Daily national Democrat., 1860-05-20
supnres,lon af the CooIIe Traffic.

Committee on Commerce, under the follow
ing resolution
Resolgcd, That the Committee on Commerce
be directed to inquire into the expediency of
bv law, all American vessels
from engaging in the coolie trade, or Fl ON
apprentices $50 called TO the
West Indies or other parts Of the world
The Committee have made their report
giving full history of the Coolie trade since
its commencement, twenty-one years ago, or
soon after the abolition Of slavery in the
British West Indies, down to the affair Of the
Flora Temple, by which SEQ Coolies were
drowned, and the terrible mutny of one
thousand Coolies, which occurred on the ship
Norway. Twenty one years ago, the British
made EN- attempt to colcnize British Guiana
in South America uy the importation Of East
India Coolies. The attempt did not succeed
owing to the ravages Of sickness, and the
harsh treatment Of the Coolies at the hands of
their masters In 1912 the importation was
renewed under proper regulations, and since
that time has continued and been extended
to Trinidad. But Mauritus has been the ia
vorte port to which the importation has been
directed
The importation of East India Coolies into
the port Of Mauritius during the year 1851
was lo2,S2l males, and 81 ACC females. The
emigration of the East India Coolies is volun>
tary. but the Chinese Cooie trade is a differ
ent matter The Chinese coolie is not an
emf grant He is captured through deception
and fraud, and is from that moment in no re-
spect different from that which the African
SLAYER makes his victim. The trade COM
menced about the time when the laws against
the African trade were most stingently en-
forced 1t was engaged in by merchants Of
the Atlantic cities, without suspicion Of
wrong in the shipment of coolies from China
to Cuba and the Brozils At length. how
ever .he manner in which the trade was
carried on became apparent A committee
was appointed 10y the Boston Board of Trade
to examine into it, and they erorted that the
character Of the trade was Infamous The
coolies were not emigrants, but were purchas
ed and kidnapped. In 1856, Peter Parker,
United States Minister to China, issued, in
accordance with instructions from this gov
ernmcnt, "Public Notification" calling upon
all citizens Of the United States to desist from
the trade, as against the Chinese law, and
solj citing offenders to heavy penalties.
The following from the report of the Com
mittee shows the manner in which the coolies |
are obtained:
The coolies are procured 10y purchase, and are
as truly the subject of barter and sale as the |
negroes on the coast Of Africa Native Chi !
nese are employed to entice them frem their |
homes, such as may be persuaded from hone |
or profit to leave their friends. These men
are employed by "brokcrs," who deal with
the shipmasters. The "brokers" send their
emlssaries into all parts Of the country in
search of men and boys, who may be deceiv-
ed 10y all manner of false pretences to place
themselves in the hands Of men who are as
remorseless as death, They are sometimes
beguiled, and sometimes kidnapped
The pretence of contract is sometimes main
tanned, but disguise imperfectly conceas the
tact OF slavery. "Ihe men being inveigled
into barbarian houses and ships, are publicly
sold When once among them they cannot
understand their gibberish and they are kept
IN close confinement. They may mplore
heaven, and their tears may wet the earth.
but their complaints are uttered in vain.
They are often sold for 800 per head
The treatment of the coolie in Cuba de- |
pends of course upon the character Of the
employer, but the nominal term of service is
flom five to eight years. What proportion
remain alive at the end of the term we do not
know. 1t has not been pretended that any
return-and those who have served the first
term are powerless in the hands OF the man
who would desire to retain them if valuable, |
and who would not be bound to support them |
ii too enteebled to work. Herein is the Asi-
attic cooie more helpless than the African
slave.
The report proceeds to quote from Mr. Alb
bots new book, in which he says: at seemed
to me that human misery could sink to no
lower depth. The doom of the coolies is
vastly worse than that of the slaves. Those
wretehed Chinese are lured to leave their
nome upon the promise of being fed and
clothed, and receive four dollars per month
Thus, at the end Of eight years, they would
possess S3S4. This seems like an immense
sum to poor Chinaman, to whom cent a
day Is very reasonalle competence. But
none return. They are sold upon their arri-
val Tor about S400. Ii their owner can wear
mem out IN eight years, so that they die, he,
nI course has nothing to pay. If he cannot
he sends them TO some distant plantation, or
ellis them again for another eight years"
The Committee conclude by saying that
they believe it to be within the power of
Congress to legislate against the Coolie trade
and that the time has fully arrived when
such legislation is demanded They recon-
mend the passage Of Llll to that effect. The
report of the Committee shows that over ffty
thousand Coolies have been shipped from
China for Cuba during the past eight years
aud that the per ecntage of loss on the pass
age, as nearly one in five. Mr.. Reed, the
American Minister to China, said in 1853:
81 am resolved to do all in my power to
put an end to this Infamous traffic. in this in
stance carried on in defiance ofall admonition
oy most dscreditable combination between
an American master and lawless British shin
pers.
Attorney General Black, however. does
not believe that those engaged in the traffic
are liable to punishment under existing laws.
lie says that the evil is one which Congress
alone can remedy. Mr.. Marcy held the same
opinion.
MORE DELuDED Worms COMING To SALT
LAKE.-on the 26th April party ofbetwcen
seventy and eighty persons left Salt Lake
CITY Tor Europe, to disseminate the doctrines
OF Mormonism Their mission says a letter to
The Alta, will last probably three years, call