Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-08-07
FROM THE CITY OF WASHINGTON GAZETTE.

DR.. Matthew Cunnlngnan--HeT cUt6netn.
FROM THE CITY OF WASHINGTON GAZETTE.
John .fdams.-The venerable and
patriotic author of the following lines, it
will be seen, still continues to watch,
from the !" loop-hole of his retreat" over
the welfare of that ediEce of freedom
which his distinguished and faithful SER
vices so eminentiy contributed to rear:
his sentiments are in every respect wor-
thy the illustrious character he has so
long and conspicuously sustained thro'
life; and it is really astonishing that at
such an advanced age, his intellect re-
mains SO little impaired, that the faculty
of reasoning is preserved as acute and
vigorous at eighty two, as that of most
men at forty.
Forty-three years have elapsed be-
tween the writing of the following pro-
auctions, yet neither disparity of style
nor sentiment is discernible.
SLAVERY m AMERICA. r
Extract from President ADAMS, to gentleman
OF Baltimore, who has beenwrting under the
signature of " Benjamin Rush," against
slavery.
Quincy, June 8, 1919.
Prospect the sentiments and motives
which have prompted you to engage in
your present occupation, so much, that
Ifeel an esteem for your person, as do
q generation for your assumed signature
Of Benjamin Rush.
g The turpitude, the inhumanity, the
cruelty, and the infamy of the African
commerce in slaves, have been SO i'm
pressively represented to the public, by
the highest powers of eloquence, that
nothing could say would increase the
Just odium in which it is and ought to
be held. Every measure. of prudence,
therefore, ought to be assumed, Tor the
Eventual total ertirhation Of Slavery
from the United States. If, however,
humanity dictates the duty of adopting
the most prudent measures for accom-
plishing SO excellent purpose, the same
humanity requires that we should not
inflict severer calamites ON the objects
of our commiseration than those which
they at present endure, by reducing them
to despair, or the necessity of robbery,
plumber, assassination, and massacre, to
preserve their lives. Some provision
ought to be made for furnishing them
employment, or some means OF supply
ing them with the necessary comforts OF
life. The same humanity requires, that
we should not, by any rash or violent
measures, expose the lives and property
of those of our fellow citizens who are
so unfortunate as to be surrounded with
these fellow creatures, by hereditary
descent or by any other means, without
their own fault. have, through my
whole life, held the practice of slavery
in such adherence that have never
owned anegro, or any other slave, though
Ihaye lived for many years in times when
the practice was not disgraceful; when
the best men in this vicinity thought it
not inconsistent with their characters,
and when it has cost me thousands of
dollars for the labor and subsistence of
freemen, which l might have saved by
the purchase of negroes when they were
cheap.
If any thing should occur to me which
I think may assist you, i will! endeavor
to communicate it to you; bat at an age
when
oFron Marlborough's eyes the tears of dotage
flow,
oAnd Swift expires drveller and show"
very little can be expected from, sir, your
plost obedient and most humble servant,
"JOHN ADAMS"