This is the report of a Special Joint Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature, urging that the subject of the slave trade is deserving of immediate attention of the national government.

Under of Refuge of Oppression there is a listing of 72 slaves to be sold on March 11, 1839, in New Orleans, indicating age, infirmities, children, etc. of each.

An item from New Orleans claims that a ship, named the Gibraltar, from Boston, has “lots of Negroes on board”.  The item says,  “Who are the owners of the vessel?  If we can ascertain their names, we will publish them, that the people of Boston, of Massachusetts, of New England, will know who are the men that dare, at this time of day, to engage in the nefarious business of transporting slaves for the accommodation of the vile traders in human flesh.”

There is a notice from New Orleans, dated May 11th, stating that public opinion in Texas is much against “the project of some unprincipled speculators, to smuggle slaves from Cuba into the new republic.”    Expresses gratefulness that measures have been taken to protect against this happening, “yet we have been informed on most undoubted authority, that the smuggling of slaves is now going on in despite of precautions taken.”

A correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce writes from Havana with a deplorable account of the slave traffic:  “There is no hope, at present, that the slave trade will cease.”

“An examination has been made of the cargoes of the schooners Manchester and Devereus, of and from Baltimore, which were seized last week by order of the Collector of Boston, on suspicion of their being fitted out for the slave trade; but nothing has been discovered to sustain the accusation…. It is admitted that their destination was the Coast of Africa, but the captains declare that they only contemplated engaging in lawful commercial business.  It is not a very difficult matter for slavers to fit out at any port in the United State.”

IMPORTANT FROM TEXAS!  ANNEXATION SETTLED

“Both houses of the Texas Congress have declared unanimously for the annexation. “It is said that the prospect of the annexation of Texas has raised the price of slaves from 30 to 50 per ct;, and the effect of this is a most powerful stimulus to the slave trade, and to the breeding of slaves for sale.”  (From the N.Y. Express)

With a title Horrors of Slavery, here is a letter from Charles H. Bell, Commander, United States Ship,Yorktown, from Kabinda, Africa, Dec 16, 1845.   The letter, addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, recounts the capture of an American bark, Pons, with eight hundred and ninety-six slaves on board.  “The vessel had no slave deck, and upwards of eight hundred and fifty slaves were piled , almost in bulk, on the water casks below; these were males.  About forty or fifty females were confined in one-half of the round house cabin on deck; the other half of the cabin remaining for the use of the officers……The stench from below was so great that it was impossible to stand more than a few moments near the hatchways.  Our men, who went below from curiosity, were forced up sick in a few minutes….What must have been the sufferings of these poor wretches when the hatches were closed?……”

From the New York Tribune and translated from Courier des Etats Unis   

“Last Saturday, the Sultan attended a session of the Supreme Council of Justice at the Porte. All the Ministers and high functionaries were present.  The Sultan then took the first step of a measure which cannot fail to excite great attention in Europe: he ordered the suppression of the Slave-Market.  This is not the abolition of Slavery, it is true, but it is the first step toward that end…… A Mussulman prince, the Bey of Tunis, has already proclaimed the entire abolition of Slavery throughout his territories….”

Under the Refuge of Oppression, from the New Orleans Picayune, there is a listing of seven notices of Slaves/Negroes for Sale. The names of the sellers or agents are listed after each notice.  Here is one full announcement, and a portion of a second:
 ”Nineteen Negroes  — Consisting of 3 men, 3 women, and 13 small ones.  At the same time and place, I will sell three thousand pounds of good Bacon, and a quantity of good Brick.  Terms of sale:12 months, with note and security.”   M. Patton, Adminisrator.”
 ”About 35 mules and horses, 7 yoke of oxen, cart, wagons, timber, wheels, FIFTY-TWO NEGROES, including  blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, engineers …The Plantation will be sold with or without the Negroes, at the option of the purchaser…”