Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-12-11
OLD SERIES.
The Hanging Of Gordon, tho
Siave-Trader.
ny EDWARD EVERETT HALE.

M hDN Ahp
New York was the great center where
the slave traders Of The world boush, their
vessels. Havana was the great center
where they laid their plans. Boston. New
Bedford. New London, Csdiz. BARGE Iona,
the Western Islands. and know not where
elss. were the minor places IN tho opera.
ton. The voyages were arranged at Ha-
vans. the ships were partly fitted in New
York. ihsncs they slipped to sea. picked
up the rest OF their equipment and the
right papers elsewhsrs IL New York would
not answer. and brought up on tho West
srn Coast. / have seen The record which
Mr.. Archibald. the English Consul and
Commissioners in New York. kept Of one
hundred snL seventy enc Of these vessels
in three years time. Il,s secre, agents
boarded them IN New York IIarbor, and
described them for him in detail, even
down to the brand OF cigars which tho cap
tain had ia his cabin. Mr.. Archibald sent
tho description to the Admiralty. and they
TO the Coast. Let me 20 below" said an
English officer. on board a SLAYER in one of
the African rivers. "Yol 20 at yoar
peril. said the captain, brave in the per,
fsctly regular papers hc had. in the Stars
anil Stripes ovor his head. in the new coat
OF paint ho had taken at The Western Is.
lands, anil ia the fact. perhaps, that, :,
though Lc sailed bark, hs was now brig
You 30 below at your peril" - will
take the risk. - said the Englishman; won't
below, and found all tho slave fittings,
casks, cooking stove, hand cuffs and the
rest. and OF course. ssizsd tho vessel The
outwiilsd captain. white with rage, Swore
not have known ms but Tor your bloody
English Consul in New York" Almost
eysry man OF the projectors was known to
the English government through tins steady
secret service. But they all ran riot till
Mr.. Lincoln cams in. and then one fne
day Gordon was arrested for slave trading.
another 'lay he was tried. aad another he
was banged
Yes. my friend ha was banged. ] know
about what is called the sacredness OF hu
man life. For my part. believe n man's
life is as sacred IS his liberty, and no more
so Aud believe when his country re.
quires either bis life or his liberty. she may
use il. il sue takes the responsibility IL
this case, | am very lad my country tool
, thi. responsibility. Whatever Gordon.
, life may have been worth to him or to b..
friends. think this country put it 10
very good use when she hanged him. A
, storm OF protest was made sgains, h
, death. Twenty Eve thousand people pc
iitioned Abraham Lincoln TO spare iha
, mans lie. and Abraham Lincoln refused
, Gordon was hanged And through ali tho
, little ports and big ports OF the Unit, {
, States It was known that 4 slave trader la,
/, been hanged. And. when thai was known
. the American Hlave.trade ended. All uJ
and down little African riveis that yol
:, that an American slave trader hal bect
hanged; and cowardly pirates tremhled
aud brave suameH eheered. when the
. heard it. Mothers Of children thanks
o such gods As they knew hsw TO thank an
slaves shut up in barracoons. waiiing 70
n the voyage. got signal that something hs
=. happened which vas TO give them 4 oulou
,, That somstbing wss that Gordon was hane
= ed So Ar that htle candle threw il
4 beams.
| am told. and | believe. that when tla
q poor wretch was under sentence II dsail
his friends" KEEP. him in liquor TO- th
moment Of bis death,--so anxious wei
q they lest he should complieaie soma
=. them 10y confession And when be W,
D, dead they celebrated b.. death ia tho ls
great orgy Of the slass. trade in or
- drunken Ica.t they held to-cther.--so r
e joiced were they tina, they hal escaped h
II testimony. Surh Is the honor anon
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