The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-29

II the Law
We published yesterday a report of the cap.
ture of SLAYER by the United States brig
Dolphin, and we now learn that the prize has
arrived at Charleston, S. c., in charge of the
crew put on board, and with three hundred and
eighteen negroes in her hold.
This case has occurred very OPPORTUNITY to
ventilate the question of the slave trade that Is
fostered by the Spanish government In Cuba, in
the prosecution of which the American flag has
been SO ehamefully abused. We are not yet
informed whether the vessel had any papers
whatever on board, or who composed her
officers and crew. But as during the pursuit by
the Dolphin her crew hoisted the American flag
to protect her niquitous traffic, it would be no
more than just that they should be dealt with
according to American law. If this can legally
be done 1t would 60 much farther toward stop
ping the trade than almost any other course
that could be pursued. BY the act of May 10,
1900, the owners Of vessels fitting out for or
engaging in the slave trade forfeit their
property and incur . fine of double the
amount. Under the oct Of May Is, 1920, the
trade became piracy, and American citizens
serving on board Of American or foreign
vessels engaged in the trade incur the penalty
of death. Some bubble or loophole may yet
be found by lawyers to save these vagabonds
from their merited punishment; but if justice
can have due course, the hanging of the Anne
rican portion of the crew will have salutary
effect.
It becomes therefore, an interesting question,
who are the owners and crew of the captured
slave trader. Of the crew we have, as yet, no
information. As regards the owners some in
quiry may be made. 1t is stated that the briggs
name was formerly PUTNAM" but that "Echo"
was on her stern and had been painted over.
OF the name of Putnam we can find record OF
but one brig. This was full rugged brig of
1877 tons burthen, built at Baltimore in 1s45, of
full model and cabin on deck. In March, 1857,
she was surveyed by the underwriters inspec-
tors, at which time she belonged to Messrn.
Handy d Everett, Of this city, and was COM
manded by Captain Oliphant This vessel, or
another of the same name, was cleared under
the command of Captain Townshend, from New
Orleans, by Messrs Goldenbow and Lesparre,
of that city, for ST. Thomas and market, on
the 9th Of March last; and for two months after
that date we can find no news of her having
been at her alleged port of destination.
OF the name of Echo we find three
briggs recorded. The Echo, of Baltimore,
is full rugged brig of 23O tons burthen,
of full model and cabin on deck. She
was built in Baltimore in 1854, and was last
surveyed in May, 1853 when she had new metal
put upon her bottom. At that time she was
commanded by Captain Long and owned by
Messrr. Sterling d Arens, of Baltimore. This
vessel was cleared at Baltimore for the West
Indies, on the 2lst of January last. If
she is the vessel now captured she probably
fitted out for this voyage in May last, when
she was newly coppered. Another Echo Is an
brig of 200 tons, built at Somer-
vile in 1851, and owned in May, 1868, when
she was also newly coppered, by Mr.. T. C.
Oakly, of New York. At this time she was
commanded by Captain King. She is reported
as having cleared from New York on the
22d of February last, by G. II. Pierson, for
and while in this port she laid
at pier 20 North river. Another brig Echo,
Captain Churchill, was cleared from this port
on the oath of May last, for Rio Grande, by
Messrs. Corning Banto & Co. There is also
another hermaphrodite brig Echo of lis tons on
record. She was built at Prince Edward
Island, and is now owned by Mr.. Roark and
others, of st. John. New Brunswick, and IL,
therefore, an English vessel
We shall probably soon know which of these
Tessels is the guilty one. In making the prize
he officers and crew of the Dolphin have had a
troke of good fortune. The Law not only gives
hem one-half of the value of the vessel. but also
s25 a head prize money. They will thus be en-
titled to between eight and nine thousand dol
lars to be divided among the officers and crew.
The existing law authorizes the President 10
send the captured negroes back to Africa at the
expense Of the United States. We believe this
Is the first case of captured SLAYER with ne
groes on board being brought into our ports.
The Amistad case, which occurred about twenty
years ago, was aCuban coasting schooner, carry
ing some twenty-five or thirty negroes from one
port In Cuba to another. These rose upon the
crew, and, killing part them, forced the others
to navigate the vessel She was picked up by
the United States surveying brig Washington off
the eastern end Of Long Island, and brought into
this port. The abolitionists here had great time
about the negroes while the case was before the
courts. AS the lately captured SLAYER has been
taken into Charleston, we suppose the abolition
lists will hardly venture there in large numbers
to embarrass the proceedings In the case,
though no doubt some Of them will do so.
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH AS BANKING
the innumerable benefits
that will be derived from ocean telegraphs the
facilities which they will afford for banking
operations are not the least to be valued.
Through their fundamentally drafts will be
transmitted with greater secuyitv and xu-,s,.-