Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-09
The Captured SLAYER.

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The Captured SLAYER.
The Washington Union, publishes an official
announcement of the capture of SLAYER off the
coast of Cuba. Lieut. Mahit, in his note to
the Department, says he is credibly informed
that several American vessels (slavers) are ex-
pected on the north of Cuba, about the LIST of
October His note contains nothing else of
Importance The following is taken from the
Union
Lieut. Bradford, in writing to the Depart
ment, from Charleston, says that portion of his
orders requiring the prisoners to be put in
irons, would, if executed, have made our voy-
age to this place impracticable for the slaves,
as soon as they found that they had new mas
ters, destroyed large quantities Of water and
provisions for the sake of obtaining small
quantity for their own use. | restored their
former masters, and they had to resort to the
fercest cruelty before they could break up these
practices of the slaves
Lieut.. Bradford further states that twelve of
the slaves had died since their capture.
In his orders to Lieut. Bradford, Lieut.. Maflit
directed all the prisoners (the officers and crew
of the slavery to be placed in irons, under
double sentinels well armed. He was to pro-
coed to Charleston and consult an attorney-at-
law in reference to the best course to pursue
He was also to call on the Mayor of the city
and request him to procure quarters for the
slaves, that they might be Immediately landed
from the vessel.
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 act of May
Is, 1920, the trade became piracy, and Ameri--
can citizens serving on board Of American or
foreign vessels engaged in the trade, incur the
penalty of death In making the prize, the of
fcers and crew of the Dolphin haveha stroke
of good fortune The law not only gives them
one half of the value of the vessel, but also
twenty-five dollars head prize money. They
will thus be entitled to between eight and nine
thousand dollars, to be divided among the Off
GERS and crew. The existing law authorizes
the President to send the captured negroes
States We believe this is the first case of u
captured SLAYER with negroes on board being
brought into our ports.
The arrival of the captured SLAYER with its
three hundred Congo negroes on board, seems
to have produced great excitement in the con-
servative city of Charleston. Somehow it APP
pears to suggest the re-opening of the African
slave-trade, and consequently sort of 4" fearful
joy ?" is possessing large part of the commu-
nifty. A correspondent of the New York Her.
aid represents all classes as "on the topmost
blaze of enthusiasm and excitement" The
Charleston Mercury says " The event has caus-
ed as much excitement in oar community as the
success of the Cable, and speculation as to the
result of the capture, the fate of the cargo and
the general bearing of the affair, is great
Much curiosity is also excited, and many are
anxious for an opportunity to observe the AT
rican in his native state. But correspondent
of the Courier takes practical view of the
case. He thinks it would be shocking to every
well-regulated mind to send these negroes back
to " heather darkness when they are at the
dawn of Christianity" Besides, they are
needed here. He declares
"They are wanted everywhere-our planters
want them, our mechanics want them our
railroads want them our waste lands are in
want of them. Is it from any sense, among
ourselves, of the inhumanity OF rendering them
useful? We put our sons and brothers under
masters to learn a trade, and is it humane to do
this, and not humane to do the same to crea-
lures that are certainly as much in need of train
ing and instruction There is no reason why
we should send them back but in this, that it
has become agreeable to another section of the
Union to look with disgust on our institutions,
and we are called upon to make this sacrifice of
interest and humanity to propitiate them
When these negroes shall be taken from the
port of Charleston Except it be to take them
upon our institutions that should fire the heart
Of every man that loves his country. 1t will
be the declaration to the world that this condi-
! ton in which our own negroesare is so offensive
to even our own government that it Is incum-
bent upon it to use its sovereign power in rescu-
ing from the like condition all who may come
within its reach We may submit to proper
declarations, to laws whose practical enforce
ment is not brought to our DOORS but in this
act Of reprobation there is taunt against
which every Southern man ought to enter his
indignant protest
Though the duty of the government seems
plain enough, its dealing with this novel case
will be watched with much interest. The Her.
aids correspondent is sure that "no Amistad
tom-foolery will be allowed in this case +" and
the tone of the Conrier is to the same effect
If there is any real desire to reopen the Alr-
can Slave trade, we shall certainly see their in
duence brought to bear upon the disposal of this
SLAYER and her cargo. We are at loss to i'm
agine any successful mode of wrestling this oc-
currence to the advantage of the alleged scheme
but we have learned not to be too sure of set
ting bounds to the invention and audacity of
the ultra champions of Slavery.
ATL ANTIc TELEGRAPH AND Fresh News
scientific gentlemen put the enquiry in our office
the other day, if we supposed the news commu-
nicated through the Atlantic telegraph, 1900
miles under the salt water, could be fresh when
It reached the shore,