with the imperial authorities, for sending two of the guilty seamen in person, to be used as State's evidence in our court, for the indictment and conviction of Gordon. Mr. Consul Kent, who has probably made report to you of the transaction, will render me in this every possible assistance. Immediately after hearing of the occurrence, I addressed myself to the minister for foreign affairs, asking him to procure for me such information and proofs as this government might be able to furnish, implicating citizens of the United States. Enclosed are copies of my note, and the reply to it, which I have just received: (A 45, and B 45.) I send a copy of one of the newspapers of this city, the "Correio Mercantil" of the 31st December, containing an article about this affair. I enclose also a translation of the same. The editor's comments upon the relation of the United States to the matter are severe; but, in the main, alas! too just and true. Our flag, as I have explained formerly, is the one particularly chosen by these pirates and man-traders for disguise; and I fear that, unless something more effectual be enacted and done by Congress and the Executive, we must expect to see the instances of crime under its protection soon and often repeated. But I have nothing to add now to what I urged so much at length in my dispatch of April. I give this present account of an outrage actually committed, as the best possible evidence that the suspicions and apprehensions I then expressed were not entertained without good reason. Hon. EDWARD EVERETT, Secretary of State. No. 82.-A 45. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States, has read with much regret certain publications in the public journals of this city, from which it would appear that a cargo of blacks from Africa has been landed, within a few days past, at some point on the coast of this empire, and carried under the protection of an unlawful and armed force into the interior, to be held as slaves. And it is a source of still deeper chagrin to see it reported that this success, of those engaged in the infamous traffic, has been accomplished under the flag of the United States. Desiring to do whatever may be possible to aid in the prevention or punishment of such offences, and particularly if committed by American citizens, desecrating, for that purpose, their national ensign, the undersigned addresses himself now to his excellency Paulino José Soares de Souza of the council of his Majesty the emperor, minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs, with a request to be furnished with whatever official or unofficial statements or proofs may be in possession of his excellency in relation to this occurrence, and tending to show that any vessel or citizen of the United States has been thus detestably employed. Such information, if it cannot be availed of now, to prevent the wrong and outrage in this particular instance, may at least serve to enforce the communication with which the undersigned will feel it his duty again to call the attention of his government to the subject. The undersigned renews to his excellency the assurances of his high respect and distinguished consideration. ROBERT C. SCHENCK. His Ex. PAULINO JOSE SOARES DE SOUza, &c. B. 45. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Rio de Janeiro, February 1, 1853. The undersigned, of the council of his Majesty, the emperor, minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note No. 82, which Mr. Robert C. Schenck, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, addressed hin on the 31st of December last, in which, refering to certain publications made by the journals of this city, relative to the landing of Africans, which was effected lately under the flag of his nation, in one of the ports on the coast of the Empire, he asks to be furnished with whatever information or proofs that may be within reach, in connection with that fact, in as much as he is very desirous to co operate on his part, in the prevention and punishment of similar crimes, particularly when committed by American citizens. The undersigned regrets to have to communicate to Mr. Schenck, in reply to his note aforesaid, that four sailors belonging to the crew of the slaver having been captured on the 4th of last month, two of whom are American citizens, they have deposed that said vessel (slaver) is the North American brig "Camargo," Captain Gordon; that she entered this port loaded on the 22d of October, 1851, proceeding from California; that on the 11th of April of last year, she sailed from this place for the Cape of Good Hope, with a lawful cargo, dispatched with the same nationality by the American citizen George Marsden, who is also detained for the investigation, proceeding from there to Mozambique and Quilemane, where she was armed, and received on board a cargo of five hundred Africans, who were landed at Bracuhy, on the coast of Angra dos Reis, on the 12th day of December, being accompanied by the crew to the top of the mountain, and the vessel set on fire on the same night of the landing. Such is the scanty information which the undersigned can give, for the present, to Mr. Schenck, the proceedings which have been instituted not being yet fully organized, but as soon as the investigation has been brought to a close, the undersigned will not neglect to furnish Mr. Schenck with more ample particulars in order that he may communicate the same to his government. The undersigned renews to Mr. Schenck, the assurances of his perfect regard and distinguished consideration. PAULINO JOSE SOARES DE SOUZA. Mr. ROBERT C. SCHENCK, &c., &c., &c. [Translation of an editorial in the Correio Mercantil, of Rio de Janeiro, of December 31, 1852.] When we gave yesterday the information we possessed respecting the landing of Africans at a point upon our coast, we said: "We are informed that this violation of law was perpetrated under the American flag. 66 "From subsequent information we have received, we can say, and we do so with regret, that it was the flag of the United States which covered this act of piracy, sustained by citizens of that great nation who, disobeying the orders of their government, and violating the laws of their country, do not blush to soil the glorious flag of their nation only with a view to the vile profits of this accursed traffic in Africans. "If it is possible, for special considerations, to weaken the painful impression which all must feel at the sight of the perpetration of a great crime, such considerations exist for us in the reflection that it was not our flag which protected the crime perpetrated; and that even our authorities upon the coast can find an excuse for not having employed measures to prevent the landing of which we treat, in the absence of force at their disposal to resist the [capangas] of our capitalists, who will thence presume that they can do whatever they think proper for their particular interest. "If the government of the American Union does not resolve to vindicate still more the honor of its flag; if its diplomatic agents, and those of its navy, have not their powers enlarged, or are not provided with means for prosecuting those who, against the laws of their own country, violate the laws of nations, the slave trade will recover new animation, and the American flag, which has assisted so much in the civilization of the world, while it continues to be respected as the representative emblem of a powerful nation, will lose both in dignity and glory. It is confidently stated that other speculations, like that of which we treat, will also be protected by the American flag; and even although the American minister should wish to employ all the means in his power to oppose the violation of the laws of the country which he so worthily represents, and should be assisted in this by the worthy commander of the squadron, how can they arrive at any profitable result, so long as they have at their disposal only a few ships of war, all of large size, and scattered over so vast a station as that of South America? "In spite of all we must not be disheartened; let the imperial government continue to employ all the legal means at its disposal (and investigations to discover the crime and its perpetrators are legal) it possesses more than enough of means of force, which, employed with caution, will bring to repentance those who dare abuse the laws to which they are subject, and whose violation can cause us much harm; injuring our reputation abroad, and retarding our prosperity. "If the imperial government be assisted, as it should be, by the authorities; if among them be found the same energy which, they say, has been displayed by Señor Francisco Diego Pereira de Vasconcellos, chief of the police of the capital, (who, we are told, has already discovered the clue through which he will be able to find out those who are criminal on land, no matter to what class of society they may belong,) all the labor and expense of the last three years will not have been in vain, and the criminals will be arrested in their career. "Not wishing to place any obstacles in the way of the researches of the criminal authorities, we are obliged to keep silence upon all we know; there will not be wanting, however, an occasion to inform our readers of all." |