The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-21
The Slave Trade. and Gordon the Slave
Trader.

The mass Of the people in the free States, and
indeed civilized people every where, save where
the 'peculiar institution" is recognized, regard
the slave trade with unmitigated horror, and
Justly denoninste ii the most execrable and
Godless traffic ever suffered to exist among
inen.
IL would seem that business, the staple and
basis Of which is aesh and blood. would be so
repulsiye and odious that the most hardened
and obdura,e wretch on earth would instinct
lively turn from il with disgust. One would
think II impossible to fnd men enough among
the uuapprehended murderers of the land to
carry on the business successfully, and whence
come the class (who must have descended one
step deeper in inhmy than ordinary thieves, as
slssins and murderers) who, in defiance Of
law and the moral sentiments Of the civilized
world. carry ON the shocking business Of slave
trading. is a mystery.
The fact, however. cannot be winked out Of
sight, tina, men are found, and that in abund-
anee, sufficiently hardened and soulless TO ill
the various stations from manager-in-chief,
requiring brains and pluck and daredevil des-
peration, down to the common cook and bottle
washer, whose business II is to keep the connec-
ton between the soul and body Of the living
cargo unbrOken until il can be safely landed in
some southern port of the republic whose boast
IL has been that il was the freest and hsppiest
GU earth.
Unsophis,ica,ed people would suppose at first
thought that men Of this character, engaged In
business 50 nefarious, could be found only in
the most out Of the way places, and II con-
fronted by an ordinarily respectable highway
man or house breaker would instinctively hang
their heals for shame. The idea that they
could I've found in broad daylight in New York
and Boston and misunderstanding the most
respect.b.e hotels, and countenanced by people
prolss.edly decent, would shock them exceed
July; but such, to our disgrace be IL said, has
been the fact.
But is there no Law forbidding so foul acrime
no penalty attached to the commission OF so
great stu against humanity Most certainly
there is-and equally certain that that law has
been evale,i, and the business carried on with
an astonishing approach to impunity.
The profits Of the business are so enormous
that those engaged in IL have been enabled with
equal facilities to purchase clearances from the
cu,toIn-house and the gallOws.
In the early and better days Of the republic,
before the slave-breeding and slave-stealinS
chivalry had obtained complete control OF all
departments Of the Government. Congress
pissed an act declaring the slave trade piracy,
and as such punishable with death.
Theoretically IL has been an illicit and I'M
lawful trade, but practically ii has met with as
few obstacles. and been attended with as little
risk and hazard, as whaling expedition or the
ordinary ventures on the high seas.
The men engaged in this business were in
close alliance with the men who shaped the
course Of the last two national Administrations,
who by the way are the same who now lead the
fearful revolt against constitutional govern
ment and liberty regulated by law"
They constituted . large and powerful fra
ternity and Il would not require great stretch
OF Imagination to believe that the Devil was
their invisible grandmother. Contributing
largely to the electioneering fund Of the then
dominant party, and at the same time eoutri.
buting 20 the stock out Of which Is made the
grand corner stone Of the Niger confederaey.
Il |, not too much to say that they were
shielded and protected by those whose sworn
duty |, was to expose their iniquity. and execute
the vengeance Of the law upon them.
The hope and expectation that q Republican
Administration would deal the death blow to
the whole system Of slave trading, was not
among the least ofthe causes why good men
rejoieed a, the success ofthe Republicans in the
fall Of 1850. ..
And IL would seem that their hopes are In a
fair way TO be realized. Everything seems to
indicate that the Administration has taken
energetic measures to suppress Il entirely. The
appointments along the Atlantic coast were
given to men Who had no sympathy with mig
ger ste,lers. and Who dared To do their duty
fearleSsly. The result has been that the hounds
have been put to their trumps, and already
begin 10 realize that their Occupations gone.
Awri<r in the Continental says that the new
Marshall for the Southern district Of New York
In three months after assuming bis once seired
nine vessels and arrested tweniy-sight men
Who had outftisi. commanded or served OF
them
We also learn from the same writer. that ih'
Secretary the Interior convened in the cit,
OF New York on the 18th Of August, 1861. al
the Marshall, OF the States and districts yin'
upon the sesboard. and then and there agree
upon system Of measures for tho efieetua