deposited by the American citizens in certain mercantile houses here,
for the purpose of making additional purchases of bozal negroes
for Texas. * * * * a great impulse is thus given to this
illicit traffic of the Havanna." An article appeared in the Albany
Argus, in July, 1837, which contained the following statement:"
The fate of HENRY BARTOW, (a swindler,) late of the Commercial
Bank of this city, has at length been definitely ascertained.
The agent sent out by the Bank has returned, and
states that BARTOW died at Marianna, near Columbus, in Texas
in June last, of the fever of the country. He had purchased
a farm on the Brasses, and in company with a native of
the country, had commenced an extensive plantation, and sent
10,000 dollars to Cuzba for the purchase of slaves ?" In the New
Orleans Bulletin, December 10th, 1836, there is the following
reference to the same subject :-" We are informed from high
authority, that the Texian Government intends entering a formal
complaint before the cabinet of 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 our Government, that a
vessel may be ordered to cruise along their coast, to prevent the
introduction of such unlawful slaves; 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 Texian territory. Adjacent to the mouth of the
Sabine are numerous inlets and coves, where small vessels may
easily be concealed, and from these points, at present, very remote
from settlements or garrisons, it is easy, without the fear of detection,
to transport slaves across the Sabine, and thereby escape
the laws of both countries."
To what extent African slaves have been introduced into Texas,
since the Government, as it is called, has been formed, it is impossible
to say, but when we consider the facilities which its creeks
and coves, its rivers and inlets, afford for carrying on the nefarious
traffic; the inability of the Government to prevent it;
