Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-05
From the Ne,o orleans Delta. asts.
Startling Disciosures-Afrfcan SLAVE
- Trade oneiled NJ tho South

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From the Nelc Orleans Delta 2eth.
Startling Disciosures-Afrfcang Slave
Trade opened at the South.
Some startling and significant facts have
come to our knowledge. We have hesitated
to disclose them, but after inquiry, examina-
ton and consultation, we are convinced that
both duty and policy demand disclosure. The
facts, we say. are startling: they are crucial.
They viii surprise and encourage many in
our counting rooms and Offices, and many on
the plantations and in the towns, but most of
all they will astound the Cabinets of Western
Europe, aud eminently assist TO confirm be-
tween the genial French people and our own
Norman and Huguenot South, an unwritten
but hearty, magnanimous and unconquerable
league against the allied avarice and envy,
cant and rapacity Of England and the North
ern States Although the foiled and furious
enemies of our institutions may shake up.
uncoTk, and pour out on our battered brows
the foaming vials Of their wrath: although
the President may be shocked and embarrass-
ed; and although the great parties Of the
country may be bitt'rly disappointed and inn
braneled. let il 90 forth that Southerncrs have
taken into their own hand the law, and open
ed the African Slave Trade with the South;
that Africans are now imported into Mssissip-
pi and other seashOre States; that in Mssissip-
ri there il q market for African slaves. and
that on plantations in that great and intrepid
State negroes recently imported from Africa
are at their daily work. The authority on
which we make this announcement is indispu-
table. We even have adyices that in Missis-
sippi, Henry Hughes and some of his party
nov privately urge the Labor immigration
movement. not to open the supply of Africans,
but TO legitimate, moraliZe, regulate and
equalize the supply already opened and I'M
possible to be closed. We have some further
details. Some negroes are disembarked on
the Atlantic coast and brought overland to
the Mississippi cotton fields. hut the MISSISSIPPI
pi seacoast's peculiar facilities for landing
and secreting cargoes and the conveniences of
Pearl River as channel for distribution, are
not overlooked.
The profits of the Mississippi Slave Trade
are enormous. We have been so fortunate as
to procure from undoubted authority some in
teresting details. They relate tie the opera
lions of the Mississippi Slave Trade. and are
authenticated by operators. IL need not be
said in the first place thatthe bark engagedi IN
the traffic TO the South must be a fast sailor
for. this is indispensable to the security of the
officers and crew, and health of the cargo. and
the rapidity of the p"cuniary returns. For "a
trip from the Mississippi coast to Africa and
back, there must be captain. supercargo,
three mates. three cooks, steward. and be-
u.
The vessel must he well supplied with extra
running and standing rigging, and also super
nnmerary spars. ropes, top masts, and suits of
sails. IN assortment Of the flags Of all ma
tons VIII be particularly desirable, but the
most useful is tine French flag, because
british cruisers will not verify the coiors and
take the same liberties as with the United
States flag. The fare of the ships crew must
be the very best and their good will must be
fill Il
voyage lnutiny is disastrous: and after the
voyage. a treach;Tous or yiHdictive informa-
tiOn is to say the least. troublesome and eX-
pgnsiye. To procure the good will OF the
men. much depends on the mates, over whom
the captain ought to keep a strict watch. For
the subsistence of the negroes there must he a
plentiful supply OF hard bread. cOrn-mcal,
rice. and abundance of vinegar, red-pep-
per. pure wafer aud drugs. In distributing
and the very iirst symptoms OF disease prompt
~ treated. AS TO tine capacity of the superior
officers, it may be safely said that Il SLAYER re
quires in il more courage, talent, honesty,
fidelity, skill and discretion than any other
trade. Indeed, the captain and supercargO
must between them, act as navigator and
naval officer, merchant and physician, diplO-
matist and magistrate, not to mention the
functions of chaplain.
As to the expense and profits Of the voyage,
the latest advices were from the Captain of a
bark which sailed from one of the Georgia
ports. He has quite recently returned, and
reports that on account of the vigilance OF
cruisers, negroes had accumulated on the coast |
and in a manner glutted the markets. and that |
in consequence of this the price had fallen to
under thirty dollars head. The payment |
however, must be in gold or silver, as the |
head men will not, as formerly, barter for mer-
chandiSc.
We may estimate cargo To number seven !
hundred negroes, although many more than !
that are often carried; but whatever the num- |
Der. none purchased should be over twenty |
five years of age. Seven hundred, at AN av- |
erage cost OF thirty dollars piece. will ID
mount TO S2l 900, and their price in thiscoun- |
try or Cuba will range from $3.50 to $1,000. |
But ii sold for $500, say, the cargo will net .
$4,000 Freely allowing, them Sl50,000 !
tor the entire exp nscs of the voyage, aud all /
p Jesible loss, the profits of one round voyage ,
will amount to SZ0)0D0. Where the profits |
ne so cXhOriitant. We can well understand |
Why the business has been begun at the South. |
We can well understand tha impOssibilty of (
closing the trade noY begun, and most OF all, !
se now can understand that the great ques- |
tion is not heth, + there shall he for the South |
a supply of .Ntr.cau labor. because that isnow !
settled, and the great and absorbing question
IS whether, according 10 Hughes method, the |
supply shall be so modified rs to be legitimate, !
fair, regular and equal. |