Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-03-28

county OF ESSEX /; and nor q representa-
the from Nev-Jersey, in The House of
Representatives Of The United States.
SIN,
Had you remained coniented, in the
honourable situation of Representative of
the county Of Essex; you would have re.
saEasd 10 your constituents witi the Tepu-
tation of an able and faithful public SER
want; and the people of New-Jersey would
have been spared the modification of
learning, that their rights had been aban-
doned, by half their members, 10 the lower
house of Congress.
Alasl you have sacrificed this fair fame,
together with the interests committed TO
you, at the shrine of southern policy.
10 January last, the legislature passed
resolutions deprecating the extension Of
slavery to any new state. To these reso.
IutioDs, you Then being candidate for
the seat you now hold) lent no inconside-
rable support. By so doing, you gave a
solemn pledge to act in conformity to their
spirit. How have you redeemed this
pledge?
After having recorded your vote 10 fa-
YOUR OF the restriction, and learnt from
the decision of the question, that there
was majority in favour Of that measure !;
what dark and banefnl influence could
have induced you TO vote for the amend
ments of the Senate
There we're ninety Votes for this fatal
occurrence; eighty seven against it: had
yen and yoaE colleagues, Messrs. Bloom
field and Smith, been true to your con.
stituents, the tables would have been turn.
ed and the restrictive clause adhered TO.
Sir, you are a man of sense; those who
know You best, have thought you man
of firmness: you are not one OF those,
whose vanity is to be tickied into compii-
ance, by flattery; or whose political fears
are to be excited, By vapouriag orators.
You are made Of sterner stuff" When
men Of your character, SO suddenly change
opinions, deliberately formed and publicly
expressed, the world will infer, that the
motives for change have been weighty.
To these motives and TO the conduct of
your two colleagues We owe it, that,
portion of our country, capable of nur-
turing thousands of freemen; susceptible
of yielding vast agricultural treasures to
their industry, and of affording means for
the development of their physical aud
moral energies; state, which, if allowed
to be peopled by the hardy sons of the
north aud the west, would have become a
strong, well-proportioned and graceful
column, affording both stability and beau
ty to the vast fabric of our union; is to
be condemned to the miserable and rick.
ETY. existence, which all modern history
proves is consequent 90 slave population.
Toyou, sir, and to your two colleagues,
mast the friends Of humanity impute the
blame, of giving additional encouragement
to the domestic slsve-trade--a traffic as
disgraceful TO the state that permits it, as
it is cruel to the miserable beings who are
its objects, and demoraliziag to the wretch
es who aim at reaping profit from its pnr-
suit. ]
Is it by encouraging the cupidity of
negro-dealers; by opening new channels
for the skill and enterprise OF beings, whose
business is the disruption OF the ties of
Kindred; who mock at the better feelings
of our nature and smile at the sobs and
groans of their victims; that you, the
guardians of the nations morals, expect to
give new impetus TO virtue aud to rear
another barrier in defence Of our repub-
lican institutions?
You surely do not belong TO the school
that mocks at public virtue, and tolerates
its friends, only because it believes them
fools
In the old slave.holding states, the blacks
have many enioyments, comforts aud pri-
vileges; these, although granted at FIRST
by the humanity Of few, have now be-
come general, and SO firmly established,
that the master who should endeavour to
infringe or abridge them, would meet with
the contempt of his equals. These slaves
are comparatively happy. of this happi-
ness your vote has helped to deprive them,
by opening a new door for their being
transported to land their fathers never
knew, there to toll for a master 10 whom
they can excite no feelings, except those
connected with gain; who will inspire
them with no sentiment, but hate or fear.
Think you, sir, such inhabitants will add
to the strength of our widely extended
empire?
The southern states have abounded 10
men, distinguished alike for refinement
aud strength of intellect; men who have
received and merited the highest houours
their country could bestow. A variety Of
causes (Vhick cannot erist in aesU state)
have combined TO produce this result