Africa and the American FlagFoote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull)
History
Africa and the American Flag
Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull)
Africa, West -- Description and travel; Liberia -- History -- 1847-1944; Slave trade -- Africa, West
On the 11th of September this brigantine was seized as a slaver. During
the correspondence with the British officers in relation to the Louisa
Beaton, an order was given to the officer of the cutter, to prevent the
Chatsworth from landing the remaining part of her cargo. The master
immediately called on board the Perry, with the complaint, that his
vessel had been seized on a former occasion, and afterwards released by
the commodore, with the endorsement of her nationality on the log-book.
Since then she had been repeatedly searched, and now was prevented from
disposing of her cargo; he wished, therefore, that a definite decision
might be made. A decision was made by the instant seizure of the vessel.
Information from the master of the Louisa Beaton, that the owner of the
Chatsworth had in Rio acknowledged to him that the vessel had shipped
a cargo of slaves on her last voyage, and was then proceeding to the
coast for a similar purpose--superadded to her suspicious movements,
and the importance of breaking up this line of ostensible traders, but
real slavers, running between the coasts of Brazil and Africa--were the
reasons leading to this decision.
On announcing the decision to the master of the Chatsworth, a prize
crew was immediately sent on board and took charge of the vessel. The
master and supercargo then drew up a protest, challenging the act as
illegal, and claiming the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for damages.
The supercargo, on presenting this protest, remarked that the United
States Court would certainly release the vessel; and the _proçuro_ of
the owner, with other parties interested, would then look to the captor
for the amount of damages awarded. The commander replied, that he fully
appreciated the pecuniary responsibility attached to this proceeding.
The master of the Louisa Beaton, soon after the supercargo of the
Chatsworth had presented the protest, went on shore for the purpose
of having an interview with him, and not coming off at the time
specified, apprehensions were entertained that the slave-factors had
revenged themselves for his additional information--leading to the
seizure of the Chatsworth. At nine o’clock in the evening, three boats
were manned and armed, containing thirty officers and men,--leaving the
Perry in charge of one of the lieutenants. When two of the boats had
left the vessel, and the third was in readiness to follow, the master
of the Louisa Beaton made his appearance, stating that his reception on
shore had been any thing but pacific. Had the apprehensions entertained
proved correct, it was the intention to have landed and taken
possession of the town; and then to have marched out to the barracoons,
liberated the slaves, and made, at least for the time being, “free
soil” of that section of country.
In a letter to the commodore, dated September 14th, information was
given to the following purport:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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