The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-17
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.1

1t IS alleged that the destruction of vessels
in the manner suggested, has sensible ef
> feet i'll reducing the number OF vessels
: adapted to the slave business to be found
in market. They are sunk, burned, or ru,
ashore. 1t is but 4 few days since All &C.
count was published of Il SLAYER, fully fitted
up for her business, which had been forced
ashore on the coast of Maryland, with her
bottom perforated with auger holes, and
completely abandoned. In most cases,
however, the vessel lands her cargo and is
not afterwards heard from. Only to the
deep bosom of the ocean is the secret cn-
trusted.
The manner Of fitting out slavers in New
York may be briefly narrated. In most
cases, q suitable vessel is first selected, Ia
iore-and aft schooner or large sloop being
generally preferred) and furnished with
spars sails, dc. She is then towed up the
river or down the bay, and sometimes to
the east en'l Of Long Island, to avoid OBJ
servaion, and there supplied with whatever
is ncedtul to perfect her outfit. For i'll
stance, tho Falmouth, recently condemned
for bei'y cngagcd in this business, was
taken from Astoria to Hurl Gate and, late
ut night, provisions, casks, boilers, and
other articles, were put aboard from YES
SCI Which came alongside. immediately
after, the +. was towcd to Hurl Gate Ferry.
anil the sxty-scvcn casks with which she
WIS supplied were stcaI,hi!y filled from Il
hylr,nt. Had permit been o!.tai,cd, MS
legally required, suspicion would have been
excited by the large quantity of water fur
nished to SO small vessel. This mror-
tant part Of the preparation accomplished,
! the Falmouth W., taken in tow by q
steamer about two o'clock ill the morning,
S" us to get oil Sandy Hook by break of
! dry. Seen there ut another hour, the YES
sci would le liable to be boarded ly Tic
revenue officers and askel to show her
man'fest; having none, she would be
seized.
This is the pre'licamcnt in which ti,'
Bramin was found, whose case has Just
becu before our courts. On her second
voyage, the Falmouth regularly cleared
!i":a t!e Cu:":n Hv">r, with just Il sui.
cient supply q: provisions for IN honest
voyage; but, alter proceeding down Long
l>;and 20 Gardner's Bay, she was supplied
! by another vessel with provisions, l:,rg..
I,,,JI & 4 =
| bricks and lime 10 set the furnaces. She
| then sailed for Africa. A revenue cutter
followed i'll pursuit, but without success
! To still further diminish the chances of dctcc-
ton, slave vessels no longer carry irons or
shacklcs, us formerly, Which, if found, con-
stitntcd strong evidence Of guilt, but en-
ploy rs a substitute kind of small nail,
SO made that the points stand upright when
thrown down, SO that in case of revolt
among the negroes aboard ship, they are
strcwn tlickly over the deck. On the
Falmouth about 500 rings and ropes were
found. These are some Of the devices en-
p'oycd to profit by the breach of laws
without incurring the penalties annexed
1t is not at all unusual for foreigners to
come to this port from Havana or Brazil,
buy vessel, fit her out and sail in her
themselves, employing shrew Americana
captain to act either in his professions Ca
paci'y or simply as II passenger, surrender
ing or assuming authority as previously
agreed upon.
In other cases, vessels engaged in legi-
innate African trade, i'll palm oil, gums,
ivory, peanuts, DC, are converted into
slavcrs, when opportunity offers. The
preparation of these vessels, in the city, is
necessarily conducted with the profoundest
secrecy, and with, to all appearance, the
most scrupulous regard for all legal require
'nents. The U. S. officers may visit tie
suspected vessel without the iuterposition
OF any obstacle; but no one on board can
give the slightest information. Even if ar
rested, the men literally know nothing. In
the case of the Falmouth, all found on
board were passengers, but were so strangely
ignorant that they did not know where
they were going, and the vessel had no
owner or captain. The result was, all hands
were discharged, though the vessel was con.
dc,nncd.
Cargoes Of slaves are obtained and dis.
charged so as TO evade capture, by the ex-
change of preconcerted signals between the
ship and shore. The presence or removal
of danger is thus readily indicated by
bunting reading" .%s7a.
1t appears obvious that the slave trade,
as conducted at tile present time, and for
many years past. must continue while fhe
markets Of Cuba are OPEN. It is notorious
that Cuban officials are often, interested in
its Prosecution, on account of tha hearu