CASE OF THE “MARY CARVER,” SEIZED BY THE NATIVES--MEASURES OF THE
SQUADRON IN CONSEQUENCE--DESTRUCTION OF TOWNS--LETTER FROM U. S. BRIG
“TRUXTON” IN RELATION TO A CAPTURED SLAVER.
The treaty of Washington in 1842, settled and defined matters clearly
and honorably, both to the United States and Great Britain; and
agreeably to the treaty, the African squadron was established in the
year following, under the command of Commodore Matthew C. Perry,
consisting of the flag-ship Macedonian, the sloop-of-war Saratoga, the
sloop-of-war Decatur, and the brig Porpoise. The squadron selected its
rendezvous at Porto Praya, St. Jago, one of the Cape Verde Islands, in
lat. 14° 54’ N. and long. 23° 30’ W.
One of the first acts of this squadron was the chastisement of the
natives for an outrage on American commerce.
The people of Little Berebee, eastward of Cape Palmas, had some time
previously murdered the captain and crew of the American brig “Mary
Carver.” This occurrence of itself establishes one point, which is
the necessity of having cruisers on such a coast. The safety of
commerce and the general welfare of the world are promoted by inspiring
wrong-doers with wholesome terror.
On two occasions, towns have been captured, and in one instance a town
fired, by our squadrons on the coast of Sumatra, for similar atrocities
on our merchant vessels. But the impression is soon forgotten, and
the necessity for punishment occurs again. Now it may be expedient
to act thus at a distance, and trust only to occasional proofs of
just severity; but when wrong is ever ready to arise, it would be
better that the means of correction were at hand; for in this way is
the wrong-doing most readily prevented. Such, therefore, is the best
arrangement for all parties.
In a country so near as Africa, and with which the United States is
so closely connected, the duty of preventing evil by the presence of
power, is imperative; otherwise we at once jeopardize our citizens, and
lead the savage into crime.
The commodore, with the frigate Macedonian, the Saratoga, and Decatur,
proceeded to Cape Palmas. Such was then the tendency to warfare, that
the saluting was misinterpreted as the commencement of a fight, and
brought down a hostile tribe to share in the conflict or the spoils.
These natives attacked the post called Fort Tubman, eastward of Cape
Palmas, and suffered some loss in being driven off.
The squadron then proceeded to Berebee. Having landed a force of
about two hundred men, and called together the chiefs and head
men, some palavering, and a great deal of lying on the part of the
natives, took place. They had really prepared for a conflict, which on
their attempting to run off, took place. In the melée, the king was
unintentionally killed, eight or ten more suffered, and the palisades
and houses were burnt.
Landings took place afterwards at towns along the coast, which had
shared in the crime and in the spoils. A few straggling shots were
fired from the shores and from the woods, but without causing any loss.
The stockades and dwelling-places were committed to the flames.
Four towns were burnt, containing “from fifty to one hundred houses
each, neatly built with wicker-work, and thatched with palmetto....
It was the commodore’s orders to destroy property, but spare life.”
This was right; but we have the reflection that the penalties may not
fall altogether upon the guilty, and that in every point of view the
prevention of such murderous outrages as here met punishment, is, when
it can be done by a show of authority, better than such retaliation.
Humanity gained in other respects by this chastisement. The capricious
hostilities of the natives against the Maryland colony were checked,
and their appetite for plunder brought under wholesome correction,
while missionaries were secured against their violence. A native
also who was being tortured, under a senseless accusation of causing
sickness in a chief, was rescued. All treaties by which the colonies
consent to the incorporation of the natives, stipulate that this
atrocity shall cease. The thinking men among the natives feel no
repugnance in giving it up. It is well that the colonial and native
authorities be sustained in counteracting the furious superstition of
the mob, by the power of solemn obligation.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the American Colonization
Society, February 3d, 1844, from J. N. Lewis, acting Colonial Secretary
of Liberia, it is remarked, “Some months ago the Porpoise sent home
the American brigantine Uncas, under very suspicious circumstances.
There can be no doubt but that her intention was to take from the
coast a cargo of slaves. Still I am under the impression that your
courts will acquit her. I am informed that a bill is before Congress
making it criminal for vessels under the American flag to sell goods
at slave-factories. If such a bill pass the Houses, the slave-traders
will be much injured, as they get their principal supplies from vessels
bearing the flag of your country.... Your flag is used to protect the
slavers from interference by British vessels of war while they are
landing their cargoes; and when the slaves are put on board they throw
overboard, or otherwise destroy, the ‘stars and stripes,’ and depend
upon the swiftness of their sailing to escape capture by a British
man-of-war.”
The squadron was actively employed, cruising over the entire extent
of the slave-coast, rendering aid and protection to legal commerce,
and checking the slave-trade carried on in American vessels. It
was relieved in 1845 by the arrival of Commodore Skinner, with the
sloops-of-war Jamestown, Yorktown, and Preble, and the brig Truxton.
The commander of the Decatur, on his return to the United States, in
a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Massachusetts Colonization
Society, alluding to the object of the Society, says that he cannot but
view it “as one of the most interesting and important that can claim
the attention and sympathy of the Christian and philanthropist at the
present day: besides, that in a political and national point of view,
it is, I think, well worthy the study of our ablest statesmen, and the
fostering aid of government, in consideration of the present and future
prosperity of our agricultural, manufacturing and commercial interests.
For were Africa, as she is now, to be struck out of existence, all
these interests would feel it a calamity; but were a requisition now
made for only a single garment for each individual of the myriads of
the African race, it would probably require the energies of the whole
world for at least five years to come to supply it.”
A letter from an officer of the Truxton, off Sierra Leone, dated March
29th, 1845, says: “Here we are in tow of Her Britannic Majesty’s
steamer Ardent, with an American schooner, our prize, and a Spanish
brigantine, prize to the steamer, captured in the Rio Pongas, one
hundred miles to the northward. We had good information when we left
Monrovia, that there was a vessel in the Pongas, waiting a cargo; and
on our arrival off the river, finding an English man-of-war steamer,
arrangements were made to send a combined boat expedition, to make
captures for both vessels.” The American boats were in charge of
Lieutenant Blunt.
“On coming in sight, our little schooner ran up American colors, to
protect herself from any suspicion, when our boats, after running along
side of her, produced the stripes and stars, much to the astonishment
of those on board. She proved to be the Spitfire, of New Orleans, and
ran a cargo of slaves from the same place last year. Of only about one
hundred tons; but though of so small a size she stowed three hundred
and forty-six negroes, and landed near Matanzas, Cuba, three hundred
and thirty-nine.
“Between her decks, where the slaves are packed, there is not room
enough for a man to sit, unless inclining his head forward: their food,
half a pint of rice per day, with, one pint of water. No one can
imagine the sufferings of slaves on their passage across, unless the
conveyances in which they are taken are examined. Our friend had none
on board, but his cargo of three hundred were ready in a barracoon,
waiting a good opportunity to start. A good hearty negro costs but
twenty dollars, or thereabouts, and is purchased for rum, powder,
tobacco, cloth, &c. They bring from three to four hundred dollars in
Cuba. The English are doing every thing in their power to prevent the
slave-trade; and keep a force of thirty vessels on this coast, all
actively cruising. The British boats also brought down a prize; and the
steamer is at this moment towing the Truxton, the Truxton’s prize, and
her own, at the rate of six miles an hour.
“It is extremely difficult to get up these rivers to the places where
the slavers lie. The whole coast is intersected by innumerable rivers,
with branches pouring into them from every quarter, and communicating
with each other by narrow, circuitous and very numerous creeks,
bordered on each side with impenetrable thickets of mangroves. In these
creeks, almost concealed by the trees, the vessels lie, and often elude
the strictest search. But when they have taken on board their living
cargo, and are getting out to sea, the British are very apt to seize
them, except, alas! when they are _protected by the banner of the
United States_.”
The Sierra Leone Watchman, of February 19th, adds, that “the
slave-traders at Shebar and in the river Gallinas had been much
emboldened by the prosecution of Captain Denham, in England, for his
summary destruction of sundry barracoons, and openly asserted their
determination to seek redress in the English courts, if they were again
molested in their operations.”