New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-18
THE COMING SLAVE TRIALS.

held here. There are now in prison, await.
ing trial at the ensuing term, nine slave
captains, and persons engaged in the African
save-trade, beside about thirty privateers,
from the pirate ships Savannah, Dixie, York,
Cuba, and JEFF. Davis. The trials of the
pirates, involving as they will great national
questions and considerations of state policy,
will no doubt prove Of moro immediate inter-
est to the general public; but the conviction
and prompt punishment of the trafckers in
human flesh and blood, viii no less grayely
concern humanity. For the first time in many
years, officers Of the Government have been
found who are honest enough to put aside the
rich brides by which it is believed their pre-
decessors were blinded, and zealOusly endeayor
to break up the immense slaye.trade done
at this port.
The efforts of the United States Marshal in
this behalf have, thus far, been most success
full. Through his e1ertions our Atlantic ports
are now free from the slave traders, and those
who but few months ago fitted out at
this port alone b-monthy ship for the coast,
find that they must go elsewhere if they wonld
escape detection. Hence they now resort to
the device of clearing the right sort of vessels
with legitimate cargoes, for ports in England,
or Scotland, or some other foreign country
and there, where their distinctive Characters.
tics are less known, reft them for the coast.
We have reason to believe that one of the
recently captured sayers was equipped at and
sailed from the port of Liverpool itself, be-
fore the faces of the British officials, without
her illicit character being suspected. Of
course, as soon as this state of things is under
stood her Britannia Mejesty's Government
will put an efiectual stop to it.
The salutary effects Of the condemnation of
the slayers Augusta, Sarah and Reindeer, with
the numerous arrests Of masters, merchants and
seamen, is shown in the last intelligence from
the African coast. At Loanda, and up the
Congo there were %, 900 negroes in barra-
coons, but no vessels TO take them. Some idea
of the immensely Of the traffic may be obtained
when we state that 100, 900 negroes are said to
be annual, imported into Cuba, their average
value per head being $500, or total OF $780,
COZ, 900; the profits of the trade are shared in
New. York, Cuba, England, France, Spain, Por.
tugal. To put q stop to it our Government
spends about 100000 year, beside many
valuable lives. The cost to the British of their
African squadron, is much greater. Through
the energetic action Of Capt Schufeldt, our
Consul at Havana, the fitting out of slavers at
that island has been practically put stop to-.
If our other Consuls were equally earnest IN
the work, their efforts would doubtless meet
with like success. There is one practice here,
which ought to be abolished. We refer to the
bonding of condemned slayers, pending tue ap-
peal from the decision of the Court. If the
law gives its officers no discretion in the matter,
then il should be amended. At oil events, bonds
should be required TO the uttermost value, so as
10 eiectually estOp the owner from again dis
patching hi. vessel on slave voyage, before her
final confscatiOn.
In this country as well as in Cuba,
aud wherever the slave traders resort the
name of our New.YoTk Marshal is most hearth
| ly cursed. He has been threatened, coaIed,
and invited to name the terms upon which he
would let up these people. Ilis terms are a
short shrift and long rope. The villains
whom be has captured and confined in the
TOmbs are in desperate strait. In his zeal
for the honor of the country, and for the sake
Of humanity, he has often stepped beyond the
limits Of his province to procure the requisite
evidence upon which TO convict these criminals.
The result is that be has obtained an array OF
testimony against them upon which he conf
IDENTIFY counts for their conviction. And they
know it, and are making superhuman effsrts,
through their counsel, to circumyent him. We
may be sure that whatever legal adrotness
money can procure will be placed at
their disposal. Upon their escape from the
gallOws, by fair means or foul hangs the fate
Of merchants whom the public would not sus-
pect Of staining their souls by participating in
such a traffic. These facts have doubtless
forced themselves upon the attention of Mr..
District-Attorney Smith. If he succeeds in Sc
curing the conviction aud punishment of these
felons, the African slavc.trade viii never again
rear its foul front in the Free States of the
North. If he fail, it will infuse new heart and
life into them, and perhaps lead to revival
of the business among u.s. He should, there
fore, if he has not already, call to his assist
ance the abest talent of the bar, in order that
the possibility of such catastrophe may be
prevented Now, or never, is the time TO deal
death-blow to this Ubiquitous traffic in the
United States.
Suppose the Fugitive States had abscoaded
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