Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-04-17
THE INTRODUCTION OF SLAVES FROM
AFRICA INTO LOUISIANA.

The New Orleans Delta reiterates its state
ments, and publishes also a communication from
q correspondent, detailing the particulars OF the
alleged landing Of q cargo Of five hundred Afri-
cans near the mouth of Pearl River, on the 22d of
February, and some incidents connected there
with. lie states that these negroes were i'm pOrt-
cd in pursuance Of an agreement between n mum
Der Of planters and the importers, made about u
year since. They were sent ashore from the YES
sci in skifs, mAnaclei and gagged. The writer
says:
The skiffs with the slaves, soon reached the
shore. and the shuddering wretches landed
They were hurried into n thick hammock at some
distance from the shore, there to be aportioned
by the contractors to their purchasers, who were
on hand, and to be clothed as other negroes be-
fore being staI ted up the country. Here, by the
light of lanterns, they were drawn up in line,
the contractors produced the articles OF agreement.
in which the several planters had pledged to take
go many each, and they were counted of and
handed over to their new Corners, the money being
paid on the spot. Some three hundred OF the
number were thus claimed and delivered,
but the planters or their agents who were TO take
the other two bundled did not appear, their hardl'
hood having failed them probably.
The unclaimed slaves remained in the swamp
under charge of the contractors until last Tues
day. / have, with three or four others, who were
not purchasers, been cognizans to the whole pro-
ceedings. as l am a relative of, and intimate with
one of the planters who contracted. and for that
TcdSuu hh hut "iiiuS W u'Nu'So ""y P"Ht'S ~
formation which may cause them trouble. As
for the contracting scoundrels. whom l would
willingly see hung, or put to q worse death they
have decamped for parts unknown. L frequently
yisired the Africans during .heir ~encampment IN
the swamp. With manacled hands they squatted
ia the open air, exposed to rain and shine, with
no ssrt of shelter, i heavy rope being passed oe
tween the handcutied arms Of the whole lot. and
eer ured TO trees 1T intervals. They were scantly
fed twice a dag by their keepers, and were in such
a.tnnaHni annAjfinn fnurarI the last that they
could hardly be aroused for that purpose. The
handouts rusting in the salt air, bad eaten almost
to the bones OF many of them, and altogether
they were the most pitiable and heart 'rending
sight that can be conceived.-Severq died during
the time they were in the swamp. and their bod
les we're buried near where they persisted. 1t was
the bi;terest struggle which | ever felt TO restrain
myself from reporting the fact of these slaves
being in such condition, but | knew that it would
intolve my relative and all others Of the planters,
and that argument prevailed.
! now approach the horrid climax Of this fear.
full story. On Tuesday last, knowing that rumors
were out of the landing of slaves, and fearing
alocal investigation Mt Pearl river, the contractors
determined to leave. They could not take the
slaves with them, and highly incensed with the
defaulting planters for their non-fulflment of con,
tract, aud resolved to furnish them terrible and
convincing evidence that they had fulfilled theil
side Of the agreement 10 delivering the African'
at Pearl river, these monsters cut of the RICH
ear OF edcu negro, anu put tufIH Ill w u SINAI
key of salt water pickle, which | had noticed one
of them mix during the day, for preservation
having first secured the whole OF the unfortunate
slaves TO q heavy iron cable. | presume that this
unnecessary cruelty of amputating the ear;
before death would not have been perpetrated
could they have got at the bodies after death,
This was done Just at dusk, and when night came
they marched the band Of chained negroes down
to the bank of a very deep lagoon ranged them
along on its bank. and pushed the whole line of
helpless creatures in! They did not know what
was TO be done with them, and vent nOislessly
down to their watery grave, their gagged mouths
preventing even a shrek as the weighty chain
ard their handouts dragged them down the bank
observed this and the cutting off of the ears
from my coneealment near by, being on the watch
in consequence of my suspicious having beer
aroused that something uncommon was to b'
done that evening. | suppose the wretches viii
wait on the defaulting planters and demand thu
price OF the slaves. showing their picked ears II
proof that they fulfilled :her part of the contract
l sicken at the thought at what l saw last Iuesda,
night | have not slept ten minutes at a tim
since. / don't know the names of any of thu
five contractors, for they called each other b.
Christian names always, and / presume these
were assumed. They are Americans or Engiish
men: bnt are dark, foreignlookIng men, up
parently having spent much of their lives in trop
ical climates. 1 withhold the names Of the plant
ore and my own, for | would not be known al
man who had been cognizant to such deeds o.
horror. / would not have the detestation of Others
added to that which | feel for myself.
Another SLAYER. with a second instalment o.
ths fourteen or fifteen hundred Africans contracted
for, may be expected on the coast in about three
or four weeks. unless those interested find somt
means Of communication with her. and warn he
Of. She was TO have left Africa Q week OF NOR,
before this. ] do hope the Government will b.
yiglass enough to effect her ssiIursi for tbougi