This is a copy of material in the collections of Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library (http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa). This material may be protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.) and is being provided under the provisions of Section 108 of that law. Yale University is providing access to these materials for educational and research purposes only. Yale University makes no warranty that your distribution, reproduction or other use of these materials will be non-infringing. You are solely responsible for making legal assessments regarding the use of an item and securing any necessary permissions. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or holders of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions.

COLLECTION TITLE:

Elizabeth Donnan papers

COLLECTION ID NUMBER/CALL NUMBER

MS 184

ACCESSION NUMBER:

None

SERIES NUMBER:

I

BOX NUMBER:

1

FOLDER NUMBER:

10

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

MANUSCRIPTS AND ARCHIVES

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

L. C. Slave Papers AC973.
U. S. Marshals, 1857-1869, box.

*
B. F. Slocumb to Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior.

----------
Steamer "Everglade"
near Fernandina, Fla.,

Sept. 30, 1859.

Hon Jacob Thompson,

Dear Sir,

The old Maxim, "there's luck in delay" has been exemplified in my stay at St. Augustine. I wrote you from that place of my determination to go to Ocala, and of my detention for nearly four days, in order to obtain conveyance to that place. My letter was written on Saturday, 24th inst., and I did not leave St. Augustine till Wednesday 28th -- my only route to Ocala being via Piccolata and Pilatka on the St. John's river -- with about 70 miles of staging. I reached Pilatka at 9 o'clock Wednesday night, and as no stage was going out till morning, I put up at a hotel -- the Rulaski House -- where I met with Col John H. Newman, a man of 60 years, who I soon learned was a negro trader, from Louisiana, who, however, has been in Florida for several months, making his headquarters at Pilatka and Jacksonville. Having invited him to take a walk, and telling him that I was on the lookout for cheap Africans, etc., he completely unbosomed himself. I found out that he was in league with Hiram T. Mann of Ocala, from whom he (next morning) showed me several letters.

*
Slocumb was authorized to inquire into the rumors of the landing of negroes in Florida. He operated under the supervision of the U. S. Marshal at St. Augustine. See Geo. L. Zehmbaur to Secretary of the Interior, Oct. 1, 1859, in same collection.

2

L. C. Slave papers AC973.
U. S. Marshals, 1857-1869, box.

B.F.Slocumb to J. Thompson,
Sept. 30, 1859.

There is a perfectly organized "company" of African traders, who move with great caution, and conduct their correspondence so that should letters be intercepted, nothing could be made of them. The coast of Florida is their landing place, owing to its accessibility, and the remoteness of U. S. officers or vessels, and the absence of every class of settlers, from St. Augustine to Lake Worth, except wreckers [?], and fishermen, who are either in league with the company or are easily bought up. The rumored landing near Jupiter inlet was an actuality -- there is now no doubt of it -- and from 300 to 400 men landed. But these are all since the Wanderer, -- These, with many of the Wanderer's crew have been scattered over Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. The bulk of them are in Florida. Newman told me he had himself taken 34 to Nashville, 27, to his own place on the Tuckapaw in La., and 15 to New Orleans, 20 had been sold near St. Augustine, and 15 only ten days ago in Pilatka. Newman has an agency at Nashville, at New Orleans and at Mobile, and has a contract with his "company" by which he is to have first choice of all future cargoes. He says the newspaper rumors greatly exceed the facts relative to the negroes landed, but that cargoes are now expected every day, 10 vessels are out and one of them now , and if no accident detains her, she will certainly "be in" within 10 or 15 days. Of the ten vessels engaged most of them are northern. The Bahamas as well as the coast of Africa are to be drawn from, and a lively trade is to be started soon between Cuba and Florida. Says there are now 40 negroes of the Wanderer cargo near Savannah for sale, but no others. Those of both cargoes,

which have not been sold, and are yet in Florida, are being

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
*Manuscripts & Archives*

3

L. C. Slave Papers AC973,
U. S. Marshals, 1857-1869, box.

B.F.Slocumb to J.Thompson
Sept. 30, 1859.

"educated" in agriculture and the English language, so as to keep them busy in their concealment, and render them more valuable. Some of the "educated" have sold for $700, while the freshly imported are sold at from $350 to $400. The <u>Col.</u> has agreed to correspond with me, in case of fresh arrivals, and I may gain more information from him before I return. He is to address me at Vicksburg.

...

L. C., Slave Papers, AC973,
Miscellaneous (box)

Benjamin F. Slocumb to J. Thompson.

Washington, D. C.,

Nov. 21st 1859.

Hon. Jacob Thompson,

Secretary of the Interior,

Sir,

"With a view to obtaining correct information, in respect to the extent of importations of negroes direct from Africa, into the Southern States," I was appointed by you on the 14th of Sept. last, to make the necessary investigations, and was instructed to "proceed immediately to Wilmington, N.C., and "from thence to Georgia and Florida; and, having made the proper investigations, thence through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, to Galveston or Indianola, Texas." I was also directed to visit Vicksburg and Memphis, on my return to this city.

Under these instructions I have the honor to inform you that I left Washington on the 16th of Sept. last, and, on the morning of the 17th, reached Wilmington. There I remained three days, and was diligent in my inquiries and investigations touching the subject of my mission. Besides

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

2

B.F.Slocumb to J.
Thompson, Nov.21,1859.

L.C., Slave Papers, AC973,
Miscellaneous (box)

conversing with a number of gentlemen of intelligence, I visited the Slave Depot of Southerland and Coleman, but neither saw nor heard of any native Africans. On the contrary, I was convinced that there were no negroes of that class in Wilmington, and had not been of late years. Neither could I learn or hear of any landings of slavers on the North Carolina Coast, or upon the banks of any of her rivers. Here let me say, that at Wilmington, as subsequently at other places, I hailed from Mississippi, and conducted my conversation and investigations as one in search of slaves; only making known my official character to such U. S. officers as I thought could furnish me with information. Leaving Wilmington, I proceeded to Charleston, S. C., where I remained two days. There I was told by a gentleman somewhat prominent as an advocate of the African slave trade that the reports concerning the landing of Africans, except in the case of the yacht "Wanderer", were unreliable; in fact mere fabrications. There was not a native African negro in Charleston for sale, and so far as I could learn, had not been; not even one of the Wanderer's cargo. The gentleman before referred to, as an advocate of the slave trade, told me a circumstance illustrative of the numerous reports which were so freely circulated by the newspapers during last Summer. A New York sharper went to Charleston about the 1st of Sept., and in a subdued whisper

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

3

B.F.Slocum to J. Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

informed some brokers that his father was about to land four hundred negroes at Beaufort; that they were just from Africa, and must be landed at once, in the accomplishment of which he solicited their aid. A bargain being struck, a boat was chartered by the brokers to effect the landing, when, by an accident, the sharper was "smoked out", his imposition detected, and he was treated to a cold bath for his attempted swindle. This incident was substantiated by other persons, who were cognizant of the facts. Had a correspondent of some unscrupulous newspaper obtained the swindler's story and published it before it exploded, it would doubtless have obtained credence throughout the North, and no explanation of its falsity would have been believed.

There are doubtless men in Charleston, as in New York and Boston, ready to engage in the African slave trade, but they are few, and are generally deterred from active operations by fear of incurring the penalties of the law. So far, at least, the operation with the New York swindler seems to have been the only African negro speculation which has been actually engaged in by the enterprising men of Charleston.

Leaving Charleston on the 21st of Sept., I proceeded to Eastern Florida.

I conversed with

At Jacksonville, on the St. John's river,
Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
a Mr. Sylvester of Welaka, Fla., who informed
Manuscripts & Archives

4

B.F.Slocumb to J. Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

me that about two months before that time, (22d Sept.) he had _heard_ of a cargo of Africans being landed near the mouth of Indian river; that the vessel had been burnt, and the negroes taken to a place near Lake Istokpoga, and put to work on a plantation; that the captain and crew of the vessel were Spaniards; that he (Sylvester) had staid all night at a hotel in Enterprise, Fla., with a Spaniard _believed_ to be the aforesaid Captain; but that he could not talk with him. Sylvester referred me to a man named Luffman, on Indian river, as one interested in the African business, but he could tell me nothing more.

At St. Augustine I was told by Col. Dancy, U. S. Surveyor General, that a rumor was very prevalent, and he himself believed, that Africans had been landed on the Florida Coast, early in June last, near Lake North, or Jupiter Inlet. He referred me to a Mr. Canova, living near Ft. Arbuckle, in Brevard Co., Fla., as a competent guide, and as one interested in the Africans. I was also told by Col. Rodgers, a lawyer, of Ocala, Fla., that there was no doubt in his mind but that 380 negroes had been landed on the Florida coast within the last 2 or 3 months. He said some Africans had been offered to him at a low price, and I could find them if I wanted to purchase. He referred me to a Mr. Hiram T. Mann, a Mr. Giles and a Mr. Smith of Ocala. Said the negroes

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

5

were not at Ocala, but the agents there would take me to their
place of rendezvous. Mr. Andrew, Editor of the St. Augustine
Examiner, professed to believe the statement to be true which
he had published in his paper of July 23d 1859, viz: that a
cargo of negroes had been landed between Gilberts and Jupiter
Inlets some time in June. All these statements seemed to
corroborate each other, yet it is remarkable that none of
these parties had seen the negroes said to have been
landed, and none of them had any better ground to go upon than
rumor. It is true, Col. Rodgers said Africans had been offered
to him, but when it is remembered that a large portion of the
Wanderer's cargo was taken to Florida, the presumption is
very strong that these were the Africans offered to Col.
Rodgers. Upon an examination of the files of the St. Augus-
tine Examiner, I found a statement in the number of Aug.
20th 1859, to the effect "that cargoes of Africans are con-
stantly landed in the United States in pursuance of an Agree-
ment entered into between a Rhode Island Captain, one Miller
F. Wickham, commanding the Brig "Favorite", and a firm on the
coast of Africa, under the name of Lewis and Boyd". The
Examiner goes on to publish the "Agreement" by which Lewis
and Boyd engaged with Capt. Wickham to deliver him 80 "fair
and merchantable negroes", etc., etc., which negroes, quoth
the Examiner, "were landed and no mistake"; that the large

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

6

B. F. Slocumb to J. Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

planters made no objection to the landing of the said negroes, and that as a general thing they were purchasers; " Observing that the date of the aforesaid "agreement" as printed was blurred, I asked Mr. Andrew to let me see it. He very politely withdrew it from a pidgeon hole, and handed it to me. I found it to be an old, moth-eaten document, bearing date "April 25, 1804." In publishing it, the Editor, who is quite a wag, had purposely blurred the figures "04" to create some excitement, and as he remarked, "to bamboozle the Northern abolitionists". This is the "agreement" which you will remember was copied from the Examiner into the columns of the *New York Times* of 1st Sept. 1859, and other Eastern papers of about that date, accompanied with fierce political Editorials. It was a fine dish for sensationists.

At Pilatka, Fla., I met with one John H. Newman, an elderly man, a negro trader, who said his home was in Louisiana, but stated that he was engaged in the African slave business and was associated with an organized company, of which Hiram F. Mann, of Ocala, was a member. Said he had taken as many as 15 Africans to Mobile; 34 to Nashville, Tenn., and 24 to his own plantation, in the State of Louisiana. Said a cargo of Africans had been landed on the Florida coast since the 15th of June last. Said he had a place at Mobile, at New Orleans, and at Nashville where he

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
at New Orleans and at Nashville where he

Manuscripts & Archives

7

B.F.Slocumb to J.Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

could house his negroes. Said Mann had sold a lot of 15 Africans at Pilatka about 10 days before, and a few, (10 or 15) near St. Augustine. These were of the Wanderer's cargo. He told me, also, that about 40 of the Wanderer's cargo were in the neighborhood of Savannah, Ga.; that they were for sale, and I could find them by calling upon a Mr. Lamar of Savannah. Said there were no other Africans in or about Savannah. He also assured me that there were none in Charleston, S. C.

Leaving Florida, I retraced my steps to Savannah, Ga., and from there proceeded to Montgomery and Mobile, Ala. I could hear nothing of Africans at Montgomery, saving the current rumors of the day, relative to the movements of the Wanderer's cargo. At Mobile, I visited all the negro depots in the place; among the rest, that of John McClusky, represented to me by J. H. Newman, as his depot in Mobile. I found no Africans, and McClusky, who appeared to be an honest man, and who I found sustained that reputation, told me that no Africans had been in the city, except two companies of the Wanderer negroes, *in transition*, one of 23 and one of 6. The 23 had been housed in his establishment, and were taken from there to Louisiana. Said he was acquainted with John H. Newman. Went out to Florida with him about the 1st of last June, for the purpose of getting some Africans which Newman said were in transition. After remaining some

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

8

time, and no cargo being landed, he became discouraged and returned to Mobile. Since then he has had no reliable information of any landings; does not believe any landing has been effected, and has certainly seen no evidences thereof. Said he did not think Newman a reliable man, and would not believe him on oath.

Proceeding to New Orleans, I visited all the negro depots in that city. Although I felt pretty well "initiated", I could find no Africans, and was assured by the negro traders that there were none in town; it was not deemed a "safe business". Was told that about 100 had been sold in and about New Orleans last Spring, and hurried away. This was told me by Joseph Bruin, and one or two other negro traders. Bruin, who is from Alexandria, Va., assured me that there were now no Africans in New Orleans, and have not been since last Spring. Several prominent citizens of New Orleans assured me of this fact. Mr. Collector Hatch stated that, under his direction, U. S. Cutters, had been for months scouring the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts and inlets, but without detecting a single slaver.

Leaving New Orleans, I visited Galveston, Indianola, and Port Laveca, Texas, but could hear no rumors of landings of Africans on the Texas coast. All I could learn, by the most diligent inquiry, I found that 80 of the wanderer's negroes were on a plantation on the Corpus Christi, and six on a plantation

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

9

near the town of Watagorda, on Watagorda Bay.

Returning, I visited Vicksburg, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn. At Vicksburg I learned from good authority that 30 of the Wanderer's cargo had been brought to that place last Spring and sold by Forest and Co., Slave-dealers. No others have been sold there.

At Memphis, I was informed at the negro depot of Bynd Hill that 7 Africans had been sold there last Spring by one Forest, (Hill's predecessor.) These were of the Wanderer's cargo, and were all that were sold in Memphis, and all in fact which have been there. These statements were corroborated by reliable gentlemen, residents of Memphis, and personal friends of mine. I have no hesitancy in affirming their truth.

I have thus given you in detail all the rumors and facts which I could gather at the various places mentioned in regard to the "extent of importations of negroes direct from Africa, into the Southern States", of late years. You will perceive that since the landing of the Wanderer, there is no convincing evidence that any other landing of Africans has been effected upon the Southern coast. The cargo reported to have been landed, as stated to me by Mr. Sylvester, Col. Dancy, Col. Rodgers and by Jno. H. Newman, was evidently the same one reported by Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, New Haven, CT, having been landed

10

B. F. Slocum to J. Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

L.C., Slave Papers, AC973
Miscellaneous (box)

near Jupiter Inlet last Spring, but of which there is no proof,
though there is strong evidence to the contrary, now on the
files of your Department, from U. S. Deputy Marshal Zehnbauer,
who was carried to Jupiter and Indian river, soon after the
reported landing, by the U. S. Cutter, (James C. Dobbin).

Mr. Zehnbauer, as he informed me verbally, was unable to find
any traces or foot-prints of the negroes, said to have been
landed, or of the vessel in which they were said to have
been brought from Africa. I am convinced that if any negroes
have been landed on our Southern coast since the landing of the
Wanderer, there has been at most but one cargo, and it requires the exercise of a large credulity to believe that
even one has been landed, considering that the U. S. Deputy
 Marshal in his investigations could find no trace or sign of
it; that no person with whom I conversed in Florida professed
to know of such landing, excepting Jnoth H. Newman, and he
is discredited by the testimony of his confrere John McClusky,
and by the fact that in all my travel through the Southern
States, the whole number of Africans I could hear of as having
been sold or actually known to be in the country, amount only
to 338!--a number less than that of the Wanderer's cargo.

In conclusion I will add that, so far as I could learn,
the expressions and sentiment of the masses of the Southern
people are hostile to the revival of the African slave trade;
and the rumors that there are so current last Spring and Summer,

11

relative to the practical revival of the African slave-trade
in the South, were wholly founded upon the movements of the
Wanderer negroes, or else they were mere fabrications,
manufactured and circulated for political effect, or to fill
a column in a sensation newspaper.

With great respect,

Your ob't sv't,

Ben. F. Slocumb.

L. C., Slave Papers, AC973
Miscellaneous (box)

F. H. Hatch to Jacob Thompson.

Custom House, New Orleans,
Collector's Office, Nov. 21st 1859

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours
of 12th inst in which you express the desire "to be furnished
with a statement covering the whole of my operations on the
coast of Louisiana and Texas, and inland, in reference to
preventing violations of the laws prohibiting the slave
trade." And in reply to communicate the following as the
statement you desire.

On 1st April 1857 I assumed the duties of Collector of
Customs at this port.

The first case in which my attention was directed to
attempts to violate the Acts prohibiting the slave trade was
that of the Schooner "Louis McLean" that applied on the 1st
May 1837 for a clearance for Anabon and a Market--the suspi-
cions being strong against this vessel I caused her to
be seized after clearance, and instituted legal proceedings
against her for forfeiture, as being fitted out for the
slave trade, as well as against the persons found on board,
the action in this case, although executed with all the energy
and perseverance of which the federal officers at this port

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

2

F.H.Hatch to J.
Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

were capable, and though the evidence produced was morally
convincing that she was intended for the illegal traffic,
yet the court failed to condemn the vessel or
the parties arrested, and while an appeal was taken to the U.
S. Circuit Court for this District, the vessel was released
on bonds and proceeded on her voyage.

This vessel having been subsequently captured on the
coast of Africa by a British Cruiser and the fact in connec-
tion with others made the subject of correspondence between
the British Minister at Washington and the Hon¹ Secretary of
State, I at the request of that officer furnished him under
date of 18th March 1858 a detailed statement of all the facts
and circumstances that led to the seizure and were connected
with the prosecution of the proceedings instituted against her.

In August 1857 having received from the U. S. Consul
General at Havana information that led to the belief that the
Brig W. D. Miller an American vessel under a Register issued
from this port on 13 March 1856, was engaged in the slave
trade - I obtained the testimony of two seamen belonging to
said Brig during her alleged slave voyage, and on 20th August
directed proceedings to be instituted against Mr Jose Villa-
subia Jr who appeared by the records of this office to be the
sole owner, for the penalties provided by the Act of 16 May
1800.

3

F.H.Hatch to J.
Thompson, Nov. 21,1859.

My next action in relation to the slave trade was
in March 1858, on the 1st of that month I received from the
Hon¹ Secretary of the Treasury a telegraphic despatch
stating that the Department had been advised that a cargo of
Africans would be landed on the S. W. coast of Louisiana
or Texas and directing that every possible exertion should
should be used to intercept the landing etc and pointing to
the Bark "E. W. Raulins" the cleared from this port on 11th
February 1858 as the importing vessel.

On receipt of this despatch I immediately transmitted
a copy to the Collector of Customs at Galveston Texas and
requested his cooperation with my efforts in preventing any
such an attempt, and suggested that he should direct the
Revenue Cutter Dodge attached to his station to cruise on the
coast of Texas as far as the River Sabine, and that said
Cutter should connect with the Cutter from this port, cruising
to that point,

On 4th March 1858 I instructed Capt J. G. Breshwood
Commanding Revenue Cutter "Lewis Cass" on this station, to
proceed with his command immediately to send a cruise along the
coast from the S. W. Pass to the westward as far as the
"Mermenton"

Under same date the Revenue Cutter "Robt McClelland"
having been transferred by the Treasury Department from Mobile
to this station to assist in preserving the acts prohibiting

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
*to assist in preserving*

Manuscripts & Archives

4

F. H. Hatch to J. Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

L.C., Slave Papers, AC973

Miscellaneous (box)

the slave trade from violation, I instructed her commander Capt J. J. Morrison to cruise with his vessel on the coast of this state from the "Merenton" to the "Sabine"

By this means the entire line of the coast of this state and Texas was placed under the close and vigilant inspection of the Revenue Cutter Service.

My instruction to the officers of these vessels enjoined upon them the exercise of constant vigilance and the use of every and all means at their command to prevent the landing of Africans on the coast. They were likewise directed to examine vessels found on the coast with great care and scrutiny and in addition, as at many points the shoal water would not admit of the entrance of their vessels into the numerous bays and inlets with which the coast of this state is indented, to explore such by means of boat expeditions from their respective vessels.

By these precautionary measures the whole coast was not only guarded, but the approach of vessels on the coast with an illegal object could have been at once detected, and even had such succeeded in making a landing their rendezvous would have been discovered by the boat examinations of the bays and inlets, which from their secluded positions were most likely to be selected as the safest harbors for such an illegal traffic,

That the Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY officers of these vessels faithfully dis-

5

I.C., Slave Papers, AC973, Miscellaneous (box)

charged the important duties assigned them, I have every reason to believe, yet the cruise was continued and the examinations persevered in untill the month of July 1858 without any important results or the obtaining of information calculated to sustain the reports received by the Department.

From these efforts I am satisfied that no attempt to land Africans on this coast or that of Texas was made, and that the Treasury Department had either been misinformed, or that the completeness of the means provided to detect and frustrate such attempts, effectually discouraged the projectors of any such scheme, and from apprehension of almost certain detection induced its abandonment, had the same been contemplated, of which I confess to ever entertaining serious doubts.

In addition to these measures on the coast I directed that a constant and vigilant watch should be kept on all vessels in port and that I should be promptly advised of any circumstances likely to justify suspicions against any such as being fitting out for the slave trade, this surveillance continued without important results untill the 1 May 1858 when from facts reported I had grave reason to suspect that the Bark J. W. Reed" an American vessel then at this port, was fitting out for a slave voyage, the suspicious circumstances in this case were the admissions of some persons employed about the vessel the unusual quantity of new spurs

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

6

etc. and the character of her lading. Their reports however being far from definite prudence influenced me to refrain from action until an attempt should be made to clear the vessel, or other facts of more importance were developed, these soon transpired, the property in the vessel was transferred and her master Frederick B. Sladden a naturalized citizen became sole owner, on 4 May 1838. the master presented at this office a manifest and asked for a clearance for the vessel to Santiago de Cuba, this transfer of the vessel on the eve of clearance to a naturalized citizen-(a course which is almost universally adopted when fitting out vessels for the slave trade,-) in addition to the suspicious character of her manifest now confirmed in my mind the suspicions before entertained - and I seized the vessel and directed the institution of legal proceedings to secure her forfeiture, the cargo of the vessel was discharged and an examination of the vessel made by experts (old ship masters some of whom had been on the African coast) and although as strong a case as I can conceive to be possible under ordinary circumstances, was made against the vessel, yet the United States failed to obtain a verdict, and she was cleared for Santiago de Cuba, the destination originally proposed.

My next action in reference to preventing the violation of the laws prohibiting the slave trade, was in April 1839, at

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

F.H.Hatch to J.Thompson, Nov. 21, 1859.

I.C. Slave Papers, AC973, Miscellaneous (box)

7

that time reports were current of another attempt to be made to land Africans on the coast of this state, and a small sloop the "Fairy" having left this port under suspicious circumstances it was thought that she might have been intended to be used as a lighter in landing the cargo of some vessel in waiting off the coast.

In this as in the former case the coast was watched and carefully examined by the Revenue Cutters, and in addition an expedition under the charge of one of the officers of this Department, employed on detective service, was despatched in a small vessel to reconnoitre all the bays inlets and islands on the coast from Barred Key to the Mermenton, that being the particular section of the coast to which attention was directed in the report.

These efforts although I am satisfied prosecuted with energy and zeal were fruitless as to results that would tend to show the least foundation for the reports that occasioned the action.

Also in April last the ship "Rebecca" an American vessel at this port was seized and proceeded against under the laws prohibiting the slave trade. The owners of this vessel before asking for a clearance, informed me that they intended despatching the vessel to the "Rio Congo" on the coast of Africa on a legitimate and legal voyage, and presented a list of the articles intended to be laden on board, requesting that Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, an inspector of the Customs should be de-

8

tailed to superintend the receiving of the cargo in order that I might be satisfied that none other articles except those enumerated in the list presented were placed on board, this I declined deeming it proper to await the presentation of a manifest and an application for clearance before acting. On such application being made and the manifest presented I determined after communicating with the Treasury Department to seize the vessel as being fitted out for the slave trade and accordingly caused the necessary legal proceedings to be instituted.

On the trial of the cause every effort was made by the U. S. Attorney to maintain the position taken by the government, yet the decision was in favor of the defendants and consequently the vessel was cleared for her original destination and departed.

The cases here refered to if not all upon which I have had occasion to act, are at least those of the most importance, and are sufficient I think, to establish the fact, that there has been no luke warmness or apathy on the part of this Department of the Revenue Service in taking measures to preserve the laws prohibiting the slave trade from violation, but show rather that the efforts made have been characterized by a promptness in action, and energy and perseverance in the execution of all the means employed to accomplish this end.

9

The result of these efforts has been to satisfy me that while there may have been vessels fitted out in and cleared from this port with the ultimate intention of engaging in the slave trade, that in their preparation, the real object of the voyage have been so carefully and ingeniously concealed and their operations so guarded as to render it almost impossible to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court on a trial, a fact that to others was morally apparent and conclusive, and that from these causes rather than the want of official vigilance on the part of Federal officers such vessels have been enabled to depart. Yet in all these cases I am satisfied that such vessels have in contemplation the landing of their illicit cargos on the Cuban coast rather than that of the United States, and moreover that of the American tonnage engaged in this illegal traffic on the African coast, but a very small portion is cleared from Southern ports.

As regards the landing of Africans I am from the result of my investigations in this state which have been most thorough and searching, and from the best information within my reach satisfied, that there has been no Africans landed on the coast of this state, and for the same reason I cannot avoid the landing of Africans that the Africans landed from the "Wanderer" are the only ones landed on the coast of the United States, and in this case although the cargo was

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

it is well known that although the cargo was

10

succesfully landed, the enterprise resulted very disa[s]truously as a pecuniary operation to all parties interested, which result in unquestionably to be attributed to the immense preponderance of public sentiment in the south against violations of the acts prohibiting the slave trade, and such creating great embarrassments in landing and disposing of the property.

In reference to the Africans from the "Wanderer", I am creditable informed that within the last eighteen months a very small number of Africans have been sold in this market, which wear supposed to be a part of the "Wanderers" cargo, public opinion causing them to be disposed of with very great secrecy, in one instance a planter of this state has been indicted before our courts for having such Africans in his possession and the matter is now pending.

The foregoing statements which I believe contain all the information in my possession and review in general terms the whole of my operations on the coast of this state, and Texas and inland, in reference to preventing violations of the laws prohibiting the slave trade, I in compliance with your request respectfully submit for your consideration.

Collector

Honl J Thompson
Secretary of the Interior.

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives