The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-10
From the New Orleans Delta
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE OPENED AT THE


Some startling and insignificant facts have come
to our knowledge. We have hesitated to disclose
them, but after inquiry, examination and consulta-
ton, we are convinced that both duty and policy
demand disclosure. The facts, we saw, are start
ling: they crucial. They will surprise and en-
courage many in our counting rooms and offices,
and many on the plantations and in the towns but
most of all they will astound the Cabinets of West
Europe, and eminently assist to confirm between
the genial French people and own Norman or
Huguenot South, an unwriten but hearty, magnan-
imous and unconquerable, league against the allied
avarice and envy, cant and rapacity of England
and the Northern States.
Although the fOiled and furious enemies of our in
situations may shake up, uncork and pour out on
battered brows the foaming vials of their wrath
although the President may be shocked and embar-
raised; and although the great parties of the coun-
try may be bitterly disappointed and imbrangled,
let 1t go forth that Southerners have taken into
their hand the law, and opened the African
Slave Trade with the South; that Africans are now
imported into Mississippi and other seashore States:
that in Mississippi there is market for African
slaves and that plantations in that great and in
trepid State negroes recently imported from Africa
are at their daily work. The authority on which
make this announcement is indsputable We
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
equalize the supply already opened and impossible
to be closed. We have some further details Some
negroes are disembarked on the Atlantic coast and
brought overland to the Mississippi cotton fields
but the Mississippi seacoasts peculiar facilities fol
landing and secretng cargOes, and the convenience:
of Pearl river as channel for distribution are moi
overlooked.
The profits of the Mississippi slave trade are en-
ormOus. We have been so fortunate as to procure
from undoubted authority some interesting details
They relate to the operations of the Mississippi
slave trade, and are authenticated BY operators ii
need not be said in the first place that the bark en-
gagged in the traffic to the South must be fast
saer for this is Indispensable to the security of the
officers and crew, the health of the cargo and The
rapidity of the pecuniary returns For trip from
the Mississippi coast to Africa and back there mus
be captain supercargo, three mates, three cooks
steward, and between twenty and thirty first class
seamen. The vessel must be well supplied will
extra running and standing rigging. and also super
numerary spars, ropes, topmasts and suits of sails
An assortment of the flags of all nations will be par
hcuarly desirable, but the most useful is now tn
French flag, because British cruisers will not verif
the colors and take the liberties as with tn.
United States flag.
The fare of the ships crew must be the very best
and their good will must be carefully coneiliated
because, during the voyage mutiny is disastrous
and after the voyage, a treacherous or vindictiv
information is, to say the least troublesome and ex
pensve. To procure the good will of the men
much depends on the mates, over whom the captain
ought to keep strict watch For the subsistence
of the negroes there must be plentiful supply O
hard bread, corn meal, rice, and an abundance @
vinegar, red pepper, pure water and drugs. In dis
trloutlng ulet, tne greatest regularity to be oh
served, and the very first symptoms of diseas
promptly treated. As to the capacity of the sute
rior officer, it may be safely said that SLAYER re
qulres IN 1T more courage, talent honesty fidelity
skill and discretion, than any other ship in any ohe
trade. Indeed, the captain and supercargo must
between them, act as navigator and naval officer
merchant and physician diplomatist and magistrate
not to mention the functions of chaplain.
As to the expenses and profits of the voyage tn
latest advices were from the captain of abark whic
sailed from one of the Georgia ports He has quit
recently returned, and reports that on account c
the vigilance of cruisers, negroes had accumulate
on the coast, and in manner glutted the market:
and that in consequence of this the price had alle
to under thirty dollars per head The payment
however, must be in gold or silver as the head me
Will not, as formerly, barter for merchandise
We may estimate cargo to number seven hur
bred negroes, although many more than that ar
otter carried; but whatever the number none pu,
chased should be over twenty-five years of age
seven hundred, at an average cost of thirty dollar
apiece, will amount to S2l 900, and their price i
this country or Cuba will range from $3.50 to 200
But II sold for $500, say the cargo will net $3.50
600. Freely allowing then Sl50,OO0 for the entir
expenses of the voyage and all possible loss tn
prohts OF one round voyage will amount to 5000
600. Where the profits are so exorbtantwe can we
understand why the business has been begun in tn
South. We well understand the impossibiIit
OF closing the trade now begun and most of all. "
now can understand that the great question is ne
whether there shall be for the South supply ,
African labor, because that is now settled and th
great and absorbing question is whether accordin
to Hughes method, the supply shall be so modife
as to be legitimate, fair, regular and equal.