New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-25
A rIAssaCHUsETTs sLAyE-TRADER

Things are continually occu ring IN this worli
which nortfy our nineteenth century pride,
make dubious our civilization, and reiate our
arrogance. Who for Instance, would have be.
Ieyed thnt from the little, AutI-Slagery, half.
Quaker City Of ew.Bedford, Masf.-a city in
which any attempt 10 capture q fugitive slave is
sure ~ breed rJt-a city in which black men
arc treated nearly Ike human beings, and are
admitted quite freely 10 religious and eiucn-
tional privlleges-who would have believed that
from this city slave ship was dispatched to
the African coast, there received her freight Of
living misery, carried it to Cuba aud sod it for
a good price
IL really strikes oue in spite Of ho>solemuity
Of the subject, us not little ludicrous IL IS
like opening a gaining hell in the basement Of a
church. 1t gives ooe n cold shudder, just as 1t
does to hear a deacon treating himself to trihs
Of prcfaue language; or To learn that sorne plnr
Of ciety has been detected in the manufacture
of base coin for the South American market.
One remembers Clarkson and Granville Sharpe
and Wilberforce aud Luudy aud Webster, and
wonders what manner Of man Mr.. A. .. Bige-
low of New. Bedford ia, that-withnut changing
the venerable name-he should, 10 defiance of law
and gospe and humanity, send his ship Brutus
upon such an errand. Yet he did it. There
were whales 30 be caught, but Bgelow despssd
whales only human cargo would satisfy hin.
There were coolies TO be had, but BigelOw felt 4
contempt for coolies. lie might have sent his
Brutus for euapo, bat be didn't. He might have
sold the craft to South Carolina for private
pirate, bat he didn't. He might haze tried 70
smuggle cigars, diamonds, siks, and branlios,
but bo didn't He uight have sept out rum; aad
the Brutus mig't haze brought back dollars Of
the Spanish variety, and elephants teeth and
gold dust aud gums and spices and palm oil-Jut
he would ouly be- satisfied with hold full Of
well assorted men aud women.
We suppose that BigelOw knows how to read.
We suppose that he knows something Of the
horrors aud agonies Of a slaye.ship. We sup
pose that bo has heard OF tho lighting for food
for water, for cir, and Of the noisome stencil of
the lower deck. Ii not. We will give him some
information upon fret rate authority. "Tbe
vessels" aaid Jose Clife in his testimony before
tho House Of COmmons-and jose was q much
older hand at the beautiful business than Mr.
Bigelow--" the vessels are so offensive that sery.
ing the food is perhaps the greatest punish.
" ment to which you can put any one on board.
"There is generally some balf.witted person
"whom they have on purpose for it. to pass the
I" food round to them, and he is in such a hurry in
" doing it, that those who are nearest to one of
I" the hatchways arc more likely to got dodbe
"portion, rather than that he should go round
I" the sides Of the vessel, which is 50 ill yenti-
" lated that ID produces sickcDing eject upon
"him."
There you have IL, Mr.. ,Bigelow That is tho
way in which you compelled five or elk hundred
OF your fellow-creatures TO eat their dinners,
that your own might be cleanly and plentiful.
Charming-is II not A nice and cleany enter.
prise for a gentleman-s it not You may
build house, but blood will bedabble all its
walls though you paint them never so bravcly-
there will be blood on your hands, blood on
your plate, blood in your cup, blood in your
dreams and in youc death-bed. You cnnno.
help 1t now. 1t is rs fixed as fate. You may
repent, but you mover can forget, You may