SOUTHERN VIGILANCE.

THE following story is related by AMOS DRESSER, who was himself honoured with persecution in Nashville, and may be found, with other interesting facts, in "The Friend of Man," for Nov. 17, 1836.

STORY OF ALPHONZO.

One of the slaves in the Tennessee Hotel accidentally heard of a plot laid by 'some of the Southern gentlemen to decoy back to slavery those who had escaped to Canada. Having a brother there, and not being able to write, he employed Alphonzo Sumner, a free coloured man, as his amanuensis; thus acquainting his brother of the facts, and advising him to be on his guard.

Alphonzo was the most respectable barber in the place. His education was good for the Southern states. He was a member of the Baptist church, and beloved and respected by the citizens generally.

The letter was intercepted, and handed to Mr. Erwin, Mayor of the city. The handwriting being suspected, Alphonzo was sent for, and acknowledged he was the author of the letter; to which the Mayor jestingly replied—"I think you had better take a trip to the country for your health." Then remarked more seriously, that if it should become generally known that he had written such a letter, it would not, probably, be safe for him to remain in the city; at the same time assuring him, that it was then known only to one or two besides himself, and promising to let no one see it. Alphonzo, knowing that Mr. E. was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, supposed he could place implicit confidence in his word, and gave himself no uneasiness, though he made some preparations for leaving the city. The same afternoon or the next day, Mr. E. publicly read the letter to the Vigilance Committee, a large crowd being in attendance. After the reading of the letter, one of the crowd asked if the author of that letter could be brought to "justice by law." It was replied that he could not. That same evening, as Alphonzo was about to retire, he heard some noise and disturbance in the street below his window, and stepped to the window to learn the cause. At the same moment his door was opened, and two individuals rushing in, presented pistols to his breast, saying, "You are a dead man, if you open your head." They then blindfolded him, and dragged him down stairs into the street, and after taking him to a bye place out of the city, asked if he knew why they had brought him there. Upon his replying that he did not, some one cried, "Give him a cut or two, and perhaps he will find out." They then began to interrogate him in reference to abolition, asking many questions of which he was entirely ignorant; and, if he did not answer to suit them, they would apply the scourge, then ask again; thus alternately beating and asking him questions, till the skin was beaten off, and the raw flesh laid bare to the size of a man's hand, and forty stripes were counted upon other parts of his body the next morning.

After beating him till his strength was nearly gone, they told him it would not be safe for him to go home alone, because another party were in pursuit of him, and if he should fall into their hands, they would take his life. Accordingly, two constables were appointed to guard him home; and, on arriving at his room, they demanded all his private papers! and, seizing the trunk which contained them, carried them away. Being blindfolded, he could not see any of his persecutors; but, by their voices, distinguished one or two of the members of the same church with which he was connected, and also one or two of the Nashville Committee of Vigilance.

This outrage immediately became the topic of conversation all over the town, and most of the citizens supposed him to be dead. The fact was also related in the stage, on my return from the South, by a Mr. Loring, of Nashville, who also supposed him to be dead.

Mr. L. gave nearly a correct account of the outrages committed upon myself (not mistrusting that he was speaking of one of the company, and not knowing the name of the individual whipped), and closed by saying, "There has scarcely been a night this three weeks in which there has not been some one whipped." The particulars of this case I learned from Alphonzo himself, finding him at Cincinnati on my return.

One individual thus outraged prosecuted two or three of the leaders of the mob. They were found guilty by the jury, and fined six and a quarter cents each.

UPPER CANADA ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.

OUR readers will rejoice to hear that the Anti-Slavery spirit is spreading throughout the dependencies of our empire. This is a good sign, and augurs well for our final triumph. A society has recently been formed in Upper Canada, when the following resolutions were adopted. We hope the members of this new auxiliary to the great cause of human freedom and happiness will proceed with energy and diligence.

Moved by the Rev. J. Ryerson, and seconded by Mr. B. R. Snow,

1. That slavery, wherever it exists, being sinful in its nature and tendencies, equally opposed to the honour of Almighty God, the great and glorious principles of the Divine government, and the highest happiness of man,-its immediate and universal abandonment is imperatively demanded by the law of God, and by the best feelings of our nature; and to that end the efforts of Christians and philanthropists in all countries ought to be vigorously directed.

Moved by the Rev. M. Lang, and seconded by Mr. W. Augustus.

2. That the Act of Emancipation passed by the British Parliament, which conferred the blessings of freedom upon 800,000 of our formerly enslaved fellow men, exhibits the lofty sense of justice entertained by the British nation, and furnishes a theme for grateful acknowledgment of the interposition of Divine Providence, in answer to the prayers of Christians.

Moved by Mr. James Lesslie, and seconded by Mr. James Johnson.

3. That we hail with unfeigned satisfaction the progress of correct views in the United States of America on the moral evil of slavery, and the active and rapidly increasing efforts which are being made there for its immediate extinction.

Moved by the Rev. W. Christian, and seconded by Mr. M. B. Truss,

4. That as British subjects we ought to feel it alike a duty and an honor to imitate the example of the venerable and philanthropic WILBERFORCE; whose memory, as the unflinching advocate of the suffering slave, will be cherished to the latest posterity; and, as in humble reliance upon the Divine blessing, he persevered amidst much opposition and reproach in urging his efforts for the suppression of the slave-trade, until that laudable object was accomplished, so we may be encouraged to prosecute unceasing efforts, united with fervent prayer, for the universal abolition of slavery, with the confident hope that to the next generation the detestable and iniquitous system will be known only as matter of history.

Moved by the Rev. E. Evans, and seconded by the Rev. M. Lang,

5. Whereas we are taught in the Holy Scriptures to believe in the existence of one God," who hath made of one blood all nations of men," and with whom "there is no respect of persons," and whereas it is the imperative duty of all men to practically recognize the obligations growing out of this fraternal relation of the human family, and to cultivate those feelings of universal justice and benevolence which are inculcated by that precept of our adorable Saviour, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,"-and whereas the system of slavery, under which one class of our fellow men are held in abject subjection to another class, and are considered in the light of mere goods and chattels, and articles of ordinary traffic, is a direct violation of the divine law,—an infraction of the dearest rights of the enslaved,—at variance with every feeling of humanity, and every correct principle by which men, deriving their being from one common Creator, ought to be governed in their intercourse with each other,―is, and ever has been, demoralizing in its tendency, and dangerous to the social interests and safety of community, in every country where it has been recognized by law,―presents insuperable barriers to the mental improvement and moral elevation of the oppressed, and serious obstructions to the dissemination of that religious knowledge which is intimately connected with their eternal interests, -and retards the arrival of that desirable period when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea," and "when "violence shall no more be heard in the land,"-it is, therefore, the duty of all Christians and philanthropists, in every country, to unite their efforts to bring about, in a peaceful manner, the immediate abolition of slavery throughout the whole world; and in view of the great and beneficial results of Christian effort, manifested in the suppression of the slave-trade, and in the emancipation of the slaves in the British West Indian possessions, and in humble dependance upon the blessing of Almighty God, it is expedient that we should, and we hereby do, form ourselves into a society, to be governed by the following

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. This society shall be called "The Upper Canada Anti-Slavery Society."

Art. 2. The objects of this Society are, the entire abolition of slavery throughout the world; the removal of existing prejudice against the people of color; and the elevation of their character and condition, by promoting their mental and religious improvement.

Art. 3. Any person, who consents to the principles of this Constitution, and contributes to the funds of this society, shall be entitled to vote at its meetings. The other articles relate to officers, meetings, &c.

Art. 8. Any anti-slavery society, or association, formed on the same principles, in this Province, may become auxiliary to this Society. The officers of each auxiliary society shall be ex-officio members of the parent institution, and shall be entitled to deliberate and vote at all its meetings.

209

THE FOREIGN SLAVE TRADE REVIVED, AND NEW YORK A SLAVE PORT.

From the Emancipator, Jan. 19.

We have now to call the attention of our readers to one of the most atrocious perversions of justice and law, we have ever known. Corrupt as we know our courts to be, especially where the rights and interests of colored men were at issue, we had not supposed them so utterly regardless of law and of right, as they have now proved themselves to be, in the case we are about to detail. Before entering on this case, however, we deem it important to state the following facts.

1. Within a few months, the St. Nicholas, a suspicious looking vessel came into this port. One circumstance after another soon made it manifest that she was a slaver. Complaint was lodged, in due form, with Mr. Price, the District Attorney. Process was issued. The evidence was deemed insufficient, and the Captain and vessel were discharged. The vessel obtained her outfit, left the port, colors flying, and in a few weeks was captured, on her return voyage from Africa, with slaves on board!

2. Still more recently, the "Brig Governor Temple," came into this port, from the coast of Gambia, with thirteen native Africans on board. Again complaint was made to the District Attorney. He was informed that there was reason to fear they would be smuggled away to the South as slaves-that three of them, on some pretence, had already been sent there, and some action was sought to secure the liberty of the others. The heartless reply was, "Well, if they have gone to the South, that's their misfortune," and no action was taken!

3. A gentleman in this city, whose name we are not at liberty to mention, an owner of the Texan lands, informed a member of our Executive Committee, a few months since, that another gentleman in this city, also an owner of Texan lands, had, a short time previous, formerly proposed to him to invest funds in a ship to go into the slave trade from Africa to Texas, assuring him that an immense profit would be realized on the investment!

4. The New Orleans Bulletin of Dec. 10th, declares "on high authority, that the Texan government intends entering a formal complaint to the Cabinet at Washington, against the practice, pursued by American citizens, of introducing into their territory, in vessels belonging to the United States, negroes, coming from other quarters than this Union, and further, that their minister at Washington, will be instructed to ask of our government, that a vessel be ordered to cruise along their coast, to prevent such introduction, and also, that a small force be stationed at the mouth of the Sabine, to guard against their being landed on the coast of the United States, and immediately transferred to the Texan territory "thus publishing to the world, that the Foreign slave trade is extensively carried on from Africa to Texas, "by AMERICAN CITIZENS,” and “IN VESSELS BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES!"

With those facts before them, our readers will not deem it incredible or strange, if some "American citizens" should be found in this city, who, as owners or otherwise, are directly concerned and deeply interested in the prosecution of this abominable traffic. Nor will they think it strange or unnatural that such citizens should attempt the outfit of such vessels from this port, and take every possible method, on account of the severe penalties of the law, to

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conceal their object, and in case of detection, to render the law, by the evasion and in other ways, a practical nullity on the contrary, it would be strange and unnatural if they did not do so; and, in case of necessity, go so far even as to attempt to put out the eye, and sear the conscience, and pervert the judgment, and palsy the arm of judicial and executive power, by some influence behind the throne. Whether it has been so in the case to which we now invite attention, we shall leave our readers, in view of the facts, to decide.

CASE OF THE BRIG BRILLIANTE.

This brig arrived in this port Dec. 3rd. It was soon ascertained that she had five colored men on board, who were slaves. One of the white seamen also, without knowing the object of the inquiry, stated expressly to Mr. Ruggles, that the brig was a regular slaver, and had come here for an outfit. Accordingly, on the morning of the 10th, information was lodged by Mr. Ruggles, with the District Attorney, Mr. Price, that a brig of the above name was lying at the foot of Market Street, that there was every reason to believe her a regular slaver, that one of the hands had so stated, and that there were five colored men on board, who said they were slaves and belonged to the Mayor of Rio Janeiro.* This, be it remembered, was on the morning of Saturday the 10th. Nothing was done on that day by the District Attorney. The next day was Sabbath. On Monday morning, Mr. Ruggles called again on Mr. Price. Mr. P. said he would attend to it. An assistant in the office directed Mr. Ruggles to get the Captain's name if he could; and added, that he was going to the custom house, and would see if he could get it there. Mr. R. called again. The Assistant Attorney took him to the Marshall's office, and requested Mr. Rapelje, the Deputy Marshall, to attend to the case. The reply was, "I have not time to attend to it now- -You have not got the Captain's namee-I'll see about it-You had better call to-morrow." Mr. Ruggles said, "But she may be gone." "Well, get all the facts you can, and call at my house this afternoon." This was done, and the Deputy Marshall was "not at home.”

Tuesday morning, the 13th, the following notice appeared in the New-York Sun.

A SLAVER IN OUR PORT.-We yesterday received a communication from a source which warrants us in at least making public its purport, in which our attention is directed to a vessel now lying at the foot of the Market street, the name of whichthough she displays none-is the Brilliante. Our correspondent states that she is from Rio Janeiro, bound to Africa, on a slaving expedition, and has put in here for stores. Her captain, mate, and five white seamen, are Portuguese; and she has also on board five slaves. He also states that his knowledge of the character of this vessel, and her present expedition, was derived from information communicated to him by one of the hands, and which is confirmed in bis mind by a personal visit to the vessel, made yesterday. We do not, of course, presume to vouch unqualifiedly for the correctness of our correspondent's assertions, nor that he may not be mistaken-but we do say that we have sufficient confidence in them, to warrant us in calling the attention of the proper authorities to the matter.

At length, in the course of Tuesday, process was issued, the Captain, Joao Evangeliste de Souza, was arrested, and for want of bail, was lodged in prison.

* The slaves insisted to the last, that they belonged to the Mayor and not to the Captain.