The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-10-24
Steam Slayerg.

Steam Slavers.
Twenty years ago there was some
thing very noble in the attitude OF
this county in regard to the African
slave trade. 1t was lucrative beyond
all other trade, and yet not touched by
our citizens. From a long line Of coast
it was thought to be completely put
down. A few Spaniards and Portu-
gese ran cargoes of this human freight
into Havana, but not one African
slave was landed on our shores from
Virginia to Texas. BY degrees things
have sadly changed. First few Bal
timore clippers, then vessels from New
York were fitted out for this horrid
business, until now northern vessels
and northern men from a dozen ports,
but more especially New York, run
their cargoes, scuttle their ships, and
make immense SUNS beside, so great
that no vessel is so costly but that one
cargo will pay for its destruction
The idea of employing steamships in
this business is new, but the fact that
costly steam vessel like the city OF
Norfolk, after landing one cargo, was
deliberately attempted to be sunk of
the coast, may show how difficult it
must be to stop this nefariouS business.
The great evils connected with it
every statesman must perceive An
army of savages voluntarily imported
must deteriorate the civilization of the
country into which they flow, even if
they do not produce servile insurrec-
ton. And these evils, though they
should never touch our shores directly
will indirectly communicate their in1u-
ence, if as near as Cuba. But it is
impossible for this traffic to be carried
on with Cuba, and yet not come across
to us. The profits would be larger
and the coast more extensive. So far,
the public sentiment of the South has
held this traffic in check, and there
does not seem the same danger Of its
direct extension to this country that
there did a year ago. But if ever it
comes extensively, as it must when the
Cuban market is glutted or checked
in any way, then the country will real
ize evils and connections that it will be
impossible to avert.
If steamer can in few days make
the run with eight hundred slaves, and
wake such immense profits, it will not
be difficult to bride one or two officers,
not difficult to outrun any vessel that
can be steadily maintained on the AT
rican coast, or to give them the Sip
The coast of Africa cannot be blocka-
ded, nor the coast of Cuba, and still
less our own southern coast, without
destroying all honest trade, which is,
of course, impossible The trade must
be broken up by being made anproft-
able, if at all. All the owners of o
vessel within two years of being en-
gagged in the slave trade, might be
made answerable in cases where the
70 pretended owners could not be found,
or made to pay some enormous forfei-
ture By such law, bona fide owners
would have to see that the men they
sold to were responsible, and that these
sham transfers were net effected with
in such period as above. The en-
eouragement of the colony Of Liberia,
and especially the present of a small
swift steamer or two to its infant gov
eminent, might greatly aid the sup
preston. The action of the govern
ment at Washington has always been
decided and efficient, and the instruc-
tions given such that more prosecu-
tions-for violations Of the laws, against
the slave trade have been entered by
the prosecuting attorneys Of the Uni
ted States, within the last three or
four years, than in the whole previous
existence of the Republic. Where
officials have been found to be bribed,
they have been dismissed. But in a
traffic where such immense and imme-
date wealth lies, it will be hard for a
time at least, to prevent witnesses
from being bribed or kept out of the
way. Still, all wrong can and ought
to be made improbable. Ledger.