The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-17
u rs GEL L a M&OWS
From, the ". Y Journu, of Commerce.
THE SLAVE TRAFFIC.

tent to which this infamous traffic is carried
on, even by vessels clearing from New York
and i'll close alliance with our Legitimate
trade, and that down town merchants OF
wealth and responsibility are extensively
engaged i'll buying and selling African ne
'groes. and have been so, with comparatively
It'll" interruption, for IN indefinite number
of years. The fact that such Il traffic cx-
ests in connection with this port, is well es.
tahiishe'l, and yet, with hut few exceptions,
all the means that can be employed to Sc
cure the conviction of The guilty parties fail
of their oljcct-c'hcr through the cunning
OF well feed lawyers, or, far worse, of
proper evlencc-and often the vessel slips
OFT at dead Of II; ;h.. More frequently the
SILVER clules the vigilance of the United
States officers hy engaging in an ordinary
trading voyage, and changing her dcstina-
tlon, Cargo, &r., to suit her convenience
The public officers may he well aware Of
her true character, and yet possess no power
to drtaln her. So varied are the devices
employed Ivy this class of law breakers, to
escape deter'i"n, SO slyiy are their move
lnents executed, and so inccssant are their
cndeavorS, under the powerful stimulus of
inor,linatc gain, that the services of the
government officer arc in constant rcuuisi
ton.
We are informed by the deputy L. S.
MarSlals, that they are we'll satisfied that
at least fifteen slave vessels have s:,ilcd Fl ON
this port within the last twelve months, and
three within the last three weeks. With
such audariiy is the vii'ainv prosecuted.
that while Marshal de Angels was occupied
about the Seizure of the Bramin, (whose Of
ilrcrs were OIL trial f.; engaging in th.
slave tradr.) advantage was taken l.y an
other vessel Of the same character, to glide
down the river and escape. 1t is well
known that within sixty days an old vessel
was hough, for 81, 800, rcii,lrd and altered
to topsail schooner. 'oadcd with locwood
and whlch"ne, and cleared for Il European
port, i'll command of captain WHO was
convicted at Philadelphia, short time since
of being engaged i'll slave trading; yet there
were no circumstances which would instifv
the ISSUE of n warrant tor hc- detention.
though the officers entertained no tloult rs
to her real character anl Objects. 1t is
satisfactory t" know that few, if any, Amer
lean merchants are directly engaged in .hcsc
transactions, the principal parties being for
eIgnrrs, and most Of them Portuguese
There is: however, reason to believe that
not un'rcque"lly Americans sl.arc in the
risks and profits Of the business.
Tile ilnpunity with which these transact
tons are carried on, may be inferred from
the fact, that during the last year there
have been but five prosecutions for any
breach Of the laws relating to this matter:
and Of this number the government sue
ceeded i'll procuring but one conviction.
viz: the captain Of the julia Moryan.-
Startling as some of these facts NAV an
pear, it. does not prove that this description
Of traffic is on the increase, but only shows
that greater vigilance has been exercised for
its suppression. Not long ago, Mr.. Craw-.
ford, II. B. NJ. Consul Genera, in Cuba,
called the attention Of Mr.. Champion, ut
Washington, to the fact that slavcrs were
fitted out in this city, and asking his inter
ference to prevent the sailing of vessel
that was then nearly in readiness. In the
instance referred to, Don Jose Ecea 39H
Havana for New York. (as Mr.. Crawford
''s'crts,) in order to purchase, through
certain house, pilot boat or forc-and-aft
schooner, capable Of bringing over 500
slaves from Africa to Cuba-tl,e vessel to
be provided with water, tS.;., and thus pre-
pared, to sail from New York for her desli-
nation, where the slaves were in wa;lino
Mr.. Crawford remarked in connection with
his despatch "Almost al! the slave cxnc.
d'tiohs Tor some time past have been fitted
out III the United States, chiefly at New
York, where there must be some establish.
mept, si''por Quitting, carpenters or build
er's yard, specially undertaking such busi.
ness for the sIavers."
Most OF the vessels fitted out in the Uni.
ted States for the slave trade, sail from New
York, but considerable proportion Of them
go from New Orleans, and occasionally
from other ports. Here they possess every
facility that can be had in other places for
fnrtiiering their purposes, and the laws do
not frown with such threatening severity
and such certainty Of execution as to effect
ually forbid their infracrion. For while the
profits of successful venture are so enor-
I',ois, men will bo found sufficiently bold
and ayaricions to engage in the hazardous
enterprise -trnstihg toItheir awits To avoid
the cruisers, or wriggle through the mcshes
oftbe laW. Tbesessels ordinarily selected.