The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 153
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The Afr ican Slave Trade in Texas.
charge by Monroe Edwards, and that they escaped from him during
the Mexican invasion of Texas.1
The war of the Texas revolution began in the fall of 1835, and
on March 2, 1836, became a war of independence. The resulting
disorganization of the government, Edwards and others found par-
ticularly favorable to the introduction of considerable numbers of
slaves, as is shown by a letter dated March 2, 1836, from William
S. Fisher, collector for the port of Velasco, to Provisional Governor
Henry Smith. H-e writes: "The schooner Shenandoah entered
this port on the 28th ult. and proceeded up the river, without re-
porting. I immediately pursued her. . .. We overhauled the
vessel that night, and found that the negroes had been landed-the
negroes were, however, found during the night. The negroes I have
given up to Mr. Edwards (the owner) on his giving bond and se-
curity to the amount of their value, to be held subject to the decis-
ion of the government. Sterling McNeil landed a cargo of negroes
(Africans) on the coast. I endeavored to seize the vessel, but was
unsuccessful-This traffic in African negroes is increasing daily,
and as no law has emanated directly from the Council in relation
to this matter, I am very much in need of instruction. The number
of negroes landed from the Shenandoah is 171."2
This letter was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, who
refused to recommend any action concerning it, on the ground that
"said letter is of such a nature as to involve several important
legal questions which your committee do not consider come under
the sphere of their duties; inasmuch as the private rights of several
of our valued and respected citizens are therein involved. Yet,"
they continue, "your committee have no hesitancy in reporting their
'Retson Morris to George Pollitt, July 26, 1836.-Archives of Texas,
File 13, No. 1275, Diplomatic Correspondence.
2William S. Fisher to Henry Smith, March 2, 1836.--Archives of Texas,
File 6, No. 567, Diplomatic Correspondence. Edwards says (Life and
Adventures of Col. Monroe Edwards, p. 31) that his cargo numbered 185
when he left Cuba. Edwards had as a silent partner in this expedition a
man named Dart, of Natchez, Mississippi. Dart furnished the money for
the purchase of the negroes and he and Edwards were to share the profits
equally. As we have seen, Edwards retained all the negroes in Texas,
pending their sale, and eventually forged Dart's name to a bill of sale
conveying the latter's share to himself. Of this and other forgeries he
was finally convicted and sent to Sing Sing.-Life and A adventures of Col.
Monroe Edwards, 36-53.153
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/157/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.