The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-12

Vlsuih suo iee9 uaA yeaI tue greatest ACTIVITY
has prevailed in the African slave trade, which
is now carried on with more than usual energy
and determination, despite the efforts of the
United States officials whose particular duty it
Is to enforce the law for the suppression of the
Illegal traffic. 1t is now notorious fact that
slaves are not only landed in Cuba and Brazil,
but that they have absolutely been imported into
Florida and other Southern States. The diff
Guilty which is experienced in procuring con
viction in these cases emboldens those engaged
in the trade, go that it may now be said to be
carried on with the most perfect IMMUNITY. No
enterprise affords such profitable returns for the
Investment of capital, fact with which many
of our South street merchants are practically
familiar. The profits on an average cargo Of
four hundred negroes is estimated at one hun
dred and forty thousand dollars, and as the cost
and fitting out of vessel does not exceed TWEEN
fy thousand dollars at the utmost, including the
'commissien, the wages OF the men and other
etceteras, one successful voyage would pay for
the loss Of half dozen slavers.
1t is estimated that from thirty to forty slavers
are fitted out every year in. New York, Boston,
Bristol, r. L, Portland, Me-, and other Eastern
ports; but New York and Boston are the favorite
ports, from the fact that the operations of the
traders in preparing and fitting out vessels can
be carried On with less rick fdetection. Ofthose
fitted out comparatively limited number are
captured on the coast of Africa and those that
are 30 captured are taken by English cruisers,
while few fall into the hands Of United States
vessels. About forty cases have been adjudi-
Gated upon IVY the United States District Court in
this city since the year 1886, but in not more
than dozen was judgment given for the sale of
the vessels while the parties and principals in
the illegal business have almost Invariably es
capped. In fact, the inpossibility of procuring
conviction, even in instances where the testimony
was unusually direct, has emboldened, aud, to a
great extent, encouraged the trade
1t is particularly deserving Of notice that a
large portion of the elave fleet is, as we have
said, fitted out ia New England ports, and in
those very places whore the republican element
is most rampant and beIigcrent. Not only
is this the case, bat while the re-
publicans derive large pecuniary profits
therefrom, tbe very means from which they are
realizing large fortunes is made the source of
political capital upon which the party expect to
get into power. In this way double purpose is
served and the slave trade in which they are so
probably engaged is turned to account in being
employed for party ends against the administra
ton, which is accused of being rather favorable
than otherwise to the traffic. The war of parties
is kept up, sectional jealousies embittered, and
designing and corrupt politicians are enabled tc
agitate the country from one end to the other.
The increased activity to which we have re-
ferred may be regarded outside of the question
of pecuniary profit which is involved in it, as 9
trick for the revival of the Kansas excitement
on a new ipsue. There appears to be some secret
society at the bottom of the movement which
while it furnishes the capital or part of it, fol
the fitting out of slavers, has in view the success
of party which, without such subjects of agita-
ton wherewith to excite and keep the public
mind in a state of political ferment, would ere
this be defaDct. They are apt pupils Of Mephis
tophiles, and, like all his pupils, they will, il
they don't mend their ways in time, fall into his
hands at last