True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-22
American Central Committee.

| O'hCO 'hC SuoJCCI vi Cla'ClJ Ids le-
Gently been brought before the public
mind in this region, by The debates in the
General Assembly at Cleveland, various
recoIccLions and thrilling anecdotes of
Slavery and the Slave Trade. are revived
in my mind. Ii the following narrative
will add to the interest Of your paper,
please insert it.
was one of the muItitudinous throng
who hung with rapture upon the lips of
DANIEL WEBSTER, when he delivered the
Centennial Discourse at Plymouth (Mass)
in 1920 The outburst of eloquence in
that oralion, which electrified the audi
ence above everything else contained in
it, was an allusion to the Slave Trade as
then carried on in Bristol, Rhode Island.
The alusisn to Bristol was so evident
that all understood it. We all knew that
ships were flled out in that port. perhaps
every year, for the coast of Africa, for
slaves to be sold in Cuba aud other
places l call TO mind this moment the
tones of the voice, the expressive ges.
ture of his uplifIed arm, pointing, as we
understood it, to the very spot in the ad
acent State, where the scene was laid
We seem, said he-I quote from recol-
leclion-to hear the clanking OF the riv-
its in the murky dark dens of shame,
where in midnight hours manicles for the
poor sons Of Africa, 10 be torn from their
homes, TO be immured in the hold of the
SIave'ship, either to perish in the middle
passage, or to end their days in hopeless
toll on the plantations of Havana II is
lime TO speak out! This final sentence
in the aposIrophe TO Bristol sent thrill
through the hearts of the assembled
thousands, a few feet only from a part of
the famous rock, ntar which our fathers
Of l777 erected Liberty Pole!
And were the citizens of Bristol and
Newport entitled 10 such celebrity p
Was the Sale of Rhode Island the seat
of the Slaye-owner and Slave-trader, on.
Iy in centuries long since passed away ! |
Your correspondent lived for years
near neighbor to a gentleman who was
well known to be an owner Of planta
ton in Cuba, and was acquainted, also,
with several persons who had been en-
gagged in the Slave.trade on The coast of
Africa. So that he knows what he says,
and whereof he aflirms and writes.
Mr.. P, gentleman well known in
Newport, one day related TO your cor
respondent, in presence Of several other
persons, the following narrative
Mr. D., of Bristol, went on one occa.
sion himself to the coast of Africa for a
cargo of slaves, in one of his own ships.
On the return voyage to Cuba, one of his
slaves, woman, broke out with the small
pox. lie well knew that if the disease
spread, the mortality would be fearful. -
He separated the poor woman from the |
rest OF his live stock. Humanity, indeed
required this course, as well as regard lc
his personal interest. And we will sup.
pose his heart was touched with sympa.
thy for his unfortunate captivcs, lest the
peslience should seize his whole cargo
and bring others to watcry grave. He
put the poor woman, not indeed into his
own cabin, where he or some Of the ships
company could soothe her sorrows with |
cup of cold water; or supply her wants
from the medicine chest but he put her
up on the round top. Whether be direct
ed that shelter should there be formed
10 protect her from the cold dews Of night |
or prevent her dropping in the ocean as
the ship lurched in the gale, my inform
ant could not affirm. At any rate, Mr..
D. soon found the woman would die al
the top Of the mast. And what should
be done with this poor coIored daughter
of Eve Must her dark skin remove her
to an heaven wide distance from all hu.
man communication Is there no sympa-
thy now in mans obdurate heart Cor this
child of Africa ! Mt. D. tampered with
the sailors to throw her into the sea-
but they could obey their Captain to navi-
gate The ship--they were willing 10 man
the rigging to venture on the yard arm
to fur the sails by midnight, or at noon
day, even though in the sail the careening
ship should dip them in the briny wave.
They could expose life to save the ship
but they would not obey the supercar.
go in this deed Of murder. His tempting
offer of money they spurned. They
would not pocket the offered price of
blood! He then said, "if you will keep
it secret at home, will put the poor slave
out of ber misery, myself" Whether
they pledged their word or not, is no part
Of the narritive. The presumption is,
they answered not word. They were
horror struck at the thought of such a
decd of darkness. But the poor woman
was soon missing. Our Bristol Slave
trader, with his own hand, gently, we
presume, let her fall from the side Of the
ship; few screams were then heard,
and all was silent, save the commolion in
the ships wake. She slept beneath the
ocean, there TO rest ill the last trumpet.
In due time our hero arrived safely at
Havana placed bis slaves on his planta-
tion, and came home to his native town.
Doubtless his family and friends greeted
him with cordial welcome. The sea-
men were discharged; each sought his
home, and kindred, and friends.