Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-20
fproa The Nsv York xvaaesliss.l
ne elavs 1r11s = nsw York.

| fPron The Nsv York xvaaesliss.l
ne elavs Tr1As 4 New Yerk.
1t has oi.>a been said Tat the sl.ye-srade
was still carried on tfom New Ysrk, but -
the charge has been Of vague and gener-
al character, it has attracted little attention.
We are bseinniag TO get light on the mat
ter. There 10 now lying in the Tomos ~
THE city I man who has been trisd and
found guilty Of being engaged in the slave
trade. This 10 said 70 be tho 6rst convic-
ton ever obtained under the law By which
| i vac made piracy. The testimony in
the case wss ample. And though - pro-
| tests aqsinst his condemnation. ON the
ground that be 10 4 foreigner, and not
| menabls to the laws II the United states,
| he does not deny the fact Of his share IN
the business. He speaks Of It freely, and
relates with unconcealed exultstlon
the particulars Of his wild and desperate ca
| Pser. !,
We have Glanced 10 SEQ and talk with
this noted captain in his prison. What he
| told M was not communicated in conf
dence. for he never sew W. before, and did
NOT know who we were. He spoke TO US
an entire stranger. All our conversation
was through the grated door Of his CELL
| We made no attempt to gain his conf.
dence. or to draw out the secret history OF
his life He told his own story, not like .
| criminal making = confession. but rather
With the freedom and pride ofan old soldier
relating his battles. Nor did he intimate .
wiah that wha, he said should be kept pri-
vate. Indeed, he had boosted TO others OF
HE deeds on the African coast. His dlsclos-
ures therefore, are public property. Some
Of these are % curious - TO be worth max.
inc known. Whether he tells the truth,
the world must Judge. It 10 not very prob
able that q man would make up story
which implicated him in capital crime
Resides, his account 10 consistent with it.
self: il agrees with what was proved on the
trial and with the descriptions in Capt. Ca
nors book. We believe therefore, that he
has let out the truth.
aNew York" says Capt. Smith, "is the
chief port in the world for the slave trade
He repeated tive or three times, 1T 10 the
greatest place in the universe fnrit Meth
er in Cuba nor in the Brazils 10 It carried
on 90 extensively. Ships that convey slaves
10 the West Indies are fitted out from the
United States. Now and then one sails
from Philadelphia; more from Baltimore;
but most of ali from New York. This is
our head quarters Ny vessel was the brig
Julia Moui,on. Igot 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 on
now," s.Yes, all the while. No 50 many
vessels have been sent out this year-per-
haps not over twenty But last year there
were probably thirty five"
care there large shipping houses engaged
in i'll" eyes, can 60 down TO South
street, and 90 into number OF houses that
help 10 get out ships for the business.
don't know how far they own the vessels
or receive the profits Of the cargoes. had
rather not have American owners; prefer
Spaniards or Portuguese. But these hous-
es know all about il. They know me
They see me sail out of port with ship,
and come hack Z passenger. They some
tiaes ask me. Captain. where is your.
shipr With a shrug. They know what
has become Of her. When cargo of
slaves is landed, the vessel is often destroy
ed, 90 az not to be witness against her
officers and crew."
"Dut how do you manage to get away
without exciting suspicion" "Why, You
see, we keep close, and get everything
aboard, and do not ask our papers until We
are just ready to sail. Then We 60 to the
Custom House, and take out our papers Tor
Rio Janerio, S.. Helena. Cape de Verde
Islands, or any port you please
| it d-n', matter where-and instantly
clear"
"But if you were seized at that moment,
could the otiicer tell, by searching the ship,
that she was a SLAYER"
"Oh, yes, they couldn't help moving
Besides. they must suspect something from
seeing such an almighty crew. My little
brig carried but 200 tuns, and could be
ma ned BY four men. But | had fourteen
before the mas. The moment of leaving
port is tn. one Of danger. Blu, we don't
lose time. A steamer is kept ready. and
we get under way Immediately. Often
two or three siayers leave at once. We
steam down the bay, and over the bar. aud
then the ocean is before us, and we set our
coarse for any quarter we please"
"But when you reach the African coast,
are you not in great danger from British
ships Of war!"
"Oh, no, we don't care for the English
squadron. We run up the American flag,
and if they come aboard all we have TO do
10 to show our American papers, and they
have no right to search US. So they grow
and grumble and 60 off again"
"That may do very well when you are
going in empty. But suppose you are
coming out with q Cargo Of slaves on
board!"
"Eyen then We can get along well
enough, if he nggers will keep quiet. We
put them all below deck and nail down our
matches, and then present our papers. The
officers have no right TO go below. The
only danger in this case is, that they will
stay on board too long. The often suspect