Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-10


the tropical heats OF summer, would attract
90 itself much Of the travel aud the trade OF
all nations passing between Europe aud
Asia.
On tho alst Of August last, Lieut.. j. ~.
Matt, OF the United States brig Dolphin.
captured the SLAYER Echo. formerly the
Putnam, OF New Orlcans,) near Nay Verde,
on the coast II Cuba. with more than thrrs
hundred African negroes on board. The
priEs. under the command Of Lieut.. Brad
bradford. Of the United States Navy. arrived
nj Charleston on the 9Th Of August, when
the negroes, three hundred and SIX in num-
hrr, were delivered into the custody Of tho
United States Marshal for the district Of
South Carolina. They were first placed In
Castle piuckney. aud afterwards In Fort
Summtcr, Tor safe keeping and were detained
there until the 10th Of September, when
the survivors. two hundred and s'yon,y-ono
in number, were delivered ON board the
United States steamer Niagara, 70 be- trans.
ported Ia the coast of Africa, under tho
charge VI the agen, Of the United States,
pursuant % the provisions OF the act of the
81 Of March, 1919. Sin addition 20 the acts
prohibiting the slave trade" Under the
.e,,nd section Of this act. the President l.
"authorizel 70 make such regulations and
arrangcmo OTIS az he may deem oXpelient for
the safe keeping, support and removal BE-.
vond the limit, of the United Stats, of all
negroes. mula,,o,s or persons of cblor."
clpturei hy vessels OF the United States, ne
NAV b. delivered 10 the MARSHAL Of the
district into which they are brought "and
10 appoint proper person or persons rcsId.
in. upon the cna,t Of Africa rs agent or
agents for receiving the negro :, mulaitoc,
OF persons OF color. delivered from on board
vessels ssiEcd in the prosecution Of the slave
trade hy commander, OF United states
armed ycsscls
A doubt Immediately arnsc as 20 the true
construction of thl, act. IL - quito clcar
from IL. terms that the President was an.
thuriEel O. proyid, "for the safe keeping,
support and removal" 81 thcs, ncstOc. up
a. tho time OF their delivery tp the agent
on the coast Of Africa but M cNprc', pro.
vision was made Cor their protection and
support after they bad reached the place ct
their destination Still. an agent was 10
h appointed ~ receive them IN Africa and
IL could not have hc'n supposed that Con.
crr.. intended h, should desert them AT TIE
moment they wrrc received. anl turn them
loo., on that inhrspimhlc coast to perish
for want OF food, or q become again the
victim, " tho slave trade.
Hal this b,tu tho intention 81 Congress,
the employment IL an agent 10 resolve them
who y required O. reside on the coast, was
unnecessary. anil they might have been lnn-
d,i hy our vessel. anywhere In Africa, and
len EXPOSED O. the suf'rlngs AMI tho fate
which vpuli certainly await them.
Mr.. Monroe, In hls special m~sls' Of
the l7th December. 1919. at the fret s,s-
sion after tho &C, passed. Announced .
Cou-r,,, what. IN his opinion, wl' ~ tru,
construction. II, believed IL 90 b. his duty
unlcr IL 4, follow thrs' unfnriunttes into
Africa. and make provision Tor thcm there
until they should b. able n provide Tor
,hrms'lys, Ia communicating Ell, inter.
probation 81 tie act NJ Clhs-',.. o., stated
that some doubt h,l been entertained A. O.
IT, true intent aud meaning. aud b. submit
tel the question o them, - that they might,
should 70 b. deemed advisable, amend tho
sane bslir, further preceding arc had
upon a." NoIhin; Wa done by Congress
o. explain the act. aud Nc Monroe proceed.
81 d carry u injp execution according 90
hi, own Interpretation. This. thea b,um'
the practical construction. When the AZ.
rtc,n, on board the Echo wcrc delivered g.
the Mif.hall AZ Charleston, 10 became nv
duty q consider what disposition nIght q
II, mai, oG them unl-r the law. For many
reasons 70 was advisable 70 remove them
irOm the locality as speedily ne pos'ih.'.-
Although the conduct ol the authorities nni
citizens %: Charleston, IA giving cpInt'n.
anr, to tho execution OF The law, was Just
what might have been expected from their
high character, Yet prul1n. j continuance
Of three hundred Africans in iho immediate
vicinity % that city, could not have tailed
g. become . source II inrpnycn,cn-c and
anxiety 10 it, inhabitants. Where TO scnl
them Wa the question.
There Wa NJ PORTION oG the c1a't ot M.
r,ca q which thoy could %, removed with
any regard g. humanity, except - LIBRA.
Under ihcs' circum,tlnc,., an agreement
was entered int with th' Colonization 81.
ciriy on the 9Th oC September last, = copy
ol which j, herewith transmitted. uni-r
which the Society engaged. Tor the consider.
alton Of lorty.dye th1usInl, dolhr', q r.
cove these Africans in Liberia ir1m the
Agent Of the United States, AMI furnish
them during the period II ons year ihercii-
ter, with cOmiprlIhl, shelter, clothing pro-
visions and medical Attendance, causing the
children 81 receive schooling and all whcth'
or children or adults. 20 h. instructed Ia
the arts of eiulit,i lilo, suitable 70 their
condition This aggregate of forty ty,
thousand dollars was based upIn an allow
ancs IT one hunlrci AMI fItJ dollar, Tor
each individual. aud a, there had been cIn'
siderable mortality anon; them, and may
b. m1re before they reach Africa, the So
cieiy have agreed IN an eluita1l, spirit. "a
mako such deduction from the amount a.
under the csrcum.ihnccs may APPEAR just
aud reasonable. rhi. cannot b. fixed until
W. ,hnll ascertain the actual number which
may b,com, chsrsc u the Society.
IL was also distinctly understood. that
under no circumsanc,s shall this govern
ment be called upon for any additional ox
penscs.
Tho agents Of the society manifested Q
lAudablr desire ~ conform 10 the wishes oI
the government throughout the trans seton.
They assured me that after a carolul calcu'
latiJn they would be required to expend tn,
sum OF one hundred and fifty dollars On each
individual in complying with the agreement,
and they would have nothing left 70 rcmun
crate them Tor their care. trouble aud 70.
sponslbiliiy. Atall events, could make
no better arrangement. and there was u,
other alternative. During the period wher
the government itself, through its owl
agents. undertook the task OF providing fJl
captured negroes IN Africa, the cost pei
head was very much greater.
There having been no outstanding appro'
priatIon applicable to thl- purpose, coulC
not advance any money on tho agreement
| therefore recommend that an apprOpra