Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-06-11
THE AFRICAN SLAVE QUESTION.

Some time since, the Grand Jury Of
the United District Court for the East.
ern District Of Louisiana, found true bills
against several citizens for buying i'm
ported African slaves; among said true
bills was one against our Representative
and fe!low-c'tizen, Capt Fl. W. ALLEN.
Just SO Don as Capt. ALLEN heard Of
his indictment, be at once repaired to
New Orleans-went iuto open court
without any process whatever being SCR
we'd upon him, and asked for an immedi-
ate trial. This, it seems, could no, be
granted him, and he then entered into
bonds for his appearance at the next
term of the Court, with w, E. STARkE
and J. D. DENEGRE as his secnrities.-
Capt. ALLEN having complied with the
laws requirements, remained for several
days in the city attending to some priv
ate business. He had hardly, however.
left the Court room, when two Deputy
Marsbals, and a hired policeman were
despatched up the riverto bis plantation.
They arrived, Of course, during the alb
sence Of Capt. ALIEN, and told their
business to his overseer. All the negroes
On the plantation were Immediately
called up, scrutinized and examined by.
those prying and paid officials. They said.
they were looking for African negroes
and in case they found any, they would
get fifty dollars for every one they could
catch. Not finding a single African
among Capt. ALIENS negroes, they were
invited to search lis quarters, sugar
house, etc. This they also did-sti'l no
Africans were found. Evening came
and they were invited to stay all night.
They did SO, and every comfortaand att
~tentjon was shown them. The nextday
they went around to the adjoining plan
tations and searched every house, every
thing and. every body. Not content
with these searches, they went to tue
plantation Of Messrs: ]. T. + ". NOLAN
owners and overseer being xbssnt
the LobdeIl crevasse-took their ue-
gro driver in their buggy, gave him
and rode him around to assist
Them in finding the aforesaid A:ricans.-
1t seems the paid negro driver could find
none. They next went to the planta-
ion Of Mr.. STEPHEN PIPES and gave
one of his negroes ten dollars to give
--~ '"'~'".~~'~" !" regard to the
Africans. After tampering with all tile
'eggroes they couId-offer'ng some two
hundred dollars and threatening others
came across an Irishman, a leyee
contractor of this parish, and threatened
. hang him if he did not reveal all he
new about the Africans. The honest
rishman had never seen the Africans
nd therefore could tell nothing about
With curses long and loud these
bloodLounds Of the law left orr par
'h-the hired poIiceman-the dirty
Notwithstanding that he would
ave some Of the Africans if che had
land in HI for them" These are
Il facts that can be fully substantiated,
nd we pledge ourself' to do so at any
rue.
Not satisfied with the outrages already
ommitted, there is now in our par
h, an eves-dropping, contemplate spy,
no is hanging around and slipping
from plantation to plantation, tam j
er'ng with negroes and offering them t
rye rewards for any information they
'ay give him. Now this parish is COM !,
osed Of 1aw-Abiding: citizeus. They +
ave ever respected the law and it's off, .
BIS, butthey+wiIl not any1onger per- !
ut such ontrsges upon them. Their |
pgro quarters are sacred and their slaves !;
'ust not be tempered with. This is all |
. have 10 say on The subject Whether a
y Africans have been brought to this c
or not, we do not know nor do =
Q care, but one thing we do know, and !
at is If any person OF nersons sha1l y