Des Arc citizen., 1860-04-11
The African Slave Trade.

We invite careful perusal of the fol- lowing article, which we clip from the .NashuHle Union. Comment is unneces- sary. The facts speak for themselves.
 Recent letters from the African coast state that in consequence of the great de- mand for slaves upon the Island of Cuba, and the facilities for landing them there, the inefficiency of the American squadron in aresting vessels sailing under the American flag engaged in the slave trade and the rigid instructions to British crui' sers, fordidding them to search vessels sailing under American colors, a greaI impetus has been given 10 this traffic. A correspondent of the New York Times gives graphic description of the manner in which it is conducted. The slave vessels nearly all set out from the port oI New York with Spanish or Portugese supercargoes on board. They obtain clearance papers under a pretence of a desire to embark in the palm oil trade "a traffic so limited that it could mol furnish legitimate employment to one. fifth of the vessels nominally engaged ir i it. The slavers generally rely upon the American flag as their chief protection, feeling confident that it will, in most in. stances, shield them from capture by the vigilant British steamers cruising upon the coast, and that they can elude the pur. suit of the slew-sailing and comparatively small number of American vessels-oi-wa employed in watching their movements.
 Upon the coast they have plenty of ac. tive friends and sympathzers, through whose aid cargoes of slaves can readily be obtained at short notice, at any pom form which they desire to ship them The extraordinary profits of the business from most tempting prize to the cupidity of those who engage in 1t, and furnish them with every desirable facility fol prosecuting il successfully that money can secure. The estimated profit upon each slave landed in Cuba Is three hundred dollars, and as a cargo sometimes consists of from eight hundred to one thusand slaves, single successful voyage makes the fortune of those who reap it's profits It is believed that not more than one shaver out of three or four leaving the coast o Africa IS captured
 The fact that the slave trade should still be continued on an extensive scale notwithstanding the millions of money that have been expended by the United States and Great Britain in their efforts to suppress it, Is one of the most startling and lamentable proofs that could be giver of the lnefficiency of Government to check 1t. Onr national respect for our flag which has become an inbred and deeply cherished sentiment, in consequence oI the outrages committed upon American vessels by British cruisers many years ago. has proved of immense practical al. vantage to the slavers, and, in fact, become a sort of shield for the slave trade
 The officers and crews of the British vessels upon the coast of Africa, too while extremely vigllant in the perform. ance of their duty, have, in reality, per sonal and pecuniary interest in the partial success of the trade they are specially commissioned to destroy. When they CdptAiC c saw VESSEL ltiC diC CIlitiCd lO a premium of 1925 per head for each slave on board |; and when the cargo consists of eight hundred or one thousand negroes, their prize money amounts to good round sum. The negroes thus captured are taken to the English West India Islands, and disposed of there as appren- tices for a term of years-thus meeting the same fale that would have awaited them if they had been sold as slaves for life 10 Cuban planters.
 Alter a slayer sets sail and chase is given to her by a British cruiser, both parties look upon the transaction as a des- perate game, in which the practical ques- ton involved is whether the profits should be reaped by the owners and crew of the slayer and the planters of Cuba, or by he officers and men of the British cruisers. and the British planters of the West India Islands,