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

were here 10 unfold each scene of cruelty,
in all its horrid particulars. The hardest
heart in this assembly, would melt into ten
derness, and mingled pity and Indignation
would fash from your eyes:
Perhaps all the other evils which torture
the feelings Of the unhappy Africans, may
have their origin in that traffic in human
flesh which have Just mentioned as carried
on within the state of Maryland and sane
toned BY her laws.-Against this therefore,
as the fountain head of misery, 1t rs the
grand object Of this society to exertall their
force, believing that 10 be the best means
of securing ample protection TO the unior-
tunate, against The cruelty OF the base.
The actors in this traffic are set OF men,
who have long since bid adieu TO every
principle OF virtue and OF honor; who lot
saking the respectable emp!ooy'nents III
which their youth was engaged, have oe-
scended TO the disgraceiul business OF spe-
culating in human liberty. Il is some con-
ISOLATION to the people of Maryland TO De
told, that most of these are Inhabitants OF
other states. They are chiefly Adventures
from the south, who having become mar
dened to scenes of iniquity in their own
neighborhoods, insult the hospitality which
cherishes them, by practising their cruelties
here. in the face of day, before our very
doors. But am sorry to say that these are
linked with, and assisted by many mol
yiduaIs, who are styled, and vile tisgrace
the name of citizens Of Maryland. Both
classes include under the name OF southern
slave-traders. Many of them are connect
ed together in lines, extending from the
northern extremities Of Delaware and Ma
ryland, to the southern and western ex-
tremities of Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee
and Kentucky. Thus linked together they
practice their infamous designs.
Every tie ct affection, every chord OF
consapguinity and love, that binds social
beings together, are by these ruthless men,
burst asunder with ferocious violence
Destitute Of sensibility themselves, stran-
gers to those sympathetic feelings which
prompt the tear of humanity for the woes OF
others, they act as if they believed thai suCh
is the cal!oUs condition OF the victims OF
their avarice--mistaken wretches! have
they been so long Invested ofhuman nature
as TO have forgotten, that tears, and ,groanss,
and sighs indicate the anguish OF the soul,
and that when these are eXtorted from the
husband and wife, the parents and children,
whom their rapacity has torn from the arms
of each Other, nature then bears witness,
that their heart strings are sundered in
twain, and that all that is within them
bursts with grief.
These unfortunate creatures are always
kept in ignorance Of their fate, until the mo-
ment when they are called upon TO submit
Sometimes they are met by the being who
has traf!icked in their blood, at distance
from their dwelling and commanded imme-
diatelv TO march. In vain do they intreat
their relentless tyrant TO permit them to re-
turn and take a last farewell. last embrace
of those they dearly love. They are Stern
" refused, and every groan they utter, is
punished with lash. And when they are
through wonderful condescension, permit
ted 10 take final fond adieu, the sacred
so!emnity of the occasion is inhumanly pro-
famed by sacrilegious interruption. They
tear the infant from the breast Of the mo.
Their. while she cIings to it with maternal
fondness-they drag the husband from the
wife, while they are believing each others
cheeks with mutual tears-they bear away
the sister from the brother, while she hangs
distracted on his neck-they sunder the
dearest friends, while they are grasping the
last farewell
Who can depict the anguish attendant on
this separation Impotent indeed would
be the attempt. We can behold the exter-
nal signs of sorrow-we can see the tortu-
red victims writhing with despair-beating
their breasts-rolling their eyes TO heaven
--cursing the day that gave them birth
execrating the merciless authors OF their dis
tress--rayinG like maniacs, and in many IN
stances actually deprived OF their reason
hut tongue cannot describe, nor magma
ton paint the bitter anguish. the heart rem
ding agony, that reigns within them, and
induces all these mournful Indications
Fortunately for us, we cannot on this sub
ject, speak the language of experience
The hands OF Implying monsters. have
never dragged your parents, your wives,
your infants, to perpetual and ignominious
suffering. Death may have deprived you
of some of your dearest relatives, and you
felt the pang of separation.
But you had some consolation IN the
midst of your Sorrow-yours was the JOY
of grief" You were consoled by the reaec..
ton that those whom the king ofterrors had
thus snatched from your arms, had esca-
ped the miseries OF earth, and had mounted
triumphani!y to the abodes OF sempternal
bliss. and that their lot was that which ma
ture had decreed, should ne the lot OF all
But there are none such balmy reflections
to soo,h the sorrow OF the unhappy Arr.
cans.-The mutilated farewell, which thro'
unusual lcnity, they are sometimes permit
ted to take, gives token Of separation,
worse than that OF the grave. They are
not comforted with the belief that happi-
ness will be their lot they know that they
will not be happy and their Imagination
itself cannot depict the endless and acute
misery which they may endure, in regions
far distant from each other and unknown to