The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-07
The Sufferers It the Cape de Verbs.

held yesterday at the Portuguese consulate and
at the Aston House, that the appeal made
through our columns few days since by
Lieut. Bartlett, on behalf of the starving po-
pulation of the Cape de Verbs, has met with
prompt response. As we understand the
Chamber Of Commerce are about to head the
movement for their relief we thiuk it as we'll
to place before them all the facts connected
with the visitation under which these poor
islanders are suffering.
1t will probably be in the recollection Of our
readers that on the arrival of the Atlantic at
the end of November last, we published the
correspondence of Mr. Martens, Vice-Consul OF
the United States at Porto Grande, with Com
modore Crabb6, COMMANDMENTS Chief of the
African squadron, communicating to him the
dreadful state of restitution to which the Id
habitants of San Antonio had been reduced oy
the failure of their crop, and appealing to
him for aid. To these documents were ap-
pended memoranda drawn up from personal
observation by Lieut. Bartlett, one Of the pas
sengers by the Atlantic, and to whom we were
indebted for the information. From the de-
tails furnished by the latter it appeared that
the crop of 1855 had proved total
failure on that island, owing to the drought;
and the preceding crop having been only
half an average, there were at the time Lieut..
Bartlett visited it at least sc, 900 of the inha-
bitants living on the banana stalk and the car
CAGES of dead animals that had died or were
dying Of starvation. There were not of any
kind provisions for one sixth of the probable
demand before the crop of 1856 could be got
in, which would not be until December, 1856.
But even supposing that the supply were
larger, the people were so poor that they could
not buy more than one sixth of what they re-
quired. The consequence was that the inha-
bitants Of the island were daily perishing in
numbers from starvation. The Island of ST.
Nicholas, from which aid was expected, did not
produce one-third Of its usual crop, and it was
anticipated that this deficiency would add at
east 10000 persons more to the aggregate Of
the sufferers. All the cattle had died on St.
Vincent, as we'll as on the small islands, and it
was expected that they would soon be extinct
on the northern portion of the group. No ali
could be hoped for from the southern island~
as they had barely sufficient for themselves.
Such was the deplorable picture presented
to US in November last of the condition OF
these poor people. At any other period
it would have been sufficient to stir up
the sympathies Of our citizens; but, un-
fortunately, just at that time we had heavy
calls upon our benevolence, arising fro \
the ravages of the dreadful scourge which
had recently visited Norfolk and Portsmouth
In the pressure of that calamity the claims OF
the poor starving islanders were overlooked,
and we have heard no more of them until
second appeal from their Jealous and generon
benefactor, Lieut. Bartlett, presents their con-
dition in still more aggravated and appalling
light. All the anticipations formed from the
data collected in November have been more
than fulfilled, and the last accounts represent
the population as perishing by thousands. A
we stated on Sunday last, unless proper aid be
furnished to them before July at least twenty
thousand human beings will have died.of star
walton between that period and Decemb'r.
when the next crop will be made available T.
it should not also prove failure from another
drought.
In the presence Of such dire visitation as
this, we feel convinced that all the kindly and
generous impulses Of the American heart will
be stirred into activity to rescue these poor
islanders from their impending fate. The SYM
pathies of our people have never been appeal
ed to in vain when convinced that there was
necessity for their interference. Besides, the
sufferers in this instance have sort OF tradi-
tional claim to our assistance. Some fve-and-
twenty years ago similar appeal was made to
us on their behalf. twas promptly and lioe-
ally responded to, and from all parts of the
Union supplies of corn and provisions were
forwarded to them. We have no doubt that
the movement which has been just set on foot
in New York will be very generally followed
Over two thousand dollars was subscribed in
this city yesterday for the purchase of provi-
siops. The satisfaction Of saving such multi.
tuae of human beings from psrishing by
dreadful death will be an indusement to all
TO contribute something towards it.
NIGER WoRsnPPERs.-The Seward organs,
we perceive, are wrsgling and twisting undsr
the painful title which they as q party have
acquired, of the niger worshippers. The Buff
falo Express Gays that other journals in the use
OF this offensive name, ar 90 My following the
lead OF the New YORK HERALD "the most
reckless and least influential Of all journals,
Yet it appears that there is no journal in the
country which gives these niger worshippers
go much trouble and 30 much concern as this
identical paper, whose influence they affect so
much to despise. 1t pinches their corns, never
thelese, as mercilessly as tight pair of boots;
but as it don't hurt them why should they cali
hard names? What is the use, and what can be
the excuse, if no harm be done by us to the
Sewardites, for such ill-mannerly slang as
"most reckless" 1east influential" "never de-
cent" "never true" "mercenary powers and