Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-06-11
THE SLAVE TRADE.

The foremost subject of interest, now, is
the slave trade its actual extent, not
less than its proposed revival. The move
mcnts in Congress, or in the Senate rath-
er, dcnouucing British aggressions, have
occurred as natural incidents 1t is due
to everything Of character and dignity be-
ground on which we stand in this respect,
and to preserve the original attitude taken
by this government when it declared the
slave trade piracy, and entered upon sys-
tematic, costly, and persistent efforts for
its suppression.
The leading facts in regard to the slave
trade, as it is, are first, that, with the
cOnuivance of the authorities in Cuba, it
was in great vigor, aud enjoyed a flourish.
ing business during the year 1857; a de-
gree of activity scarcely less than it had
in its palmiest days. The Spanish officials
of these ports are fcrcely hostile to crui-
scrs of every nation near them whose pres
ence may prevent a landing and curtail
their profits. The coast of Cuba swarms
with slavers, and they are as numerous
now as they were when the slave trade
was permitted by all nations, previous to
1908.
The next great point is, that these YES
sells are mainly American built, and at
tempt to sail under American colors.
7,centy ejyM vessels, Of American build,
sailing under our flag, and manned by
share of Americans, were captured on the
coast of Africa by British Cruisers, in the
quarter closing with October last. All
these hailed from, and were to return to,
the coast of Cuba. The failure of our
own armament of eighty guns on the coast
Of Africa to capture any of the hundreds
Of slavers res0rting there, is understood to
mean that they have nothing to fear and
everything to gain by the purchase and
employment of American vessels. The
principal amount of capital employed is
now owned at New York, and from that
city number of vessels are every year
fitted out and despatched in this lucrative
trade. The Custom House authorities
there have sometimes detected and stopp-
ed these outfits, but none have finally suf-
fered the penalties Of the law, some hook
or crook enabling both capitalist and COM
manding officer to escape. Even where
schooner is engaged in the regular West
India trade, sale and outfit in Cuba is
an easy thing, and rather than lose voy
age, or return to the north with an empty
and not very valuable vessel, the sharp
skipper prefers to sell out for gold, and
the honest looking craft heads for the coast
of Africa.
Lastly, half dozen Of the extreme sou
thern States, constantly and half frantl-
cally discuss the revival of the slave trade. .
A number of their presses and orators ad-
vocate it without stint, and indeed a large
portion Of the late "Commerciap COnyen-
ton could think Of no other mode of recu-
perating the South. The Deita's huge
in regard to cargocs already
landed at Pearl river, are intended to pave
the way for facts of profitable shipments
Of the same sort, and to this hour no small
portion of the public is at loss to know
whether these asserted landings in Alissis-
'ippi are realities or ictions. The whole
tone of public sentiment at the South has
AIKEN off the edge of censure on the trade
llready, and a captain who had beaten q
British or American cruiser on the African
IT Cuban coast, and brought bis six hun
lred negroes to any market Of the vicinity,
would be welcomed as daring and praise
Torthy specimen Of energy. II