New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-08
THE SLAYER wANDERER.


Cavtured Africans Ask to be Returned
70 slnefn Native Land.
From the Washington Patriot.]
A peculiar ease, involving the question of
country, il soon to be brought before the
United States government for action. Many
win remember the excitement caused
through the country in 1859, during the adj
nainistration Of President Buchanan, by the
capture of the SLAYER "Wanderer," and the
kidnapping of the recaptives on board at
Savannah, Georgia. The Wanderer had
been 0xerhauled and captured by a United
States vesscLOfwar. cruising off Cuba.
be in, such q condition that it was found
necessary to run into the first port that
could be made. Though fearful OF the re-
suit. the commander of the cruiser put into
Savannah. Many ut Washington recall the
anxiety of President Buchanan to have the
vessel brought Mt once to some Northern
port. Before this could be effected how
ever, lawless gang boarded the SLAYER at
night, brought out the people, and ran them
the country so that future efforts to recover
them proved unayailing.
About two years since Rev. A. D~~Phil
lips, q missionary of the Southern Baptist
Convention, in YOruba, in Central Africa,
having returned, after twelve years alb
sence, to revisit his friends, was, one Sab
bath morning, addressing congregation Of
colored people at Mobile, Alabama Speak
ing Of his mission and of the people of
Africa, to illustrate the character Of their
Language, he repeated the Lords Prayer in
Yoruban. A little group in the back part
of the house broke out into a shout of de-
light, which was mistaken for religious en-
thusiasm by the preacher, till at the close
Of his discourse they came thr0nging toward
him and addressed him in their African
: tongue. They told him they were part of
the company carried off from the Wanderer,
and described how they were first seized in
their own country, sold, and put on board
the slave ship. They were traders in
connections Of high standing. Their party
were on . trading tour to some towns west
of Abeokuta, when, at an exposed point on
their road, party of slave-hunting Da-
homeys rushed on them from an ambush,
seized them, bore them off to little town
on the coast near Porto Novo, where the
Wanderer was lying of the shore to receive
them.
Since the war these people have gathered
into little community, retaining their
language, and keeping themselves separate
from the inferior blacks about them. They
have become Christians, are thrifty and en-
terprising, and are very eager to be sent
back to their native country, that they may
meet their families again and be useful to
their people.
The question now arises, whether the
former laws relating to the restoration Of
recaptured slaves apply to these people.
Humanity certainly speaks for them. The
: Secretary of the Interior, however, vino has
just retired, hesitated as to the power given
him under the laws Of Congress. Probably
the new secretary, Hon. Mr.: Delano, will
feel the same dithculty. Congress maybe
called upon to decide this, and even wider
questions as to the just demands of many
enterprising and earnest freedmen of the
South who are eager to go back to the land
of their ancestors and build up an African
civilization. 4