Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-13
A DEATH BLOW AT THE SLAVE
TRADE

The execution Of Capt. Gordon, the convic-
ted slave-pirate, will be death blow at the
slave-trade as prosecuted under the American
flag. Hitherto the Amoriogn slave-trader has
been sure either to escap.s conviction, or Il
convicted, TO escape w}th LgAslfe. And where
the profits of success are so enormous, dcs-
perate aud hardened men will run any risk
short of life for the sake of those profits
Through the couuivance or Indifference Of Of
fcias, and the apathy Of the public mind up
ON the subject New York had become impl-
Gated in the slave-trade TO a shameless extent.
The arrest and prosecution of suspected sla-
vers was a transparent sham. The conviction
of a slave-trader, however notorious, was well
nigh impossible Or If a form Of conviction
was secured. the escape Of the prisoner from
justice was matter Of course Now. all this
is changed. The officers Of the government
are in earnest 10 bling slave-traders to trial /;
the courts are disposed to apply the law Of
piracy to such cases aud in the present tone
Of public sentiment iuries do not shrink from
bringing in verdict according 20 the evi-
dence. 1t only remains that in every clear
case of guilt the sentence Of death shall be in
Aicted, and our port and our flag will soon be
rid of this opprobrum and curse. Such a
case is that Of IN wretohed man Just sentenc-
ed 60 be hung in this city on the 7th day of
February next. When the Erie was seized
last August, about fifty miles from the coast
of Africa she had on board eight hundred and
seventy-nine slaves, whom Gordon had taken
on board at the Congo, destined for the Gu
ba market The identity Of the prisoner and
his active participation in the piracy were es-
tablished beyond a question. The evidence
was so clear that after the conviction Of Cor
don by the Jury, the Court refused to enter
tain the motion for new trial, and Judge
Shipman pronounced the sentence of death.
The closing passages of the sentence were as
follows:
"You soon be confronted with the terrible con
sequences of your crime and It is proper that should
ca to your mind the duty of preparing for that event
which Will soon terminate Your mortal existence and
usher You into the presence of the Supreme Judge p"
Let me impore you to seek the spiritual guidance Of
the ministers Of reigou and let your repentance be as
humble and thorough your crime was great. Do not
attempt hide its enormiy from YOURSELF think " the
cruelty and wckeduess of sezing nearly thousand fell
low-bcugs, who never did ylu harm, and hWsthg hon
beneath the decks NJ q small ship. beneath lutuing
tropical SUM- die Of disease suioeain. be
ported distant lands and be consigned they aud their
posterity, 10 a fate far more cruel than death
Think u the sutferings Of 'he unhappy beings whom
You crowded on the kIiosof fir b lpess aHnuF and
terror You took them from hor native land and es
pecay think of those who perhed under the weight Of
their miseres on the passage from the place your
ture To Moufoyia Remember that you showed mercy
tn none carving on as Won did, only those Of your
own sex. but women and helpless children.
"no not hatcr iursef that because they belonged TO
different from yourself your guilt is therefore less
cuedrather fear that T. Is increased In the just ana
generous heart the humble and weak inspire compa
aud call for pity aud for6eaanee A. you are soon 70
pass into the presence of th1t God of the black man
well as the white man who s no respeccr Of persons,
do not indulge for moment he thought that HI hears
with indifference The cry Of te humhes Of his children
In uH that hprrusr others shHred the quilt