Squatter sovereign., 1855-05-29
Miiscellaneous.
IIUIII tIIe LVdhSeIISt.
The Slave Trade in New York.


was still carried on from New York, but as
the charge has been of vague and gen
eral character, it has attracted little atten-
ton. We are beginning to get light on
the matter. There is now lying in the
Tombs of 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 twas made piracy. The testimo-
ny in the case was ample; and, though he
protests against his condemnation, on the
ground that he is a foreigner and not emen-
able to the laws of the United States, he
does not deny the fact of his share in the
business. He speaks of it freely, and re-
lates with unconcealed exultation the par
ticulars of his wild and desperate career.
We have chanced to see and talk with
this noted captain in his cel:. What he
told US was not communicated in confidence,
for he never saw us before, and did not
know who we were. He spoke to us as an
entire stranger. All our conversation was
through the grated door of his cell. We
made no attempt to gain his confidence, 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 of an old soldier rela-
ting his battles. Nor did he intimate a
wish that what he said should be kept pri-
vate. Indeed, he had boasted to others of
his deeds on the African coast His dis
closures, therefore, are public property
Some of these are so curious as to be
worth making known. Whether he tells
the truth or not, the world must Judge. It
is not very probable that a man would
make up story which implicated him in a
capital crime. Besides, his account is con-
sistent with itself; it agrees with what was
proved on the trial, and with the descrip-
tons in Captain Canot's book. We be-
lieve, therefore, that he has let out the
truth.
"New York" says Captain Smith, is the
chief port In the world for the slave trade
He repeated two or three times, II as the
greatest place IN TIE universe tora. Meth
er in Cuba nor in the Brazils is it carried
on SO extensively. Ships that convey
slaves to the West Indies and South Amer
lea are fitted out from the United States
Now and then one tails from Philadelphia;
moro from Baltimore; but most of them
from New York. This is our headquar-
ters. My vessel was the Julia Moulton.
1 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 busi-
ness is going on now2"
ayes, all the while. Not so many yes
sells have been sent out this year-perhaps
not over twenty. But last year there Were
probably thirty-fve."
care there large shipping-houses enga-
ged in it?'
eyes, I can go down to South street and
90 into number of houses that help to fit
out ships for the business. / don't know
how far they own the vessels or receive the
profits of the cargoes. I had rather not
have American owners; prefer Spaniards
or Portuguese. But these houses know all
about 1t. They know me. They see me
sail out of port with ship and come back
passenger. They sometimes ask me-
captain, where's your ships" with a
shrug.1 They know what has become oi
her. When cargo of slaves is landed
the vessel is often destroyed. not to be a
| witness against her officers and crew.
''But how do you manage to get away
without exciting suspicion2'
"Why, you see we keep close and gel
everything aboard, and do not ask for our
papers until we are just ready TO sail
Then we 60 tothe custom house and take
out papers for Rio Janeiro, St. Helena,
| Cape de Verde Islands, or any port YOU
please-lt don't matter rwhere-and instant
ly clear.
| without exciting suspicion?"
sOh, yes, they couldn't help knowing it.
| Besides, they must suspect something from
seeing such an almighty crew. My little
brig carried but two hundred tons, and
could be manned by four men, but I had
fourteen before the mast. The moment oi
leaving port is the one of danger, but we
don't loose time; steamer is kept ready
and we Immediately get under way. OF.
ten two or three slavers leave at once
We steam down the bay and over the bar,
and then the ocean is before us, and we
iset our course for any quarter we please"
! "But when you reach the African coas