Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-15
The Slave Trade in New York.

II ha, often been said that the slave
trade was still carried on in New York,
bu. as the charge has been Of Il vaguc aud
general character, it has attracted little at
ten,ion. We are beginning to get Fight
On the matter. There is now lying in the
Tombs in this city man who has been
tried and found guilty Of being engaged
in the slave-trade. This is said to be the
first conviction ever obtained under the
law by which i. was made piracy. The
,es,imony in the case was ample. And
though he protests against his condemna-
tiou on the ground that ne is foreigner,
and not aneudablc to the laws of the Uni
ted States, he does not deny the fact of
his share in the business. He speaks Of
it freely, and relates with unconcealed ex-
! ultation the particulars Of his wild aud
desperate career.
We have chauce6 TO see and talk with
this noted captain in his prison. What
he told rs was not communicated in con-
4 fience, fer be never saw US before, and
4 did not know who We were. He spoke to
US as an entire stranger. All our CONVEX
.a,iou was through the grated door of his
cell. We made no attempts to gain his
confidence, or to draw out the secret his
{tory of his life. He told his own story,
Il not like a criminal making confession,
but rather with the freedom and pride of
hn old soldier relating his battles. Nor
did he intimate a wish that what he said
should be kept private Indeed, he
Z bad boosted to others Of bis deeds on the
African coast His disclosures therefore
bro public property. Some Of these are
30 curious a. to be worth making known.
whether he tells tie truth the world must
fudge 1t is not very probable that man
would make up story which implicated
Linn in capital crime Besides, his account
Es consistent with itself; it agrees with
What was proved on the trial, and with
The descriptions in Capt Canot's book.
I'VE believe therefore that he has let out
3he truth.
"New York;" says Capt. Smith, dis
he chief port in the world for the slave
fade." He repeated two or three times,
II is the greatest place az Me un'rerse .t"r
3. Neither in Cuba, DOR in the Brazi;s,
3 it carried on SO extensively. Ships
4tat convey slaves tc the West Indies aud
South America, are fitted out from the
United States. Now and then one sails
from Philadelphia more from Baltimore;
but most all from New York This is our
3cad-quarters. My vessel was the brig
ulia Moulton. got her in Boston, and
roug ht her here, and sailed from this port
rect to the coast Of Africa" 'But DO
bu mean to say ,ha, this business is 60
(g on now?" ayes, all the while. No,
many vessels have been sent out this
far-PerhaPs not over twenty. But last
ear there were pr,bably thirty y-6ve"
care there large shipping-houSes enga.
ID in it" ayes, l can 90 down to South
rect, ard GO into number Of houses
po help to fit gu, ships for the business.
q don't know how far they own the ves-
ls, or receive the profits of the carroes.
bad rather not have American owner.
prefer Spaniards or Portuguese. But
ese houses know all about it. Thew
me sail gu: of port with a ship and
ne back passenger. They sometimes
ne, Captain, where is your sbip?'
i'h a shrug]-They know what has
q ome OF her. When cargo is Landed
vessel is often destroyed, not to be
mess against her officers and crew"
But how do you manage to ge. awav
hout exciting suspieiou?" "Wbv Won
We keep close, and get everything
0ard, and do not ask our papers until
4 are just ready to sail. Then we 90 to
Custom- House, and take out papers
no 'ane'ro, St Helena, Cape de Verde