Viewing page 16 of 17

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

MAY, 1861. DOUGLASS MONTHLY. 463

[[line]]

subject of the late rupture, and in their ignorance hope or fear impossible results to themselves. More than one case of apparently hopeless insanity among them is, by their owners, attributed directly to the war excitement. In one instance, of which I have personal knowledge, the sufferer raves continually of Lincoln, and the certainty that thro' him every 'nigger' is to be set free. I know that many people are constantly agitated by fears of insurrections, and that in this city new stringency has been added to the regulations that govern the movements of the negroes, and a more vigilant watch kept over them. 

Two or three weeks since, seven slaves belonging to or near Milton, 30 miles from this place, ran away, under the delusion that if they could join Lieut. Slemmer at Fort Pickens, they would be gladly received, their services accepted, and themselves eventually sent to the North, free citizens of a free country. They went through incredible hardships, forded bogs, bayous and swamps, endured hunger through fear of discovery, and finally reached Fort Pickens unmolested. Here they presented themselves, and claimed protection-alas! how vainly. Lieut. Slemmer, certain that to retain these would be but to invite many more, who, as recruits, might prove rather embarrassing to his forces, and mindful, perhaps, of his ill provisioned garrison, had them seized and returned in irons to the Navy-Yard. Thence they were conveyed home, and punished with terrible rigor. An intelligent lady, relating the occurrence to me, said: 'They were compelled to whip them unmercifully in order to frighten the rest, for it was clearly proven that if they had succeeded, a gang of a hundred more were in readiness to follow.' And she added: 'Some of them cannot stand upright yet.' This was two weeks after their rendition. I also heard the assurance from a gentleman, that 'Slemmer acted like a man in that instance at least, for if he had harbored the slaves, there would soon have been not a d-d nigger in this part of Florida!' I suppose Slemmer did act like a man-he certainly did not act like a woman.-Corr. N. Y. Tribune

[[line]]

FREDERICK DOUGLASS' LECTURE-Frederick Douglass lectured yesterday afternoon at Zion's Church, which was crowded to overflowing on the occasion. He read a chapter from Isaiah, which denounces the Jews for their sins and iniquities. The speaker showed how appropriately the denunciations of the prophet applied to the American people for the great sin of slavery. He reviewed the events of the past week, and considered it as a week of greater historical interest than any which had occurred in American history, if not in the history of the world. The North had to accomplish in five days what the South had taken five months to prepare for.

The North had done everything in the way of compromise to conciliate the slaveholders, even to the loss of manliness; but nothing short of the complete subjection to the behests of slavery would satisfy them, and now they have shut the door in our faces. He said he had much rather the war had been brought about by the firmness of Northern virtue, than by the arrogance of the South, after a haughty rejection of Northern overtures; but still he accepted the war as a great event in the stupendous drama of American slavery. He concluded by recommending every member of his audience to stand by the country and the Constitution, and each to perform their part in inaugurating a reign of righteousness in the land.

Mr. Douglass stated that he had intended to leave during the past week on a visit to Hayti, but that the vessel on which he had engaged passage had been taken for a better use, viz: for the service of the Government, to transport troops. &c., and it was uncertain now when he should.-Roch. Express.

[[line]]

-A runaway slave, who has been hiding about Harrodsburg, Ky., for four years, was recently arrested and returned to his owner in Missouri.

[[/column 1]]

[[column 2]]

EMIGRATION TO HAYTI.

[[line]]

CIRCULAR.-NO. I.

To the Blacks, Men of Color, and Indians in the United States and British North American Provinces:

FRIENDS:-I am authorized and instructed by the Government of the Republic, to offer you, individually and by communities, a welcome, a home, and a free homestead, in Hayti.

Such of you as you are unable to pay your passage will be provided with the means of defraying it.

Two classes of emigrants are especially invited-laborers and farmers. None of either class, or any class, will be furnished with passports, who cannot produce, before sailing, the proofs of good character for industry and integrity.

To each family of emigrants, five carreaux (a carreau is 3 acres and 3 1-3 rods) of fresh and fertile land, capable of growing all the fruits and staples of the tropics, will be gratuitously given, on the sole condition that they shall settle on it and cultivate it and declare their intention of becoming citizens of Hayti. To unmarried men, on similar conditions, two carreaux will be granted.

Board and lodging, free of cost, will be furnished to the emigrants for at least eight days after their arrival in the island.

The government also will find remunerative work for those of you whose means will not permit you to begin immediately an independent cultivation.

Emigrants are invited to settle in communities.

Sites for the erection of schools and chapels will be donated by the State, without regard to the religious belief of the emigrants.

The fullest religious liberty will be secured to them; they will never be called on to support the Roman Catholic Church.

No military service will be demanded from them, excepting that they shall form military companies and drill themselves once a month.

All the necessary personal effects, machinery and agricultural instruments introduced by the emigrants shall be at liberty to leave the country at any moment they please; but those whose passage shall be paid by government, if they wish to return before the expiration of three years, will be required to refund the money expended on their account. A contract, fixing the amount, will be made with each emigrant before leaving the continent.

I have been commissioned to superintend the interests of the emigrants and charged with the entire control of the movement in America, and all persons, therefore, desiring to avail themselves of the invitation and bounty of the Haytian Government, are requested to correspond with me.

I shall at once, as directed by the Government, establish a bureau of emigration in Boston, and publish a Guide Book for the use of those persons of African or Indian descent who may wish to make themselves acquainted with the resources of the country and the disposition of its authorities

I shall also appoint Agents to visit such communities as may seriously entertain the project of emigration.

Immediate arrangements, both here and in Hayti, can be made for the embarkment and settlement of one hundred thousand persons.

By order of the Government of the Republic of Hayti.

JAMES REDPATH,
General Agent of Emigration.
BOSTON, Nov. 3, 1860.

[[line]]

CIRCULAR-NO. VI.
HAYTIAN BUREAU OF EMIGRATION<
Boston, March 8, 1861.

To Men of African descent in the United States and Canadas:

  Friends:-Arrangements have been made by this Bureau by which emigrants can sail from this port in regular packets, every two weeks or oftener, for the Republic of Hayti.
  Those who go by these packets must in all cases pay their own passage; the price of which will be $18, provisions being found.  This is about one-third the usual rates of charge from Northern parts.
  Whenever any colony of eighty, or over, signify their readiness to sail at a designated time a vessel will be chartered expressly for the purpose of conveying them comfortably and speedily from either Boston, New York, Philadelphia,

[[/column 2]]

[[column 3]] 

or Washington, to Hayti.  Price of passage, same as above.  Children under 12 years, half price; under 2, free.
  Laborers and farmers, going by these chartered vessels, if unable to pay their own passage, can have it advanced to them, including provisions.  But they must furnish their own bedding for the voyage. 
  All whose passage money is thus advanced will sign a contract engaging to repay the amount ($18) to the Government of Hayti within three years, in case they take grants of Government lands, or choose to leave the country within the time specified.
  Those who do not choose to accept Government lands, but remain over three years in the Island, will not be required to repay it at all.
  Emigrants must defray their own expenses in reaching the port of embarkation.
  Those who go in vessels specially chartered by this Bureau will be allowed to take any reasonable amount of household goods and farming implements free of charge.
  Those who go by regular packets will be charged for freight at the rate of 90 cents per barrel, or 18 cents per square foot.
  Usual length of voyage, from 14 to 20 days.
  All who design to emigrate are earnestly requested to give this Bureau ample notice of their readiness to sail.
JAMES REDPATH,
General Agent.

             CIRCULAR.-NO. VII.
           HAYTIAN BUREAU OF EMIGRATION,
                  Boston, March 20, 1861.

  Experience has shown that it has become an
imperative necessity that a change should be made from the terms of a recent Circular relative to the system of boarding emigrants during their passage to the Republic of Hayti.  It was stated that passengers might choose between boarding themselves or paying $8 in advance for their board.  The passengers both by the "Janet Kidston" and the "Mary A. Jones," decided to board themselves; but, in both cases, in a majority of instances, failed to provide for the wants of an ordinary voyage.  If this system were continued, a long passage would necessarily result in starvation, unless the Bureau should provide against such a contingency, by laying in a sufficient amount of provisions.  To avoid the expense, therefore, the embarrassment and danger attending the present system, after a full consultation with other agents and men experienced in the business, I have come to the resolution to have the ship provide provisions for all the emigrants, and to include the expense of board in the sum to be specified in the contract.  That is to say, passengers will either pay $18 for an emigrant's passage, their board being found and cooked for them, or sign a contract to pay that sum after one, two, or three years, as they prefer, with the important exception, also, that those who may remain more than three years, and decide not to accept of the Government grant of lands, will never be required to repay any amount whatever.
  This arrangement, it is hoped, will overcome the difficulty expressed by many industrious men, but without money, who, living in the interior, have not found it possible to pay their expenses to the seaboard, and then to provide themselves with provisions (as the United States laws require) for at least one month in advance.
  The board provided for emigrants will be the navy rations of the United States, minus intoxicating spirits, which will not be allowed in our vessels.  The following is the fare:

    NAVY RATION FOR EACH DAY OF THE WEEK.
[[presented in column form]]

Days|Bread.OZ|Beef.lb|Pork.lb|Flour.lb|Rice.lb|Dried Fruit.lb|Pickles.lb|Sugar.oz|choice of either'|Tea.oz|Coff.oz|Butter.oz|Cheese.oz| Beans.pt|Molasses.p|Vinegar.p|Water.g|

Sunday|14|1|.|1/2|.|1/4|.|2|1/4|1|.|.|.|.|.
|1|
Monday|14|.|1|.|.|.|.|2|1/4|1|.|.|1/2|.|.|1|
Tuesday|14|1|.|.|1/2|.|.|2|1/4|1|2|2|.|.|.|1|
Wedn'sdy|14|.|1|.|.|.|1/4|2|1/4|1|.|.|1/2|.|.|1|
Thursday|14|1|.|1/2|.|1/4|.|2|1/4|1|.|.|.|.|.|1|
Friday|14|1|1|.|1/2|.|.|2|1/4|1|2|2|.|1/2|.|1|
Saturday|14|.|.|.|.|.|1/4|2|1/4|1|.|.|1/2|.|
1/2|1|
.|98|4|3|1|1|1/2|1/2|14|1 3/4|7|4|4|1 1/2|1/2|1/2|7|

  Every emigrant should be provided with a mattress two feet wide, and bedding, a gallon tin can,(for water,) a tin cup, a tin plate, knife and fork, a few pounds of soap, and towels, with such extra utensils as may be deemed necessary to hold the daily rations.
  As efforts have been industriously made by unscrupulous men to misrepresent the conditions under which emigrants who not prepay their passages, will accept the offers of the Government

[[/column 3]]