The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-17

pufpOee vi uhuAhB ous tniuS tudt JuStuy
her seizure as a SLAYER.
Vessels of $50 to 220 tons, sailing on the coast
east of the colony of Liberia, and having large
crews, are generally savers and owned by Spanards
When an American vessel, on being boarded, is
compromised by some of the crew or other circum
stances which induces the British cruisers to think
that she is bound on voyage for slaves, they say to
the captain, " You know that you are bound for
slaves and that the vessel is Spanish property; you
had better surrender her as such. In case you re-
fuse, we will hand you over to an American vessel
of.war, in order that you may be sent back to the
United States and hanged as pirates"
Such appeals, with the offer of $500 fee and a
proposal to pay their expenses home induces the cap
tain and mate to throw their papers overheard in
order to escape punishment, and tamely surrender
their vessel and contents to the British cruiser. She
is subsequently seized as Spanish property, sent
Sierra Leone or to st. Helena and condemned, and
the British cruiser is more than reimbursed by the
prize money recovered. American bottoms carrying
American captains and crews, with American pa
per should not be thus treated, nor should their
commanders DO allowed to throw their papers over
board, and then escape unpublished it guilty. II a
vessel carrying the American flag is taken with
slaves on board the captain and are allowed to
go Free instead of which they should be sent to the
United States for punishment, while the vessel is
taken care of in the usual mode and the slaves re
landed in Africa. There would be some plea for
philanthropy in all this provided the British cruisers
received extra pay in remuneration for their vgi
lance. But under existing circumstances they can
grow rich on the African coast while American Off
GERS and crews confined simply to their common
pay roll for their long exile sckly coast, and
| where they do not catch SLAYER once year. The
| annoyances inflicted on American commerce with
Africa have been most harassing and destructive,
and calculated to drive it completely from the coast,
| and give monopoly to English traders.
This condition of our trade should attract more
earnest attention on the part of our government.
Her Majestys government should be fully acquaint
ed with the facts relating to these outrages upon
our flag and commerce, and redress sought for the
past and assurances obtained against their future re-
petition. On all Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian
slave vessels captured the British cruisers making
the same receive $25 per head for every slave taken
and $25 per ton for every such slave vessel condemn
| ed and the value of the vessel and the cargo when
brokenup Thus, suppose vessel Of 800 tons is
| captured; If she has 600 slaves on board the &C
| count of prize money will stand as follows
vessel of 800 tons, at s25 per ton. $500
600 slaves at $25 per head .............. 5000
| Value of materials and contents on being
broken up and sold. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1000
| Total 1874, 500
| A snug sum for a single capture by a British
cruiser This prize money virtually transfers to the
British West India Islands COO African laborers at
cost to the British government of just s25 piece
II is thus seen that British cruisers well afford
| TO bride American sea captains TO surrender Anne
rican vessels and American property into their
| hands as Spanish vessels and Spanish cargoes by
| throwing away their papers And if American YES
sells were captured with slaves board and
| dered to the American authorities, the British
| cruisers would lose their prize money and the Bri-
fish West Indies the labor of the captured Africans.
We might have asked how il came 70 pass that
England took upon herself to be the guardian of the
continent of Africa, with its fGe or six thousand
miles of western coast with vast extent of coast
on the east? When was it that their negro kings
chiefs, and head men of Negroland, numbering some
hirty millions of subjects chose her Majestya their
guardian to protect them from contact. as far as
possible from all other nations but themselves
The Dutch were long since driven by the English
out of Africa. About fifteen years ago the Dutoh
bought slaves at Elmen from the King of the Asian
ees to serve as soldiers in the island Of Java The
English government, however, entered its protest
against the measure and British cruisers said that
they would capture the Dutch transports from IIo
land If they persisted in carrying Africans to Java
Hence the King of Holland was forced to abandon
the measure.
The Messrs Regis, however have thus far, in Their
contract with the planters in Guadalupe and Mar
Unique, under the approval and auspices OF the
French government, proceeded without interruption
although IL IL said the Cabinet of England has had
communication with that of France on the subject
We learn that negroes have been purchased by the
Messrs. Regis at Whydan at $50 per head, at which
price however, they cannot make anything by their
contract. II is said that they making purchases
IN the Congo river at s25 per head at which price
they arc easily obtainable, and will yield handsome
| profit.
| The colony OF Liberia. though mere spot on the
vast African coast. extends three hundred miles in
length. with narrow breadth inland. The negroes
sent there from the United States and especially
from the northern Southern States, have made
/ more respectable coonists than any other, one OF
two ofs Presidents and leaders having gone from Vr
pinia It's infant trade however has not escaped the
annoyance OF cruisers. II will be remembered that thc
schooner John Ssyes belonging TO the President Of Iii
IBERIA was seized by British sel ofwar while at
chor at Grand Da, Liberia Her crew, as usual, wa'
tempered with by the officers Of the cruiser with
the view Of compromising her as a SLAYER. She was
seized. taken into Sierra Leone, and abandoned by
her captain and crew. The British prize master
who took possession Of her. afterwards, il Is said
in ~ of delrium tremens cut his throat. The los:
by this illegal seizure Of the John Sayes has never
been paid for
American commerce has, in spite Of all the an
noyance, unjust and Illegal proceedings Of British
cruisers increased within the last -four five years
and had il not been for the losses unjustly sus
tanned by our African traders, II would have by th
time more than doubled.
our chief exports TO Africa have consisted Of to
bacco rum, rectihcd whiskey, guns, pistols powder