The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-11

walls Of their wrath, although the President
NAV be shocked and embarrassed and a.
though the great paEties of the country may be
bitterly disappointed and imbrangled, let ii go
forth that Soutaerners haze taken into their
oscn hands the ia,o, and opened the African
slave trade with the South that africans are
noto imported into Mississippi and other sea-
shore States that in Mississippi there is a
market for african slaccs; and that, on plant
atoms an that great and intrepid State, negroes
recently imported from Africa are at their
daily acork The authority or which we make
this announcement is indisputable. We even
have advices that in Mississippi, Henry Hughes
and some of his party now privately urge the
labor immigration movement, not to open the
supply of Africans but to legitimate, moralize,
regulate and equslize the supply already open
ed, and impossible to be closed. We have
some further details. Some negroes are olsen.
barked on The atlantic coast, and brought orer
land to the Mississippi cotton fields; but the
Mississippi seacoasts peculiar facilities for
landing and secreting cargoes, and the conresl-
fences Of Pearl riUer as q channel for distribu-
ton, are not ooertooked.
The profits OF tie Mississippi slave trade
are enormous. We have been so fortunate as
to procure from undoubted authority some in
teresting details. They relate TO the operations
Of the Missouri slave trade, and are authenti
Gated by operators. 1t need not be said, in the
first place, that the barque engaged in the traffic
to the South nlnst be fast sailer, for this is ia
dispenssbie to the security of the officers and
crew, the health of the cargo, and the rapidly
OF the pecuniary returns. For trip from the
Missouri coast to Africa and back, there must
be captain, supercargo, three mates, three
cooks. steward, and between twenty and thirty
frst-class seamen. The vessel must be well
supplied with extra running and standing rig
girg, and also supernumerary spars, ropes, top
nasts, and suits of sails. An assortment Of the
flsgs of al nations Will be particularly desi-
rable, but the most useful is row the French
flag, because British cruisers will not verify the
coiors and take the came liberties with the
United States flag. The fare of the ships crew
must he the very best, aud their good will must
be carefully conci,iated, because, during the
voyage, mutiny is disastrous; and after the
voyage, q treecherous or vindictive information
s, to say the least, troublesome and expensive.
To procure the good will Of the men, much de-
Pends on the mates, over whom the captain
ought to keep strict watch. For the SUBJ
sistence of the negroes, there must be plenti-
full supply of hard bread, corn meal, rice, and
an abundance of vinegar, red pepper, pure wa
ter, and drugs. In distributing diet, the great
est regularity is to be observed. and the very
first symptoms of disease promptly treated. As
to the capacity Of the :uperior officer, it may
be safely said that SLAYER requires in it more
courage talent, honesty, fidelity, skill, and dis
erection, than any other ship in any other trade.
Indeed, the captain and supercargo must, be-
tween them, act as navigator and naval cfficer,
merchant and physician, dplomatist aud magis-
trate, not to mention the functions of chaplain.
AS to the expenses and profit of the voyage,
the latest advices were from the captain of
a barque which sailed from one Of the Georgia
ports. He hiss quite recently returned, and re-
ports that, on account of the vigilance. of cruz
sers, negroes had accumulated on the coast,
and in 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, az formerly, barter for mcclellan
disc.
We may estimate cargo to number seven
hundred negroes, although many more are often
carried bat whatever the number, none pur-
chased should be over twenty five years of age.
Seven hundred, at an average cost of thirty dol
lars apiece, will amount to S2l 900, and their
price in this country or Coba will range from
$3.50 to $1,000. But if sold for $500. saw. the
cargo will net fer $350,0OO. Freely allowing,
then, $l50,000 for The entire expenses of the
voyage and ell possible loss, the profits Of one
round voyage will amount to 100000 Where
the profits are so er0r6itant, aoe can aceU under-
stand aohy the business has been begun IN the
South. We can we'll unders aud the impossi-
billy Of closing the trade now begun, and most
of all we can now understand that the CREST
question Is not whether there shall be for the
South supply of African labor, because that
is nov settleo, and the great and absorbing
ques.icn is, whether, according to Hughes's
method, the supply shall be 80 modified as to
be legitimate, fair, regular, and equal.
This all seems to US apocryphal-Ed. Era.