The US Constitution legalized and protected slavery, but called for the end of the importation of new slaves by the year 1808. That date came and went, and the slave trade continued between Africa, the West Indies, and the slave states. But the slave trade was sustained by smugglers in the Northern states, out of ports in New York, Philadelphia and New England.
Here is a statistical excerpt from the autobiography of one such slave smuggler, Captain Richard Drake, who engaged in the human chattel trade for fifty years.
Revelations of a slave smuggler: being the autobiography of Capt. Rich`d [i.e. Philip] Drake, An African trader for fifty years -- from 1807 to 1857, Published 1860
Chapter 17
STATISTICAL ITEMS FROM RELIABLE AUTHORITIES
EXTENT OF THE AFRICAN .SLAVE-TRADE.
" WE show that the slave-trade between Africa and the West, cannot he less than 100,000, and, probably, reaches 250,000, annually exported."-Sir C. F. Buxton an the Slave-trade.
CALCULATIONS CONCERNING THE SLAVE-TRADE.
Of 1,000 victims to the slave-trade, one-half perish in the seizure, march,
and detention in Africa, 500
Of 500, consequently embarked, one fourth, or 25 per cent perish in the
Middle Passage, 125
Of the remaining 375, landed, one-fifth, or 20 per cent, perish in the
seasoning, .75
Total loss, out of 1,000,.700
So that 300 negroes only., or three-tenths, of the whole number of victims, remain alive at he
end. of a yeas, after their deportation.
Applying this calculation to the number annually landed at Brazil, Cuba,
etc., rated at 150,000
One-fifth die in the seasoning, or, ,30,000
Leaving available to the planter. . . . 120,000
Number of lives sacrificed annually, being the proportion of seven to three.
The annual victims to the Christian slave-trade, from the interior of
Africa, including those slain in wars and slave-hunts, amount to. . . .400,000
Ditto, Mohammedan slave-trade. . . . 100,000
Total loss to Africa, , , 500,000
Or, five million human beings, every ten years, sacrificed to slavery.
CUBAN IMPORTATION.
It is estimated that in some months, as many as sixty vessels land slave-cargoes in Cuba. The number of slaves actually landed per annum, in Cuba, reaches 60,000; in Brazil, 80,000.
PROFITS OF THE SLAVE-TRADE.
The price of slaves at Havana is stated to he $350 per head for prime slaves; $250 for inferior, but healthy. Take the lower average, on a cargo, landed by the brig Venus, in 1839, numbering 850:
850 slaves, at $250. . . $212,500
Allowing expenses of voyage,12,500
Cost of 850 slaves on the coast, at $20 per head. .17,000
Net profits. . . 183,000
"Of the enormous profits of the slave-trade," says Commissioner Maclean, of Sierra Leoue, '" the most correct idea will he formed by taking an example. The last vessel condemned by the mixed Commission, was the Firm.
Cost. . . .$28,000
Provisions, ammunition, wear and tear, etc. . . .$10,600
wages. . . .$13,400
Total expense. . . . .$52,000
Total product on her cargo . . . . . $145,000
The ship Venus, mentioned above, was an American clipper, said to he the sharpest ever built at Baltimore. She left that place, July, 1838; went to Mozambique, and took a cargo, all the while under United States colors; landed 860 negroes near Havana, under Portuguese colors; and was afterward sold, and her name changed to "Duquesa di Braganza." Her original cost was estimated at $30,000. Her entire expenses, including first cost, up to the time of her landing the 850 negroes, could not have exceeded $100,000-Her 99 negroes actually, it is said, brought $340 per head, or nearly $300,000; of which nearly two-thirds was net profit.
Gov. Maclean, of Cape Coast Castle (whose wife was the celebrated poetess, "L. E. L."), makes the following estimate: "A prime slave, on that part of the coast, with which I have most knowledge, costs about 50 dollars, in goods, or about 25 to 30 dollars in money, including prime cost and charges. The same slave will sell in Cuba for 350 dollars readily; but from this large profit must be deducted freight, insurance, commission, cost of feeding during the middle passage, and incidental charges, which will reduce the net profit to, I shall say, $200 on each prime slave; and this must be still further reduced, to make up for casualties, to perhaps, $150 per head."
NEW YORK SLAVE TRADERS.
To give some approximate idea of the number of vessels which have left the port of New York of late years, we append the names, and fate, as far as known, of certain vessels which sailed from here during the years 1855, '6, '7
Class. Name. Fate.
Bark Hillanden, Destroyed at sea
Brig Glanmorgan, Captured-condemned at Boston.
" Silenus, Captured-destroyed on the coast.
" Gen. Pierce, Captured and condemned
Sch'r Mary Jane Peck, Captured by the British-condemned at Sierra Leone.
" Mary E-Smith, Captured by the Brazilians.
" Advance, Captured-condemned at Norfolk.
" Julia Moulton, Destroyed at sea.
" Julia Mystic, Destroyed at sea.
Bark Jasper, Captured-acquitted, because of defect in libel
" Chancellor, Captured-not yet decided
" Martha, Captured-condemned in New York
Sch'r Falmouth, Captured-condemned in New York
" Horatio, Destroyed at sea .
" Lady Suffolk, Captured. and since in the Mexican service.
Bark Republic, Destroyed at sea.
Sch'r Altivie, Destroyed at sea
'N. H-Gambrell, Captured-condemned in New York.
" Braman, Captured and condemned.
The following American vessels have been captured during the last year by British and U. S-cruisers:
Bark Orion, Captain Morgan (800 slaves), from New York.
Bark Laura (Mexican flag), from New Orleans.
Brig Lillie Mills, unknown, from Havana-
Schooner Stephen H. Townsend, unknown, from New Orleans.
Brig Tavernier, Captain Johnson (520 slaves), from Cardenas.
Brig J. Harris, Captain Steele (550 Slaves), from New York.
Brig Putnam, Captain Townsend (318 slaves), from New Orleans.
Bark Wildfire, Captain Stanhope (507 slaves), from New York.
Bark William, Captain Simms (513 slaves), from Mobile and Havana.
Bark Wm. G. Lewis (Bogota), Captain Faulkner (411 slaves), from New York.
Yacht Wanderer, landed her slaves on the U. S. coast.
The N. Y. World, in an article on this subject, remarks that, in 1856, during the month of July, the deputy U. S. Marshals said they were satisfied that, during the preceding three weeks, at least three vessels a week had sailed from this port to engage in the slave-trade, and that fifty had sailed during the year. From that time the fitting out of slave vessels has been on the increase-Not a week passes but a vessel is seized in our harbor or at the wharves, and every arrival from Cuba brings us news of the capture of a slaver, most of which sailed last from New York. Notwithstanding the vigilance of cruisers, hundreds of Africans are landed in Cuba every month-Over 2,500 negroes have been taken from slavers this year, and landed at Key West, to be sent back to Africa by our government-The nefarious business is assuming gigantic proportions. Humanity, justice, and national character, demand some strong interposition; and it is to be hoped the foregoing "Revelations" will have a tendency to awaken public interest to our awful responsibility as a Christian nation. H. B. W.