The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1858-12-16


AGAINST THEM--ITs FOLLY AND INJUSTICE
THE INFAMY OF THE SLAVE TRADE
The officers of the Dolphin when the capture
was made, were: Lieutenant Commanding j.
n. MafGt: lst Lieutenant, j. NJ Bradford
Cd Lieutenant, G. E. Williams; Sd Lieutenant,
G. c. Carpenter; Passed Assistant Surgeon,
J. NJ. Brown Sailing Master, A. E. Cross
man; Captains Clerk Leonard Gunell; Pur-
sers Clerk, j. Laurens Read
When the case was first publicly known in
Charleston, much feeling was manifested against
these officers by few ultra men of this State.
They even claimed that Capt. Mafft and his
officers were after all, the true pirates, and
should be indicted as such. 1t is even now ru-
M. for the capture and unlawful confinement of
the SLAYER crew, and that means have been prom
ised to test the question in the courts. But the
public sentiment will assuredly frown down in
dignantly any such contemplate annoyance
toward that gallant officer.
Indeed, the excitement that first existed has
already died away, and, in its place, a just APP
probation of the official conduct of the officers
is entertained by all intelligent men. Officers
of the navy on duty indulge in no sectional feel
ing. They simply obey orders, jealous only Of
the honor of their country as whole. IF they
abominate this infamous traffic on the coast of
Africa, it is from knowledge of its horrors
rather than from any feeling for or against the
slave trade. They are indignant - naturally
and properly so--that a parcel of foreigners
should use the American flag for their own base
purposes. Of these slave vessels, nearly all are
owned in Cuba; and the few Americans who
embark in the revolving trade are eithev bank
rupt in fortune, or lost to all sense of national
feeling and personal honor. The trade has done
brisk business since the abrogation of the right
of visit by the English. Some nineteen vessels
of American bottom, have landed cargoes on
the coast of Cuba since the Both of July last,
all falsely sailing under the American flag, for
the benefit and profit of foreigners.
THE CASE IN THE COURTS TREATMENT OF THE
DoIPHIN's CREW
The excitement of this Echo case has been
increased from the fact that the slaves and pris-
oners were brought into Southern port, where
Southern feeling was naturally aroused. The
conduct of large majority Of the people of
South Carolina, throughout the affair, is wor-
thy of all credit and praise They have shown
| themselves w-abiding and conservative. 1t is
true that the Grand Jury has disappointed the
community in refusing a true bill, but this dis
trict is under the influence of Ex-Governor Adj
ans a slave-t trade advocate; and to him. whether
Justly or not is attributed the "higher-law
action of the jury. Many of the ultra men are
now regretful that the case was not fairly spread
before the country, so that its merits might have
been seen, the law tested, and remedy, if any
were necessary, applied by Congress. There is
no doubt the crime-piracy and the punish
ment death in many eyes extreme;
and, probably the slave trade could be much
more effectually suppressed were the penalty
lighter, the conviction more certain, and the law
always carried out in its strictest letter