Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-09
THE MODERN SLAVE TRADE.

w Z tdkS RIt tOlION4ns A4oAA NhS ~
torial correspondence of the WGtchman:
At both sessions of the thirty-fourth
Congress Mr.. Walton endeavored to in
stitute an examination into the slave
trade in American ships, including that
new phase in piracy known as the
g Coolie trade" but in vain. It was OBJ
jected to by Southern gentlemen-they
wished to debate the resolution: and SO,
under the rules, it "weut over for de-
bate" In other words, it went over
board entirely, for Congress never finds
time to debate resolutions. At this Con-
gress, fortunately, a new rule was adopt
ed: resolutions were to be received and
referred soithoan debate. This cut off
objections, and compelled reference of
all subjects of inquiry. Mr.. Morse of
Maine (Repub.) introduced a resolui
ton of inquiry on the "Coolie trade"
and the House was compelled TO refer it.
As the committee has maturity of Re-
publicans, there is fair chance that the
subject will be ventilated. But what is
the Coolie trade? Apparently it is a
scheme to furnish voluntary Chinese
labor, under contract for a term of years,
at such rates of wages as may be agreed
upon in the contracts. This is the sys-
TEN, apparently. Really, however, the
poor Chinese are cheated, literally to
death, in these contracts. They are
stolen sometimes, and taken to the bara-
coons by force; some Of them are de-
eeived, to get them there; there they are
made to sign they know not what as q
contract; and then they are packed by
hundreds, in the hold of ship, for trans
portation to British or Spanish possess
ions in the West Indies, precisely a.
slaves are transported from the coast 0
Africa. Thus packed by hundreds OIL
board ship, to be torn away from thei
native land, the Coolies are sometime
fractions, and as precaution against re
bellion, they are imprisoned in the hol
Of the ship-and so they are taken o.
voyages Of thousands of miles. They di
for want of good provisions and fresh all
and there are instances in which tw
thirds have persisted on the outwar
voyage. / doubt whether even on
tenth survive the term of their contraC
and return to their homes. This bus
ness is authorized both by England (
and Spain, and American clipper ship
are chartered for Transporting these hi
man cargoes. \ few weeks ago l oil
served, in a Hong Kong (China1 new
paper a statement that while the Amer
can ship Flora Temple was lying in POI
alongside of U. S. ship of war, Cooli,
on board we're shot down by the Ca
tain absolutely within sight of the office
OF the Mississippi. This was on Satu
day, Oct. 8th, 1859. On Tuesday Il
18th the ship sailed, with cargo of g.
Coolies on board, who were confined
the hold of the ship. Three days ther
after the ship was wrecked. The office
and sailors escaped in the boats; but L
daring to open the matches and reles
the Coolies, they went off and left the
in the sinking ship, locked up. Not
soul of the eight hundred and fifty Cool
escaped. You will find another accol
of this murder in the n. Y. Tribune
the 2lst inst. Shall the Government
the United States permit its citizens
perpetrate murder by wholesale? l
serve, in the National LateLligencer
this morning, that even the slaye-ridC
Spanish Government has interdicted
traffic to Cuba; and Herewith is I
specimen of the Coolie trade:
The last importation of Coolies
" the French steam propeller Cha
/" Martel gives fearful results for the c
"templation Of British philanthropist
mine hundred and sixteen put on DO
"the vessel at Swaton (China,)
three hundred and forty delivered a
"in the port of Havana; five hund
"and sixty-nine having persisted at
sin voyage of one hundred and 70
two days, and seven after the vessel
anchored in our bay"
Comment is unnecessary.
AN EXPENSIVE CHEw.-A gel
l.