Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-13

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10 the Editors Of the Ersping Poati 80 d 81 .irlt
The last dms ! saw you, you expressed
some desire 10 become acquainted with the
secret history Of the Slaye-tfade, asit Is car
ried on between the coast Of Africa and the
island Of Cubs ia Amtrican ships. / will
endeavor 10 satisfy your curiosity. b
An organized corupsuy exists IN the city
Of Havana with capital Of $1,000, 900,
whose sole business it is to import negroes
into the island Of Cuba. Nine-tenths OF the
slaves imported are brought in vessels owned
BY this company, at the head Of which is a
Spaniatd well known in that city-a large
merohsntr-Who conducts al its affairs His
manner of ofprOeeedlng Is this He writes 70
his correspondent in New York TO purchase
q vessel and procure a master. This cor
respondent Is probably AIr. ----, a. natu-
rallied citizen Of the United Sm'es who
placaJ the business in the hands OF Mr.
uiacilen ship broker. This last gentleman
obtains the vessel--not too large or too ex-
penstve, in order to divide the risk Of capture
among several with the same amount Of
capital employed And, with a. little diff
Guilty, be procures q captain; indeSd, so we'll
established IS this business and 80 well un-
derst0ld, that even the United States Mar
shals might sse, if it were not unfortunately
true that there are those so blind that they
viii not see,''
The ship bought for cash, the ownership is
sworn to, in order to get q register hy this
naturalized citizen and his captsiu. The
next thing is 10 load and clear her from the
Cnstom-houss. Not many months ago this
was an easy matter. The American bark
"Wld6re, sines captured with 500 negroes
on board, was loaded in broad daylight With
a regular slave cargo, at pier on the East
river, and, TO the astonishment Of all the
qongshoremen ia that tvicinity, went to sea
in tow Of a steam-tug direct for Africa
Every body, knew it except the United States
Marshal. A person told me, who know is
well Yersed in these matters, that for these
little " sins OF emission" some convenient
friend Of the above mentioned Office was in
the habit of receiving check, payable TO
bearer, for 81, 900. .'.e,5 d.
In this way some seventy vessels are said
to have sailed frOm the port Of New York
after eargoes. of slaves, since lst January last
/ But latterly, owing to a pressure of public
opinion; andssit is to be hoped, also, some
what 10 the stings Of guilty conscience
these United States officials have been rather
more rigid in their scrutiny Of susl ected
vessels, and, consequently, the manner O.
procedure has been changed.
cLEARkEUE OF sLAyERs AT HAVANA.
The vessel now takes a legal cargo to Ha,
yana, and OppOrtunely for the prosperity O
this traffic, recent decision Of Mr.. Attorney
/ General Black, at the suggestion, believe
] Of the American Consul at Havana, relieve!
the latter gentleman, after the arrival Of lh'
vessel in that port, of all responsibility il
reference to the legality Of her tutureeouFse
The Attorney General has decided that thi
clearance of any American vessel from thl
Custom House is PriRlG faeie evidence of tht
legality of the voyage, and, consequently
the Consul need take no further steps than th,
ordinary one Of exacting an oath from tht
captain that he is bound on a legal voyage
aud with q cargo in accordance with hi
clearance. To those acquainted with th
government ofhcllls in Havana, their sym
pathy with this trade and their natural afini
~ to bribery and corruption, it need not b
told how easily such a clearance can be OBJ
aimed Ia captain informed me that his clear
ance cost him six ounces-SlO2)
But tAis deciiion Of Mr.. Black, and this &C
tion Of ony consul-while it may be consis
tent with their sympathies, and may also re
lieve them C. direct responsibility-has NOT
at least as yet had the effect of diminish
fling the traffic under the national flag; on th
contrary, it has increased, and is increasing
every day. Our consul at Havana iuforme
ne that within the last twenty days he ha
passed through bis Office the elearanees Z
eight American vessels which he k1s,o wer
| going after negroes. IN.