Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-15

Washington, on Monuay evening, we orc
favored with the opportunity Of publishing,
entire, the excellent Grafton which follows,
delivered at Baltimore Oh The 18th inst.
From The Baltimore american IF July7.
AN GRAFTON,
Dehcerel before the Protection Society Of
Maryland, on the Alb Of July, 1918.
By john S. Tyson, one OF the members.
The Protection Society OF Maryland, be;
lieving il necessary that the public should
know the objects they had in view in the
formation Of their institution, have deemed
il proper thus respectfully TO solicit their
humane attention. The call was made 10
their humanity, and as citizen OF Balti.
more, am proud in believing, and the
present large assemblage confirms the be.
iiei that this cali, when properly addressed
10 the people: OF this city, was never ad-
dressed in vain. Their ears are ever open
to the cries OF the hapless victim OF oppres-
sion, aud they are ever ready to irown
with indignation on inhumanity, no matter
in what shape it may meet their eyes, whe-
Their arrayed in the garb Of hypocrisy,
adorned in the vestments OF the law, or
clothed in that blood stained raiment which
is the emblem OF lis nature. Ii will not
therefore excite your wonder 10 be told,
that in city so Justly renowned Tor ITS he
nevoIence, large number OF individuals
have united themselves into boiy, for the
purpose OF exerting their combined force
against tyranny, rspine and oppression,
which have for so long time dared TO lit
their heads amid the very temple OF liberty,
the very asylums of innocence. We as
body profess t, be the champions OF the
rights of man-we profess to be the pro-
tectors of those defenceless descendants OF
African lorefathers, whose rights are sought
20 he invaded, and whose misery is sought
TO be rendered doubly miserable, by set
DIR norseless men.
LIE, me be plainly understood. This is
not society formed FOR the purpose otabo-
lishing slavery. know that this is the
light in which we are regarded by many OF
our countrymen. know that our SANDER
ers are busy in stamping upon the minds OF
those who are willing 10 regard US with be-
'nignant eyes, the false impression, that
under the veil of the mild name We have
assumed, we are practising dark and insi.
dious schemes for the universal emancipa-
ton, at all hazards, of the slaves OF Mary
land, who are now quietly slumbering IN
the arms Of lhraldom, without even DREAM
ing of liberty or resistance.
Ii this SANDER demands retutation, 1t
will find il in the circumstance, that OF the
vast number oil individuals who compose
this Institution, certainly one half, proba-.
bly, majority are owners of slaves Would
these be the voluntary agents in ehecting
their own destruction Would these pre-
sent their dependents with the very torch,
which was TO coniagrate their own dwell
ling! The superstition is as absurd as the
SANDER is base and malicious. Besides the
Protection Society of Maryland is honored
v iih The membership of men, who stand in
the foremost ranks OF responsibility and
talents; some OF whom have enjoyed or
are enjoying the highest honors which
free people can bestow; Of whom it would
be malignant arrogance TO say that they
entertained purpose 50 foul and so des-
tructiye. In whatever liz hi the members
Of this society may view domestic slavery
in general, land there are many who view
il with deep abhorrence) its destruction,
much less lis destruction by such unworthy
and hypocritical means as have been impu-
led to them, is far from being their inten-
ton. Ii they were anxious 10 procure the
emancipation of the slaves OF Maryland,
can assert with confidence that they have
suliciency OF the spirit OF independence to
induce ten boldly to avOw their purpose,
and boldly to at'emp: its execution. And
when they shall act under the influence OF
any other spirit, when cunning, intrigue
and insidiousness shall become the spring
- he, ,..b,l IL. rIpfr
before the public in the character OF an
angel of light, they shall be practising tine
arts Of damon oil destruction; may lie,
whose omnipCtent arm Yields tie thun-
der and lightning Of heaven-biast their
purposes, unstring their nerves, and crush
the sinews OF their strength. The lmme-
date emancipation of the slaves OF Mary
land, would perhaps be fraught with con-
SEQUENCES fatal 10 the tranquility OF the
country we leave that subject TO aIl-trying
time, and 10 an overriding Providence.
Orr object is 10 annihilate some OF the
enormous evils, which hang like mountains
of iniouity on the back OF slavery. Our
object is TO mitigate as far as possible the
csIamities, which one portion OF our tel.
low men suffer by the despotic cruelty OF
another. Our object is TO save them, If we
cannot from unhappiness, at least from abb
solu,e torture. Ifthey are slaves, the law
has granted them certain rights, and we
stand forth the defenders OF those rights
Ii any African, having obtained his free
dom, is sought TO be again enslaved by
some ferocious monster, we step between
the monster and the man, and save the
one, from the grasp Of the other. We pur-
sue the midnight man-stealer to his den,
and drag him to the bar of retributive JUS
tice. We use all the means which the laws
of God and man place at our disposal, TO
do away that horrid legalized traffic in hu-