The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-26
!. ! E19n he LS1dGn Tines Z ApgiI s..

THE HORRORS OF THE C00LIE TRADE.
We have received by the last Overland China
Chrontc(e some observation-disclosures to the trade in
Coolies 1t appears that there is now organized in
the southern ports of China system of kidnapping
to the full as bad as any practised by the
tive chiefs of Africa in the worst DAYS of the slave
trade. The information is brought before us in
strictly official form. The allied Commanders in
Chief, on the 18th Of January of the present year.
addressed letter upon the sub ect to the Consular
body at Canton. They enclosed the depositions of
one hundred and five men, lately taken from GER
tain Coolie receiving ships at Whampoa Three
of these ships were American, the fourth was an
Oidenburg bark. The Coolies had been kidnapped,
and nominal consent to an eight years. engage
ment IN Cuba was wrung from them by torture
The Commanders-in-Chief tell the Consuls that
they used every precaution to guard against de-
ception in taking the depositions Each witness
was examined separately and apart from his com
pahlons. The kidnapping process is carried on by
the native Chinese, who pick up their unwary
countrymen in the suburbs and OUTLYING portions
OF the town, and then convey them on board Chi
nese boats, and so, in due course, on board the
foreign ships. The Chinese agents decoy or force
the victims on board their boats, and torture them
until they wiring from them a consent to become
"free emigrants." The forms of torture EMPLOYED
are various. Their hands are tied together, and
wedge is hammered in between them. Their
thumbs and great toes tied together their tails
tied up, and they thus hosted off the deck and
suspended in the air, while lighted joss-stick is
applied to their ANGLES. They are ducked in the
river; they are logged in the most horrible man
ner; they are threatened with death; they are
thrown into the river in baskets; and various other
forms of torture employed, until they consent
to dip their finger in ink, and thus impress their
mark upon the agreement. The Mandarins, real
supposed, appear to be the chief agents in these
acts of cruelty. But it would be useless to examine
into this part of the question at any length for it is
obviously matter Of indifference whether the
foreign traders in human flesh execute theseacts of
cruelty by their own hands or the hands of their
pativ hn lHaat haf thnrr ho
of the coercion employed to force the wretched
Coolies board is too preposterous to admit of dis
cussion. We do not suppose that it was the inten-
ton of the persons who established this system of
Chinese contract labor, a corrective of the Afri-
can slave trade, to introduce another system, which
was just the slave trade over again in another lati
tude, and in another quarter OF the globe In many
respects, indeed, it is worse that Chnaman should
be kidnapped than an African negro inasmuch as
1t can scarcely be pretended that Chinaman is
even indirectly the gamer by being removed from
a condition of comparative civilization to one of
absolute barbarism. He is worse off as bOndSman
in Cuba than when following his ordinary occupa-
ton in his native town. From other sources we
know of the frightful mortality which prevails
among the COolie immigrants who are employed
upon the sugar plantations in Cuba. 1t would be
difficult, indeed, to place human being in a more
desperate position for the Spanish planter does not
feel even that moderate degree of interest in his
captive " hich he would in a slave, from the fact
that the slave was his own property. Nor is it
themselves
chief agents in kidnapping their countrymen. 1t
is the foreign trader who paws the premium on
their perfdy and cruelty. Besides the positive and
certain evil inflicted upon so many wretched crea-
lures, another and sufficient reason for interfering
on behalf of the Coolies is that the kidnappinp is
persevered In it will soon put an end to the system
OF tree emigration altogether. If we would set in
motion an effective stream of labor from our own or
the Spanish possessions, or elsewhere this result
can only be brought about by fair dealing. The
Chinese are willing migrants; proof of the fact is
forthcoming at Singapore, in Australia in CaliIor-
MIA. There is, indeed, no reason why, with COM
mon sense and fair dealing, China should not be-
come the great labor market of the tropical world
All nations, however, must be content to deal with
the Chlnaman fairly y, to involve him in none but
voluntary engagements, to pay him reasonable
hire, and so to deal with him in all things that he
may bear favorable report to his countrymen of the
treatment which he has received.
LATER FROM HAYTL-By the arrival at New York
OF the brig African, Captain Button, from Port au
Pnnce, April 8, we are in receipt Of our Hayti
files to that date. At midnight on that day. after
leaving Port Prince, and when about thirty
miles from shore, the African felt severe shock
of earthquake, which had the effect as if the
vessel had been violently thrown upon the shore.
On the 10th, another and equally alarming shock
was experienced. All hands were reused, every
one on board thinking the vessel had either struck
reel or met with collision. Our latest Hayti
papers published on the day preceding the
earthquake and we must await another arrival TO
learn the effect of the disaster on the Island From
the interior of the country there glowing
accounts OF the progress of the cotton culture
The plant thrives WELL and capitalists are erecting
mills. President Geffrard has decreed the con-
struction of a handsome public fountain at Jere
ME. The John Brown subscription continues the
contributions consisting chiefly of sacks Of coffee
The value OF the contributions is estimated at near
| thirty thousand dollars. In 1901, two negroes
Vincent Oge and Jean Baptiste Chavannc, were
broken at the wheel and then left to die on the
public road, for having made an attempt to free
the slaves III Hayti. A proposition is now on foot
to erect monument on the spot where these men
were thus put to torture and death. The country
| is quiet and business iourshing.
LEGISLATORS BE INDICrED.--The Legislature
just adjourned in New York, have the discredit
| able reputation of being the most corrupt body Of
public men who ever sat at Albany to make laws
| for the people They had no regard at all to the
rights of the city of New York, but passed bill:
directly in the face of remOnstrance from those
most affected by the enactments. Since they have
| adjourned, there has been considerable public
| comment upon their acts. The New York Sm
says: Attorney General Myers has been furnishe ed
with evidence believed to be sufficient to secure
| the indictment and punishment of six State Sena
tors and eight members of Assembly for corruption
In the performance of their legislative dutie!
| during the session. If there is any such evidence
| there Is no good reason why the parties should no
be brought into Court, and made to face the yer
dict OF a jury. 1t is a curious commentary on thu
| supposed purity of country lie that the person
implicated are mostly from what is called Tho
rural districts. Philadelphia Ledger.
y company of twenty Pixies Peak emigrant
from Genesee, ILL.,, lately passed through Daven
port, Iowa, on their way to the land of promise
There were six ladies in the company, who were
dressed in pantaloons, top-boots, and boomel
dresses They rode in comfortable carriage ant
appeared to look forward to their long journey
with much pleasure.
The copy of Mr. Carlyle's two new volumes o
Frederick, is now in the hands of his publishers
but it will be a considerable time yet before tn
work reaches the public Carlyle corrects. re-cor
reefs alters and punctuates, so scrupulously, tina
printers and publishers grumbe, and the publ
grow impatient.