, We beginning to
get light on the matter. There is now living in
the Iomhs in this City man who has been tried
N"u 'ound guilty OF being eng".ccdd in the slave
trade. This is said to be the first convict ever
obtained under the law by which it was made pi-
racy. The testimony in the ample
And though he protests against his condemnation,
on the ground that he is n foreigner, and not amen
able to the laws of the United States, he does
deny the fact of his share in the business. lie
speaks of it freely and relates with unconcealed
exultation the particulars Of his wild and despcr-
ate career.
We have chanced to see and talk with this noted
captain in his prison. What he told us was not
communicated in confidence, for lie never saw
before, and did not know who were. lie spoke
to us as an entire stranger. All conversation
was through the grated door of his cell We made
no attempt to gain his confidence, to draw out
the secret history of his life. lie told his own
story not like Il criminal making u confession, but
rather with the freedom and pride of an old soldier
relating his battles. Nor did he intimate a wish
that what was said should be kept private. In
deed, he had boastcd to others of his deeds on the
African coast. His disclosures therefore are pub
lie property Some of these are SO curious as to
be worth making known. Whether he tells the
truth, the world must judge. 1t is not very prob
able that would make up story which i'm
plicated him in capital crime. Besides, his
count is consistent with ITSELF it agrees with what
was proved the trial and with the descriptions
in Capt Canot's book We believe therefore, that
he has let out the truth.
'New York" says Capt. Smith, "is the chief
port in the world for the slave trade" lie repeat
ed two or three times, IN is the greatest place in
the unirerSe for ii. Neither i'll Cuba nor in the
Brazils is it carried on so extensively Ships that
convey slaves to the West Indies and South
America are fitted out from the United States--
Now and then one sails from Philadelphia; more
from Baltimore; but most of all from New York.
This is cur headquarters. My vessel was the brig
Julia Mouton. l got her in Boston and brought
her here, and sailed from this port direct to the
coast of Africa" "But do you mean to say that
this business is going now ?' Eyes, all the
while. Not many vessels have been sent out
this year-perhaps not over twenty. But last year
there were prob IDLY thirty-fve."
Are there large shipping houses engaged in
it?" Yes, | can go down to South.st., and 90 into
number of houses that help to fit out ships for
the business. l don't know how far they own the
the vessels or receive the profits Of the cargoes.
had rather not have American owners | prefer
Spauiards or Portuguese. But these houses know
all about it. They know me. They sail
out OF port with ship and come back passenger.
They sometimes ask me, Captain, where is your
shipY With shrug,l They know what has
become of her." When cargo of slaves is Ian
ded, the vessel is often destroyed, not to be wit
mes against her officers and crew.
1H 'But how do you manage to get away without
- exciting suspcion?' "Why, you see, we keep
close, ana get everything aboaru, anu 40 nov HSh
our papers until we are just ready 10 sail. Then
we 90 to the Custom House, and take out papers
for Rio Janero, St Helena, Cape de Verde Islands,
or any port you pease-it don't matter where
and Instantly clear.
"But if YOU were seized at that moment, could
the officers TELL by searching the ship, that she was
q slaver"
,a "Oh yes, they couldn't help knowing, Besides
they must suspect something from seeing such an
almighty crew. My little brig carried but 20O
,d ba Inv f,ur Rut had
fourteen before the mast. The moment of leaving
port is the one of danger. But we don't lose time
A steamer is kept ready and we get under way
Immediately. Often two or three slayers leave at
once, We steam down the bay, and over the bar,
and then the is before US, and set our
course for any quarter we please"
"But when you reach the African coast are
you not in great danger from British ships-of-
WARP"
"Oh no we don't care for the English squad
ron. We run up the American flag, and if they
come aboard all we have to do is to show our
American papers, and they have right To
search us. So they growl and grumble and go of
again."
"That may do very well when you are going in
empty. But suppose you are coming out with a
cargo of slaves on board -
"Even then we. can get along we'll enough, if the
niggers will keep quiet. We put them all below
deck and nail down our matches, and present our
papers. The officers have no right to go below.
The only danger in this is that they will stay
on board too long. They often suspect the truth,
and hang about for an hour or two BY this time
the niggers are stihed, and begin to make noise
Then the thing is out, and they seize the ship"
"After that suppose you are punished"
"Oh, no we generally get off You see, as we
are Americans, they must bring us to Ameri-
port to be tried. But if they run the ship into
port along the coast, they get one pound head
for every recaptured slave. So they generally
prefer to let go, and get their prize-Inoney"
SELF? 1--WE took on board 664 We might have
slowed away 800. If she had been going to the
Brazis we should have taken that number. She
would carry $50 ciM pleasure. The boys and wo
strong men-those giant Africans that might make
us troube--we put them below on the slave deck.
Dld you chain them, or put on handouts ~
mo- never; they would die. We let them move
about Are you very. severe with them ?"-
Ne have to be pretty strict ut frst-for a weeI
.or SOTO make them feel that we are masters
Then we tighten up for the rest of the voyage"
GLOW do you pack them at night?" "They
lie down upon the deek, on their sides, body body
There would not be room enough for all to lie OF
their backs"
'Did many die on the passage?" "Yes lost {
,oo3 MANY the last cruise-more than ever be
Gre Sometimes we find them dead when we &c
below in the morning. Then we throw them over
board"
"Are the profits of the trade very larger" my
brig cost Sl3, 900 to fit her out completely MY
last cargo to Cuba was worth S2200O0 But i
was seized by the late Captan.General, Pezue'a
He did more to break up the slave-trade than any
one else. If he had remained in office, he would
have stopped 1t altogether But now Concha II
back again, and it goes hOurishing as ever"
'But thought Concha the great enemy O.
the slave-trade?" $50 he s-in words. He talk
great deal but Pezuea acted. From time i'm
memorial, the planters estate has been sacred
But Pezuea respected nothing. He seized thu
negroes whenever he could find them, even on th
plantations. By this he incurred the enmity Of th
planters and he would probably have been assas
siratcd, if he had not been recalled"