Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25
THE NEW YORK SLAVE TRADERS.

THE NEW YORK SLAVE TRADERS.
The following is from the Trihuno's account Of
he trial Of Smith, the African slave trader:
"Mr. M;Keon, District Attorney, addressed the
ury. lie conteLdcd that the transaction was Il
most fragrant violation Of the laws. He little
bought, he said, when lie assumed the Office he
low held, that he should 50 soon discover hat Nctc
York is tie rejy depot Of tbs ncflljoas hrgtjc. The
testimony in the case showed that the julie Moul-
ton was fitted out at this port expressly for the
slave trade, and that James Smith, the prisoner,
was the master. The provisions taken on board,
and other circumstances, were proof. They finally
took on board, on the coast Of Africa, what they
designated cargo. There were GG+ human beings
crowded on board Il small vessel, seated, in day
time, on the deck, one within the extended legs OF
the other, rs closely as possible, and laid at night
on their right sides, st0wcda also as closely as pos
sible--the object Of placing them on the right side
being that the action Of the heart would be more
free. She made the coast Of Cuba at Il point d-
roctcd 10y the instructions, and it is singular that a
man-oI-wur has not been directed 20 cruise at such
Il point 10 prevent such landings. < " ="
As to the oaths ut tic Custou-llouse it has Decp
said that they were lightly administered. 1t
might have been said ,hat they are lightly taken.
Here is this man, who has solorinly sworn that he
is a citizen Of the United Gmtcs, and has signed to
that effect, and he must he holden to it. The in
Ilctmert '1Ts that the vessel was owned by said
Smith, Il citizen cf the United States, or by some
other citizen, to the Jurors unknown. 1t has been
shown by II witness that the Secretary Of the por-
tuSuese Consul was said to have been Interested
in the vessel. Mr.. Fiaanicre, The Consul, in order
to do away with that, is called by counsel Tor de
Tense, and he swcars that he had no Secretary
who is this man? lie dcclmcd to answer qnes-
tons put to him in relation to the vessel, and ii Is
to be apprehcnded from the appearance, that there
are slave tratickers among us, bearing the seals OF
Il foreign power. The District Attorney alluded to
II figure put forth by Mr.. O'Coror in his argument,
that the District-Attorncy was cropping about in the
dark for Il dagger with which to make his thrusts.
There are Te0I daggeyS, the District Attorney said,
IN tile hands Qf Tie persons engaged in Mts Grqbfc n
this city, anil any mans AJe is in GaHger scho at
tempts 10 expose them. But for myself, if | should
lose my life, | will foarlessiy do my duty"
An examination of ships papers at the Custom
House, for years past, proves that TIE oath Of the
owner or master Of a vessel that he is u citizen OF
the United States, which by law lie is required to
be, is omitted -apparently with the design OF
shielding the wretchcs who, as captains and OWN
ers, are engaged in the slave trade, ard who al
most weekly send out from this port vessels fitted
out for that traffic. The law makes the punishment
death, provided the master or owner is an Amcri-
can citizen. The C~ustom-llousc authorities in
Philadelphia and Boston, where a like examination
Of ships papers has taken place, were found always
to have particularly followed the provisions of the
law, and it is doubtful if slavcrs are fitted out at
those ports, at least to any extent as is known to be
the case here.
The wafer for ships leaving New-York is sup
piled by persons who purchase the privilege from
tie Crston Water Department. These persons
know that vessels built to sail With extraordinary
~rapidity, Of from two to~f0ur huldred tuns, for
which any legitimate trade should carry n crew Of
ten or sixteen men, are continually and openly
supplied with from fifteen to forty thousand gal
Ions Of water, and they know that this water is for
Il slave cargo. The men, too, who sell rice, and
they who sell the s~hackles, know, likewise, for
what these are intended. And yet, in the face OF
these facts, and Of the belief Of intelligent NOR
chants that, on an average, n slave ship, almost
openly fitted out as such, leaves the port Of New
York about every two weeks throughout the year,
our authorities take no cognizance Of the matter .
And here we have now the first conviction under
this law, which has been in force for many years.
And why was even this case discovered? Because
Of a ~squabble between this convicted wretch and
his mate for the spoils-the sun at issue being
some 500, and both parties, doubtless, being here
in this City ready to engage in another slave expe-
dition.
There are now in New-York, wallowing in
wealth, living in sumptuous houses up town, and
driving splendid equipages, men called merchants
merchant princes is u term sometimes APP
plied-who have for years, uninterruptedly, been
engaged in the Internal slave-trade, and who, il
they had their deserts, according to law, would
oe swinging ON a gallows as high as Iaman. By
chance, the way is now opened; one villain is
finally convicted let the authorities do their duty,
and a score or a hundred more may be found
equally guilty.
The verdict of this Jury, and the sentence Of
death that will probably be passed on the convic-
ted SLAYER, only set in more striking contrast the
abOmnations Of our domestic slave-trade. We
hang Capt. Smith, and the public sentiment APP
proves the punishment, while men who deal not
in brute Africans, but in native Americans, and
their sons and daughters to boot, are honored as
Judges. Generals, and Congress men. 1t is a
strange world, and the model Republic is not the
least Of its peculiarities.