The New York Herald Newspaper, February 17, 1858, Page 2

assumption. The present slave population of the New World may be stated about as follows:— United States 3,204,000 Braz -3,000,000 Cubs 000 Porto Rico... 50,000 Total 6,854,000 The whole average yield or production of the | orld in staple tropical articles, in 1855~'56 and "57, as about as follows: — Stave Other Amount. Labor. Value . itton, bales. . ..8,500,000 3,060,000 $135,000,000 00,000 ~ Jg.!'m cane, besides eenes: Oe 1,100,000 675,000* 74,000,000 + 425,000 ice, tierce. | Exp. { $8,668 68,668 Jakn’ oes Sass 28 {Sess tion} 2,600,000 Unkn’n. Do. home consm| - — 1,500,000 do, Do. - — 1,000,000 do. Tod'er f 8.bhis. | Exp. 116,000) Tov.t aies | 66-7 9,84 > 12,221,000 do. Do. cenes | wir) Tob, home consmp. = — — 1,000,000 do. Do. Cuba, est. vai. — — 1,000,000 do. Coffee, bags... 607,000 400,008$ 8,000,000 207,000 Total value of slave products in intert/opical regions... + ++ $236,721,000 *Fetimaied at 5 centa p here were 178 tons of Augar cane grown in the British Wes! Indies by blacks, styled apprentices, Eetimated at 93 cents per Ib. We have compiled the above statistics from the most recent and reliable sources. We do not claim that they are exact, but we consider that the pro- ducts yielded by slave labor are under, rather than over, the correct amount. The value of a large num- ber of other products might be added to the general amount, such as indigo, spices, India rubber, dye ‘woods, mahogany, hemp, naval stores, &c., which would add largely to the sum total. We thus see that the great value of the above articles, equal to $236,721 ,000, is produced by the labor of only about 6,854,000 African slaves. These immense supplies are consumed in about the following proportions by the white races of the tem- perate latitudes, in Europe, the United States and in Canada:— Cotton, bales . «3,500,000 Sogar cane, tons. 602,700 ea NER tae AE le 600,000 —the largest proportion of which is exclusively the product of African slave labor. The number of whites, including sixty millions in Russia, depen- Gent upon these supplies, amounts to about two hun- dred and fifty-five millions; end taking Great Britain, France, Austria and the United States alone, com- prises 105,000,000 of souls who are chiefly depen- dent upon the labor of 6,854,000 African slaves in tropical climates to clothe them with cotton fab- rica, and to feed them with sugar, coffee and rice, and supply them with the luxury of tobacco. These 105,000,000 of whites, or 255,000,000 of whites if you please, must in the course of a comparatively few years be doubled, which will require double the quantity of these tropical products, and double the amount of African labor to produce them, or raise them to double the prices now paid. i was no great stretch of philanthropy for the petty kingdoms and monarchies of Eu- rope to destroy African labor in their few small West India islands; but it was an im- mense sacrifice in the empire of Brazil, with millions of acres of uncultivated tropical lands, to abolish the importation of African labor. It is a great loss to the United States and to the commerce of the world, to have vast tracts of cotton and sugar lands in the Southwest remain wild and unculti- vated for the want of African labor. Without an in- crease of African labor in the New World its white population, with that of Europe, must have its de- pendence increased on the British possessions in India, and at greatly enhanced prices, which, it is believed, has been the long cherished desire of the honorable East India Company. The establishment of the colony of Liberia, sup- plied with colored emigrants from the United States, has done a great deal towards the suppression of the slave trade on that and the adjacent coast. MODERN COURSE OF THE SLAVE TRADE. In 1856-'57 the slave trade was carried on almost exclusively on the Congo river, or from neighboring points, All the slaves shipped from Africa within the past two years have been sent to Cuba, and chiefly landed at Trinidad. About three out of every five vessels employed in the slave trade are fitted out in the United States, and the remainder in Cuba. About two-thirds of those sent from the United States are fitted out in the port of New York. All are owned by foreigners, and about seven-eighths of their value by Spaniards resident in Cuba. At- tempts have been made to ship slaves from Why- adah, Popoe and neighborhood; but none were taken from thence in 1856. In 1857 only three ves- pels received slaves near Popoe. A bark received 200 slaves at that point, which were taken to Cuba, but were seized by the government. A brig took on board 150, which were afterwards seized by a British steamer. Another vessel, while receiving slaves, and having board, was seized by a British steamer, and four other vessels on the coast were seized without having any slaves on board. No regular slave factories have existed on this coast for the past two years, as the people will not ship slaves, as they are not paid for them by the Spaniards. In some places native owners of slaves can get $60 and $70 per annum for their hire to Europeans for the manufacture of palm oil. One cargo of slaves ship- ped from Benguela, a Portuguese settlement south of the Equator, and two cargoes were taken from a point north of the British colony of Sierra Leone. All three were taken to Cuba. No slaves have re cently been shipped for Brazil. The schooner Mary Smith, which was fitted out in Boston, took on board & cargo of slaves from the Congo river for Brazil, but she was captured by a Brazilian vessel of war in the port of Bahia It would be easy to put a total stop to the slave trade were the great Powers disposed to act in earnest, and especially Great Britain. @rrangements now in force are a miserable sham, tad the United States, by sustaining a squadron on | the African coast, are made a catapaw. On certain rivers in some parts of America may be seen a kingfisher, a Giver for fish, not mach larger than ajay bird. He perches himself on the dead limb of a tree projecting over the water of con siderable depth, and, intently gazing into the clear | stream below, no sooner sees a fish than he makes a plunge for it, and brings it up in his talons for his repast; but there is also seen at the same time a hawk resting quietly on some branch of a tree in the vicinity, closely watching the move menta of the kingfisher. No sooner has the latter brought up his prize than the hawk makes a bold and sudden dash at him, forcing him, in order to save his own carcass, to drop his fish, which is seized by the hawk, who proceeds to devour it at his leisure. It is on the same principle that the British cruisers act on the coast of Africa. They let Spanish or Portugese slave vessels go in and take on board a cargo of slaves, for which they pay their mon On their way out, however, with their slaves on Doard, they are seized, their vessels condemned by the British authorities, and the slaves se » the British West Indian Islands to grow sugar, indigo and ¢ The main dependence of England for an in orease of African labor in her West Indian colonies fs upon slaves captured from Spanish and other weasels on the coast of Africa. About nine-teaths of the slaves captured by British cruisers from nish Portuguese and Brazilian vessels, have been sent in British transports, and many, while in a sickly and Oyinggondition, ty the Lritish West Indian Islands pf Trinidad, Demarara and Berbice. This mode of @isposing of captured Africans has, it is tive, re Ceived some oppoeition. It we ld be far better at fpnce for the British to engage in free African em Eration, as suggested by the Hrnanp in 1856, and pubeequently by the London Times, and acted upon Dy the Emperor of France, than to reinforce their African labor in their West India possessions at wither people's expense, under the pretext of philan Ehropy. Bimce 1845 slave vessels are first carried nto Bierra Leone or St. Helena, and condemned | "The claves are then trunshipped to Britizh traasports, thirty on | The whole | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1858. and sent to the West Indies. If the sole object is | shall be done. New debts or claims are tramped up to benefit the Africans, why not send them back to | as often as necessary, which binds the laborer and ‘Africa? When taken by American cruisers, they are sent to the free African colony of Liberia. It is true that a sort of stipulation is made that the cap- | tured slaves thus sent to the West Indies are to be provided with vessels, and sent back at the expira- tion of ten years to Africa. What could a black man do in Africa, after ten years’ absence, ina country | where he was a prisoner of war, and had been sold | asa slave, but starve or be killed by his country- | men? Neither have we ever heard of an instance | in which captured slaves have been returned in ves- sels provided for them. A contract has been entered into by planters, under the consent and auspices of the French Go- vernor, with the Messrs. Regis, of Marseilles, to con- vey African emigrants to the French West India islands of Gaudaloupe and Martinique, The first ship with emigrants, which recently safled, has since reached its destination. The emigrants were not over crowded, and are said to have enjoyed good health, only five deaths having occureed on the voyage. Contrast this with the fate of a slave ship recently reported on the south coast of Africa. She had 800 slaves on board, and was run down by a British cruiser, and before she could be over- hauled 400 of the slaves were drowned. It is a question of importance to consider whether any of our Southwestern States will deem it ex- pedient to authorize free African emigration. If so inclined, is there anything in the constitution and laws of the United States to prevent it? Can they, if disposed, contract, like the French go- vernment, for the delivery of voluntary African emigrants, and thus increase their force of African labor? These important questions they must answer for themselves. Slaves of ten fo twelve years of age up to an adult can be bought on the Congo river at $25 to $30 per head, and landed in New Orleans or Texas for $30 more, making the cost $60; but call it $100. At these rates it would be found a profitable operation to the planter for ten years’ service of an African emi- grant. In one year his labor would repay his first cost, including his passage, and at the expiration of the term of service about $40 or $50 per head would return them to Liberia or to the place from which they emigrated, where, not having left as slaves | or prisoners of war, they would, by the friendly | aid of white settlers on the coast, be enabled to hire and to employ themselves in agricultural or other labor. Could the system be adopted by the South- ern States possessing the largest quantity of wild cotton and sugar lands, it would probably be found to work well, both for the Africans and the whites. The system would, if carried out in good faith, put a perpetual end to the slave trade, made cruel and inhuman by the manner in which it is conducted, through the vigilance of vessels of war supported by England and the United States, ata vast expenditure of treasure and life. In all this parade of naval force on the African coast, avowedly to put down the slave trade, there is a stupendous sham at the bottom of the whole scheme. The old men and old women of Exeter Hall, with the kind-hearted Quakers of England are no doubt most piously sincere; but are the prominent mem- bers of her Majesty’s government equally so? Are the Birmingham ironmongers who sell old guns, pistols, knives, beads and brass jewelry for the Afri- can slave trade equally so? Are the Manchester spinners who sell cheap cotton fabrics in earnest? | Are the dealers in Jamaica rum and in cheap to- bacco sincere? Not at all. Who doubts but if the chief Powers of Christendom desired to put a stop to the slave trade they could do it? The United States should on this momentuous question take up a new, bold and decided position. It should demand of Spain, Great Britain, France and Portugal, the Powers immediately interested in the question, the prompt, thorough and effectual suppression of the slave trade, or that the fruitless attempt and consequent annoyance to legitimate American commerce on the coast of Africa should be abandoned Asa party in the family of nations embraced in this question, we must demand of Eng land that she shall restore captured Africans back to Africa, as we do to Liberia. We must tell France to cease her Regis contracts. We should demand that no additions of African labor shall be made to European colonies, or other settlements in the New World, unless the United States be permitted to tell Brazil that if you allow a single cargo of slaves to be landed in your borders we will blockade your ports. We must tell Spain that if you allow a single slave vessel to land slaves in a port of Cuba we will make war upon you and seize the island. In God's name, let us act the manly and open part | of a nation, and not perform the low and sneaking office of a cat's paw for other Powers, The present position of the United | States in relation to the African slave trade is both degrading and humiliating, and has not received that attention from our government which its great importance demanded. We must proclaim to Eu rope and to the world that we cannot be longer a | party to any sham on this great question. we keep up @ squadron on the coast of Africa to confine Africans to Africa, England, France, Spain and Portugal are peopling the New World with fresh landed Africans at our very doors. Why should we submit to remain in such a position, to | our own stultification, and receive the contempt, in some cases, of weak and corrupt governments ? | The most speedy and cheap method to put a stop | to the slave trade would be to erect sm all forts or | block houses—to be supplied with small garrisons, | of free blacks if you will, under white officers | —each to have a certain area of jurisdiction, | embracing the principal slave marts within | certain bounds. These small fortresses could be erected at all the principal points on the coast, including Benguela, the Congo river, Loan ' do, &c., which form the chief slave markets in Africa. The Portuguese authorities in Africa should not be permitted to add to the domestic slavery which exists in their settlements on the African const, and should be compelled to co-operate, faith- fully and sincerely, in the suppression of the slave trade, or have their ports blockaded. Let the Eng lish be told to pursue the same course in their own African settlements. The Portaguese authorities in Africa are known to receive bribes to permit the exportation of slaves from their ports. This should be effectually arrested. The same course in all re spects should be pursued on the east coast of Africa, embracing Mozambique, Madagascar, &c. When the slave trade is thus once brought into subjection, it would be competent for the contracting Powers to agree upon the allowance of voluntary Afri can emigration to the more profitable fields of labor in the New World—conducted through an African commission, or through foreign consular or other authorized agents residing on the coast of Africa, and in certain legal forms end under certain guarantees, which should conspire to advance the interest of the whites, as well as that of the blacks—thus for ever putting an end to the horrors of the slave trade, and inaugurating ha- mane measures, alike conducive to the progress and comfort of the whites as well as to the advancement in civilization of Africa. Notwithstanding British vigil ance, slaves have been shipped within two years from points close to their settlements, and especially the English black colony of Sierra Leone, Rio Pango. It seems that the slaves held in British settie ments in Africa are retained under a new form, or « new name, which is better for the whites and worse for the blacks than slavery itself. Slaves are now called penos. A peno isa black man who borrows | #25 or $30 for any particular purpose. It may be to purchase a wife. He becomes a slave to the lender, | and if he dies or becomes sick his nearest relative } tekes his place, and is compelled to serve until the debt and interest are pald, which is rarely if ever done. Neither do the lenders iutend that it ever equal and full privileges in that respect. We must | We cannot be idle spectators to the fact that while | his next of kin ‘or life. This proceas 1s more profita- ble than abs lute slavery, for money thus invested is never lost by the sickness or death of the laborer. It is doubtful whether the British authorities at their African settlements have ever seriously en- deavored to put a stop to the slave trade, any farther than it would give prize money to British cruisers and supply African labor for the British West India Islands. Their crusade against the Spanish and Portuguese vessels arriving on the coast for slaves has sometimes been attended with horrible results. Some years since an American house in New York formed a plan of conducting a legitimate trade with the African coast. It sent out vessels with assorted articles of African goods, but mainly composed of cheap jewelry, music boxes, beads, guns, fancy pistols, tobacco, snuff and fancy furniture, and generally reached the coast and followed in the wake of Spanish and Portuguese slave vessels, and when they had laid in their car- goes of slaves, they left large sums of Spanish dol- lars in the hands of chiefs. His veasels would enter after they had sailed, and succeed in conducting a very profitable trade with the head men. On one occasion his vessel, with its supercargo, reached the Congo river in advance of the slave vessels, where a chief had brought down two hundred slaves fer sale. The British cruisers, however, blockaded the mouth of the river, and the slave vessels had to bear off trom the coast. In the meantime the chief became impatient, and finding that his supplies of food for his slaves was nearly exhausted, and that if he kept them they must starve, he ordered all the slaves to assemble in a certain open place, and then had every man of them shot, after which he left for hisowncountry. The voyage of the American vessel was destroyed, with heavy loss to the owners, who were forced to abandon the trade. TREATMENT OF THE AMERICAN FLAG AND ANNOYANCE TO LEGITIMATE AMERICAN COMMERCE ON THE COAST OF AFRICA. The treatment of the American flag on the Afri- can coast has been most extraordinary, and we can hardly imagine that if all the’cases of insult and in- jury it bas sustained were duly shown to her Majesty's government but what it would acknowledge the same and express regret for the past, with a promise of preventing similar proceedings for the future. This annoyance, however, though most felt by American merchants, has been also carried on with regard to Spain, Portugal and the Dutch. A Bra- zilian vessel, it is said, is scarcely allowed to trade on the coast of Africa at all. One was seized by British cruisers, and was, after being carried to Sierra Leone or St. Helena, condemned without any appar- ent cause or excuse beyond the pretence that she was a slaver. The methods adopted by British cruis- ers to seize upon Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian vessels are often fraudulent; and the unfair mean; re- sorted to for the purpose of securing their condemnation are said to be disgraceful to the British officials engaged in such transactions, and who should have long since received punishment at the hands of the home government. One case in point may be mentioned, and it is likely others of a similar character may have occurred. A Brazilian bark—the Ersalinda—left Pernam- buco, Brazil, for Africa; and, when near the coast, she was seized by a British cruiser, for no apparent cause. She was carried into Sierra Leone, where she was defended by Mr. Thorpe, a lawyer, who proved that the magistrate of that place had sent slave irons on board, and that in open daylight, and which were accidentally seen by Mr. Thorpe him- self, After making this extraordinary disclosure, it is said that he was not allowed afterwards to prac- tice in the Vice Admiralty Court in that colony. The British cruisers practice every sort of means for the purpose of making seizures. If the crew of an American vessel do not agree, or they find a disaffected mate or sail- or, who, to gratify personal malice, declares that the vessel is bound for slaves, she is, therefore, seized and sent to Sierre Leone or to St. Helena for trial. The well known case of the bark Jones was one of peculiar hardship. She was an American vessel, en- gaged in a lawful trade. She was at anchor at St Helena. The mate, operated on by some influence or other, falsely declared that the vessel was going to the coast for slaves. She was seized by the British authorities and abandoned by the captain and crew, who left her at St. Helena. Her super- | cargo became crazy, and her owners, at Salem, Mas- sachusetts, failed. It took twelve years negotiation | on the part of eur government to obtain redress for | this wanton wrong to our flag. The American ship Thomas Watson was seized | while at anchor in the port of Quitta, with 70,000 | gallons of palm oil on board, which, with other pro- | duce, was valued at $60.000. She was seized after dinner by Lieut. Chas. R. Robson, commanding her Majesty's steamship Bloodhound, who put a prize officer on board, who, it is said, was frequently in- toxicated. The following is a copy of the document under which the Watson was seized: The undersigned, Chas. R. Robson, holding the | rank of eee een one Majesty’ssteam vessel Bloodhound, herevy certifies that on the September being in the British waters of Quitta bearings, § Pi Quitta N.—j E , erican ship Tho’ Ww ena is master, and that | further cer- from 1 to 37, «t, belonging to Cape that the papers I hav p, were the doc pw, permiasic tificate of seamen Lieut Commandin, Serremnen 15, hange crew; from 7 to Cras. R. Rowson, . M. steamship Bloodhound. This certificate displays the grossest inconsisten cy. The black man on board was hired by Capt. Cozens at Cape Coast Castle, as a laborer on board, bat who wished to break his agreement by escape. Not bei ble to do thia he represented himself aso person whom the captain had seized for the purpose of enslaving. Where- upon the Thomas Watson was seized by Lieut. Rob- son, who first declares that the fellow is a slave, found on board, and afterwards states that he is a “free born African British sv If he was such a person the seizure was grosly illegal and out rageous. The hope of prize-money, no doubt, in cases like this and many others, stifles conscience and converts temporary power into despotic right. This black fellow might have found hisway on board for the purpose of creating a pretext for the seizure of the Watson. Will British cruisers treat French vessels in a similar manner, even should a cargo of such individuals be taken on by ? satisfaction to know that v s lost like the Jones, by unjust seizure, may be paid for intwelve years. Last summer the brig Queen of the South, of Bal timore, while anchored in a foreign port on the Af- rican coast, was boarded by a British steamer. He papers were demanded, her cargo examined, and her crew overhauled. Three years ago the bark Nash of New York, which traded to the River Gambia was reized while at anchor by the British Collecto of Gambia for having empty whale oi! casks on board intended to hold palm oil. She was seized in the rainy season, and detained so long that the captain and part of the crew died, while the owners in New York bad to stop payment. She was finally released by the Court of Gambia, but no redress has yet been | obtained. | A-short time since the bark Mary Varney, bound It is poor to Gaboon, from New York, for India rabber and palm cil, was also seized by the same Collector at Gambia, because oil casks were found on board for palm oil. She was tried by the British authorities and released, after two years loss to her owners. To,this day no redreas has been allowed. ,The Collector declared that he would seize every American vessel he could ‘This remarkable official has since died. TheBritish men-of- war board our vewels with im- ponity. If an American vessel is a alow sailing oraft and e mes in sight avd hoists her colors, the cruiser fires a gun for her to heave to, on doing which she is boarded and all her papers demanded, even those relating to her charter, and if the hatches are open, the hold examined and crew mustered, for the purpose of finding out anything that may justify ber seizure as a slaver. Vessels of 150 to 220 tonsa, sailing on the coast east of the colony of Liberia, and having large crews, are generally slavers and owned by Spaniards When an American vessel, on being boarded, is compromised by some of the crew or other circum stances, which induces the British cruisers to think that she is bound on a voyage for slaves, they say to the captain, ‘‘ You know that you are bound for slaves, and that the vessel is Spanish property; you had better surrender her as such. In case you re- fuse, we will hand you over to an American vessel- of-war, in order that you may be sent back to the United States and hanged as pirates.” Such appeals, with the offer of $500 fee and a proposal to pay their expenses home, induces the cap- tain and mate to throw their papers overboard in order to escape punishment, and tamely surrender their vessel and contents to the British cruiser. She is subsequently. seized as Spanish property, sent t Sierra Leone or to St. Helena and condemned, and the British cruiser is more than reimbursed by the prize money recovered. American bottoms, carrying American captains and crews, with American pa- pers, should not be thus treated, nor should their commanders be allowed to throw their papers over- board, and then escape unpunished, if guilty. If a vessel carrying the American flag is taken with slaves on board, the captain and crew are allowed to go free, instead of which they should be sent to the United States for punishment, while the vessel is taken care of in the usual mode, and the slaves re landed in Africa. There would be some plea for philanthropy in all this, provided the British cruisers received no extra pay in remuneration for their vigi- lance. But under existing circumstances they can grow rich on the African coast, while American offi- cers and crews are confined simply to their common payroll for their long exile ona sickly coast, and where they do not catch a slaver once a year. The annoyances inflicted on American commerce with Africa have been most harassing and destructive, and calculated to drive it completely from the coast, and give a monopoly to English traders. This condition of our trade should attract more earnest attention on the part of our government. Her Majesty's government should be fully acquaint- ed with the facts relating to these outrages upon our flag and commerce, and redress sought for the past, and assurances obtained against their future re- petition. Onall Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian slave vessels captured, the British cruisers making the kame receive $25 per head for every slave taken, and $25 per ton for every such slave vessel congemn- ed, and the value of the vessel and the cargo when brokenup. Thus, suppose a vessel of 300 tons is captured; if she has 600 slaves on board the ac count of prize money will stand as follows:— A vessel of 300 tons, at $25 per ton... 600 slaves, at $25 per head...... Value of materials and broken up and sold. Total —A snug sum for a single capture by a British cruiser. This prize money virtually transfers to the British West India Islands 600 African laborers, at a cost to the British government of just $25 a piece. It is thus seen that British cruisers can well afford to bribe American sea captains to surrender Ame- rican vessels and American property into their hands as Spanish vessels and Spanish cargoes by throwing away their papers. And if American ves- sels were captured with slaves on board and surren- dered to the American authorities, the British cruisers would lose their prize money and the Bri- tich West Indies the labor of the captured Africans. We might have asked how it came to pass that England took upon herself to be the guardian of the continent of Africa, with its fiwe or six thousand miles of western coast, with a vast extent of sea coast on the east? When was it that their negro kings, chiefs, and head men of Negroland, numbering some hirty millions of subjects, chose her Majesty as their guardian to protect them from contact, as far as possible, from all other nations but themselves? The Dutch were long since driven by the English out of Africa. About fifteen years ago the Datch Donght slaves at Elmen from the King of the Ashan- ces, to serve as soldiers in the island of Java. The English government, however, entered its protest against the measure, and British cruisers said that they would capture the Dutch transports from Hol- land if they persisted in carrying Africans to Java. Hence the King of Holland was forced to abandon the measure. ‘The Mesers. Regis, however, have thus far, in their contract with the planters in Guadaloupe and Mar- tinique, under the approval and auspices of the French government, proceeded without interruption, although it is said the Cabinet of England has had communication with that of France on the subject. We learn that negroes have been purchased by the Messrs. Regis at Whydan at $30 per head, at which however, they cannot make anything by their t. It is said that they are making purchases in the ‘o river at $25 per head, at which price they are easily obtainable, and will yield a handsome rofit. ¥ The colony of Liberia, though a mere spot on the vast African coast, extends three hundred miles in length, with a narrow breadth inland. The negroes sent there from the United States, and especially from the northern Southern States, have made more respectable colonists than any other, one or two of ite Presidents and leaders having gone from Vir- gini Its infant trade, however, has not escaped the annoyance of cruisers. It will be remembered that the schooner John Sayes, belonging to the President of Li- beria, was seized by a British vessel of war while at an- chorat Grand Basa, Liberia. Her crew, as usual, was tampered with by the officers of the cruiser with the view of compromising her asa slaver. She was seized, taken into Sierra Leone, and abandoned by her captain and crew. The British prize master who took possession of her, afterwards, it is said, in a fit of delirium tremens, cut his throat. The loss by this illegal seizare of the John Sayes has never been paid for. American commerce has, in spite of all the an noyance, unjust and illegal proceedings of British cruisers, increased within the last foar or five years; and had it not been for the losses so unjustly sus- tained by our African traders, it would have by this time more than doubled. Oar chief exports to Africa have consisted of to bacco, rum, rectified whiskey, guns, pistols, powder, lead, shot, beef, pork, flour, cotton goods, lamber and many kinds of cheap jewelry, Yankee notions, &e.; while our imports have embraced palm oil, hides, ivory, India rubber, dye woods, copal and other gums and drugs, peanuts, peanut oil, ebony, fish oil, Ke. The trade between the United States and the whole of Africa, compared with that of England, is insignificant. The trade of Liberia with England is on the increase, while that with the United States is diminishing, and especially in the supply of eotton goods. It is estimated that there are not less than one hundred ships trading constantly between Great Britain and Africa. A regular line of steamers run between England and Liberia and other points on the west coast, and another line between England and Cape of Good Hope. It has been recently proposed to send a steamer each year up the Niger, for the opening and protection of trade, and to have Spain make a free port of Fernando Po, or to make another free port for the use of the British cruisers and British merchant ships. It is also contemplated to make Sierre Leone a free port. While all this is go- ing forward on the west coast, the Naglish are extend. ing their Cape Colony, and will no doubt improve upon the suggestions of Mr. Livingston, and obtain the control of the commerce on the cast coast of Africa by sending steam vessels ap the Zambezi and its navigable tributaries. The total exports and im- ports between the United States and Africa, com pared with those between that country and England, atand about as follows :— Imp’ "ts. Imp'ts "ts. $1,283; $6,225,000 2,503, 7,245,000 2,303,798 6,200,500 2,813,819 8,251,000 3,191,532 9,320,500 2,713,432 No returns. The total imports and exports between England and the whole of Africa, including the west and east coasts, with the Cape of Good Hope, amounts to about $23,000,000 per annum. The trade on the part of Great Britain, it is be- lieved, has been proportionably augmented within the years 1856 and 1857; while that of the United States has been about stationary, or has dimini#ied. This would be well enough under fair and regular competition, but when the annoyance of our com- merce by British cruisers, under the pretext of sup- pressing the slave trade, has contributed to produce this result, the question becomes one of grave con- sideration on the part of the United States. CONCLUSION. We have thus shown that this African question is | | of 9t03. one of great importance to tliis country, and we might add to this continent. We have shown its bearings in regard to the sup- | ply of African labor in the production of tropical | ‘© the Committes on Annual Taxes, articles of necessity to the whites inhabiting tem- perate latitudes, and who are physically unable to produce them. We have shown the amount and value of supplies drawn from the tropics, in the shape of cotton, sugar, coffee, rice, tobacco, &c., and that the great bulk of them are produced by African slave labor, by which means commerce has been vastly augmented and civilization more widely and permanently established. We have shown that comparatively a small num- ber of African slaves, laboring in their natural climate of the tropics, have supplied from one to two hundred millions of whites with clothing, food and employment. We have shown the hollowness, the sham, that is carried on by England and other nations to suppress the slave trade, while the United States has been made a cat's paw of in keeping up the delusion. We have shown that her cruisers have overhauled and searched our vessels with impunity, and made seizures and confiscations under paltry pretexts, to the loss and ruin of American citizens. We have shown that while England constantly augments African labor in her West India colonies, recruited from captured slaves; while France sends African emigrants to Guadaloupe and Martinique, and Spanish and Portuguese vessels run cargoes of slaves into Cuba continually, the United States enjoys the undignified position of looking on, with a few sailing vessels of war rambling about the ocean, atthe decay of our trade, and the constant aug” mentation of Africans in European colonies adjacent to our shores, whose labor must ere long come in ruinous competition with our enormously expensive labor employed in the production of valuable staples which so largely contribute to our national pros- perity. A policy like this, long submitted to, must ultimate- ly destroy our trade with Africa, and prove disas- trious to our inter-tropical planting interest. ‘We have shown the necessity of the United States taking a new stand—more elevated in its tone and character—regarding our African relations. We owe it to ourselves to insist upon the prompt suppression of the slave trade by the Powers con- cerned, by casting off the veil ot false pretences, or false pcilanthropy; or on the other hand disband all guardacosta squadrons and throw wide open inter- course with Africa and the Africans to all alike, leav- ing each to choose the French plan or to adopt any other they please. Let one thing or the other be done, and that without halting and without fear. A new position is demanded on our part by every considera- tion of national interest and national honor. Superior Court—Part First. Before Hon. Judge Sloason. ACTION AGAINST AN INSURANCE COMPANY. Fes. 13.—Elisha Ruckman vs. The Astor Mu- tual Insurance Company.—This is an action upon a policy of insurance effected on the schooner Marga- ret Hopping, on a voyage from New York to San Francisco in December, 1849. A similar case was tried once before at the suit of the same plaintiff against another company, when there was a verdict for the plaintiff. The present suit has occupied se- veral days. The complaint alleges that the vessel sailed from New York in December, 1849, with a cargo of lumber and other goods; that she was oblig- ed to put into Rio de Janeiro, and that on the 4th of March, 1850, the yellow fever broke out, the master and two of the crew falling victims to that fearful malady; several of the crew were sick of the same disease, and severe storms being encountered, the vessel was put into St. Catherine's, in the Brazils, where she was repaired, and expenses incurred to the amount of $364, all of which were paid, with the exception of something about $100, The Mar- ex Hopping sailed from St, Catherine's June 7, 850, under command of Captain Dean, who was appointed to take charge of her by the American ister at St. Catherine's; a new crew was shipped; the veasel encountered violent gales and stories in doubling Cape Horn; when sixty days off the Caj she was compelled to put into Valparaiso, where the was surveyed and again repaired—which repairs and expenses of taking care of the vesvel and cargo amounted to a moiety of her value; all her car; was sold to pay for the repairs, as no money could be borrowed on bottomry, aud this proving insuffi- cient to pay the amount due, the master abandoned the voyage and sold the schooner for $9,000. When the news arrived in New York, the plaintiff made proof of loss and claimed that the valuation of the vessel as stated in the policy was $12,000, The defndants admit licy, but deny that the veggpl was injured to half her value when she put into Valparaiso; they also say that the vessel was fully repaived before any of the cargo or the schooner was sold: that the money to pay for repairs might have been procured, and that the sale was made by the master under a mistake of his dnties and right, and was unauthorized, and that the voyage was not broken up by hny of the perils inst which the vessel was insured. The defendants also say that if the master could not procure money, it was the plaintiff's neglect in not providing him with fands or credit for such contingency, and that by that means the sohooner was lost by the ntift’s negligence: that the plaintif? bad ratified the sale and accepted the proceeds and applied them to his own use. After a charge from the Judge the jury bronght in a verdict ‘or plaintiff for the total loss, $7,257 25, subject to adjustment by the General Term. Hoxprvras—Sixeviar Apvextore with A Coon ov 4 Vewrtt —The brig Helen Jane, Nickerson, at this port, brings advices from Omoa to . 2, and from Truxitlo to the 18th. There i no news of importance. The country was quiet and healthy, Captain Nickerson relates a singular adventure with the steward of hi- ves- sel on the outward Which somewhat enlivenet the usual dull monotony of ocean life. Tt appears that a white man, baving a0 American protection, and his name as Hawes Crowell, of West Dennis, Cape Cod, shipped at this port in the capacity of steward, and re ceived his advance wages before going on board. The ‘vessel proceeded to sea, and on the morning of the first day oot the steward was missing, aupposed by all on board to have fallen into the sea during the night and drowned. Accordingly another man was appointed his duty and everything went on without suspicion. The voyage continued Prosperously, and nothing occurred to admonieh the captain that his cargo was leaking in a very unusual manner, and becoming daily beautifully less by an operation which might well be compared to some late financial manceuvring ashore. It seems, however, that ofter some days one of the crow accidentally discovered that the cargo in the hold had been broken jato, and an empty basket of champagne was found, with other indications of robbery. The cap. tain’s attention was immediately ealled to the fact, and he of course suspected the crew of committing the depredation, and instantly called them to account; but nothing conld be elicited from the investigation to fix the crime on any of the crew, who stoutly denied all know- ledge of the matter. Thus the affair rested until their arrival at Troxillo, twenty two days after leaving Boston. On the first night alter anchoring the crew were suddenly startled by the appearance in the forecastie of the lost steward, and so firmly convinced were the frightened sailors of the death of their shipmate, that they all in stantly fled on deck from the eu y aod told the captain, These fears, » were soon quieted, for the steward bad really appeared, and upoo Deing questioned, confesed that he had secreted himself in the hold on the first day out, under the infaenoe of de- lirium tremens, and for twenty two days foltowiag had lived luxuriously on cheempanse, coteiee ot whan 0 ~ | fumptuously every day, and enjoyed what on rhore would be ealied at bender” He commeaned Gaping tee v of , Aix boxes of raisins, be fp dod iw we propertion wae left in the hands Of the Coited States Constl, and would be sent home fer trial, The lose to the captain will amount to aboat $250 Captain Nickerson | having passed Jan. 30, latitnde 24 09, —— syasdron, consietiog of ry! , most probably bound to Vers Cruz —Bost y P13. Board of Supervisors. ‘The Board met yesterday afternoon, at 3 o’clock—Mer. Purdy in the chair, and all the members present. The following resolution, offered by Mr. Bell, was, among other papers, referred :— Resolved, That the Committee on Criminal Courts and Police be, and are hereby, directed to consider the propri- ety of a reduction of the compensation paid to policemon, in’connection with the question of increase in of men employed in that force. ‘The following resolution, offered by Mr. Voonwxs, was adopted:-— Resolved, That the be, and is hereby, di- rected to report to this Board the amount received in his depsrtment trom each of the eeveral clerks of the District Courts of this city for the year 1857, specifying the amount from each court separately. ‘The Sheriff's bill of $325, for serving notices in liquor cases, was presented and referred. A communication was received from the Comptroller, stating that the’last Board of Supervisors disapproved of certain portions of the estimate of the Board of Education for 1858, and returned the estimate. The Board of Educa- tion had modified the estimate in regard to the deficioncy of $121,000 for 1864, and the estimate thus modified wag now submitted. . Mr, Keynepy called up his resolution of last week, pre- viding for the laying over of the reports of all commitices, unless two-thirds should require to act upon it. After some debate, the resolution was adopted by a vote A resolution, referring the selection of official papers te the Committee on County Offices. The following communication was received, and referred ‘THE CITY INSPRCTOR’S DEFICIENCY FOR STRAT CLEANING IN To THE Honorantg Boarp oF SUPERVISORS OF THE Cory Crry anv County or New York— GexTLEMEN—It is most respectfully submitted to the consideration of your honorable board, that the sum of $46,081 76 deficency for 1857, now ‘asked for by the Oity Inspector for the indebtedness of his office, and which is put in the tax levy for 1858, and has passe’ both boards of the Common Council, is in direct violation of the city cbarter, and therefore it should be stricken from the tax levy. Section 31 says:— “And no money shall be drawn from thécity treasury except the smae shall have been previously appropriated bef Ls nag for which it is drawn.’ erefore, as no appropriation has been ‘‘previously”” made by the Common Council’? “to the fe ‘ad na cleaning the streets of thirteen wards of the city without contract during the year 1867. to allow the said sum of $46,081 76 to stand on the tax levy would be a palpable violation of the city charter. Can the Board of Supervi- sors sanction ap appropriation now made by the Commoa Council, and for work already done, and without an ap- i nag having been ‘ previously '’ made, without vio- ing sec. $1 of the city char‘er ¢ mild such money be legally drawn from the city treasury? It is most respeot- tprroprintion sbould be made for the reason that poor i shoul ie for the reason that poor la- boring men have performed the work and should receive their pay, is a tacit admission that the City Ins] should be upheld in violating the city charter; but is no rea- son why your honorable Board should follow the The argument would apply more forcibly to the City In- ages that is to say—if be takes upon to violate law of the city witha . of his cath of office, he, like all law breakers, should abide the consequences—that if he takes uy himseif to em| men to perform work unauthorized by, and in direct vi of, the city charter, no reason can be offered why he should not become individually liable, as is contemplated by the law of the land. Thea those who have done the work in future would first in- quire, has there been any appropriation “previously”? made to pay for the work? e of law is held to no excusefor its violation; this is the policy of thelaw, both civil and criminal; for every one is presumed to know the law. And therefore the spirit of the law is, that said sum of $46,081 76, now asked for by the Cit; He Inspector, should be strickeu from the tax levy of 1868. Esta! i this doctrine, then the beads of de; its will aly gue, fotablh corer, the charter wile only gui . r will be v with impunity. That the City , since the first of June last, has cleaned the streets of thirteen wards, under a resolution of the Common Council, and until body make out a specification for street cleaning is but it is positively denied that the Common Counci stich resolution, then, or at any other time di year 1867, made any special “ jon” for 80 authorized to be done—that is for cleaning "contract. But tr: 5 and for the year 1857 $250,000 to clean the streets of conditioned they be cleaned ‘only’ by contract, the Legislature and became the law of the he a 4 —— could net have changed “pu * for wi sum so to, un- Jess Uy the consent of the Legislature. But nowwithstand. ing the *“‘purpose’’ for which said sum of money was ap- propriated to, there has only been paid out of that sum 80 E t —} ithe & gfe et] g appropriated for 1857, and to the “ ”? for which it was appro to, $66,136 58 or that is for cleaning the streets “by contract, viz.: a ments up to Dec. 6, 1857, to the contractors of i. Tenth, jeventh, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, ith, Nine- teenth and Twenty-first contract }) amounting fencing’ May “t, Ie0t, “sio79e of, paid by Comp’ e y 9% i , paid by troller; one ‘payment to laborers on account of tating May 25,1867, 813,853 "making tho sum total” $005 lay 23, 1867, sum total - 20 of or thereabout. ‘Poe balance boty then ‘to clean the streets “by contract,” has been drawn the city Treasury by the City Inspector, and ed to thirteen Warde “wihext” contracts riz, S185,865 02, or thereabout, a different “purpose”? than the one for which it was “4 iated to,”’ and a most ie violation of section 31 of the city charter. The Oty I , aftor having drawn this amount of from city Trea- ‘sury in violation of ths city charter, bas still continued to do the work of sireet cleaning up to the present time (Feb. 12, 1858), without any having beea “previously” made to that “ ,"' and now asks for ‘an additional sum of $46,081 76, up to January 1, 1854, aa reported by the Finance ittee of the Board of Coan cilmen, for 1857; that is, $8,034 94 due con- tractors, including two payments, up to Januar, ), 1868, = 10 per cent on twenty payments; which, woea from $46,(81 76, leaves $38,046 92; which, when added to the sum he has drawn and ¢1 on the ‘xpended thirteen ward, make the sum total $221,910 84; that is, the cost of cl thirteen wards since June! up to Jap 1, 1858, just seven months, without cootract and wi any ever baving been made to pay for the work; which will a) ‘a reference to the vouchers in the office of the City: and Cham- berlain, the reeolution of the Common Council authorizing ‘the City Inspector te clean the streets of thirteen wards, which passed that body some time in the month of june.) and the report of the Finance Committee to the new rd of Councilmen. If, then, the cleaning of thirteen itnp he oe cort the city, without contract, 5 » and without any propriation ever hav: been made to pay for the wor! the remaining five meni Will, at the same rate, cost $155,507 75, which, at the end of the year, woula foot up $380,418 69; when the fact ia well known, and is a matter of record, that these same thirteen wards ‘were let out by contract for one year, oud. ing March 28, 1858, for $112,450 Facts and figures are stab- Lorn things. ‘At this rate, the entire city would cost for one furthermore, section 38 of the year $606,905 96. And, city charter expressly ‘prov Corporation done for the let,” unless the expenditure involved and then only when the necessity of certified to by the head of depart: i i i should jt even pass the Legislature, it would not ie nae the city oan, by a writ of injuno- tion, restrain the iy Inspector and Comptroller from drawing the money from the city treasury, whioh writ of injunction would be made nal. Wht FAITE, 187 Futton street. Daraprur Accrpext—Four Parsons Dead AND One SkVERELY INJCRRD.— We regret to announce one of the that bas ever occurred in Danphin « that the large furnace, called “Union Deposit Farnace,” situated South Hanover —— tome two miles from Hummelstown, was in full blast an working eatiafactorily until within a fow past, when some interfered with its operations. Inorder to as certain what was wrong, the workmen engaged in the work of cleaning the lower portion of the furnace out; Dubwhilst they were so engaged, the hot metal came ron ning out in torrents, so unexpectedly, that fire persons wore literally showered over with the liqnid fire, immedi- ately setting their clothing on fire and burning them in ® dreadful and shocking manner. Some of the unfortunate men jumped into the canal, and others into the water tab, but this proved all unavailing—they were so dreadfully ‘burned that no buman help could save them. Joha Baler, David Landis, W, Marray, and a man called Dutch Jona, have tince Jied fr@n their wounds, and were buried yes- terday, whilst Meses Wolf, anothar of the injured, cam hardiy survive his injuries. It appears thatthe furasoo must have been chokes up at the cop, and wh flet the men were engaged opening it below, the hot metal fell from the top of the stack into the hearth, raining down upom the workmen so sndonty that it was impossible to save them. ‘The burning fluid alea came very ‘near setting the whole works on fire, The deceased lerve large families to mourn their sudden and eariy loss. Harrisburg (/°a-) Telegraph, Feb, 12. Drath or aw Inpian Carer ty Kanaas.—From the Quindare Chindowan we learn that the erysipelas, im bE ge Kore, S preveaung among the Wyandote ta. Quite « num! cases have fatal. George 1. Cark, Chiet of the Wrandot, tenon the Ist inst, of it, afver an illness of only two days.