Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-03-13


fence upon the high seas. In seeking a
denoIinatIon Tor a new crlmes u Is bol
necessary to invent new term. Ibe Oh
i.ct vi CHASING the prohibited act under
an old title, Is 10 provide tor the former
definite aud competent remedy. Piracy
under the law OF nations, is alike under
stood, and punished by all nations. But
air, IS there no analogy between the ART
can slave trade, asd the offence OF piracy,
which would warrant the proposed classl
6csuoD OF the former crime under The
latter little! Ii may sometimes prove dli-
6cult task, amidst conflicting authorities,
N say wbal IS not piracy; but u cannon
Re dlEiCuii 10 determine what 1t IS.
Is II robbery, on the high seas, withou'
, lawful commission from any recognised
authority, 10 take foreibly from a vessel,
WITHOUT color OF law, single package Oh
goods! And is II not robbery 10 seize, no.
the property Of the man, but The msD
himself: to chain him down, with hun
dreds OF his fellows, IN the pestilentlai
hold OF slave ship, III order 1t he chance
10 survive the voyage, TO sell hlm 10 some
foreign master; 10 cDDsign ham, ana mol
himself only, but his latest posteriiy, To
hereditary slavery in an unknown Joyless
land? BY a former law, almost coeVal
with our present constitution OF govern
nent. we made murder on The high seas
piracy. Kill man by poisoning The ar
he brsathes-is II not murder, as truly as
10 kill him by poisoned TODD, or by plant
ing a dagger 10 his heart Is II not, IN
deed, 10 kill with the aggravated horror
of slow aud loatbsome death II Is rob-
berry combined with murder. Tins CRIME,
begun on q barbarous shore, Claimed by
NO CT, llizsd state. and subject to no moral
law. IS prosecuted 10 lis cOnsum nation on
the high seas. Every day, every hour OF
such voyage Of iniquity, furnishes fresh
instance of the crime
Search the etymology Of this term, and
nothing restricts piracy TO mere injuries OF
the rights OF property, or limits IT'S COM
mission to a certain distance from any o.
reign shore. According TO the most re.
mole antiquity. the FIRST pirates were steal
srs OF men and, tor the very purpose
which now carries The African slave DEAL
CT to that continent which bis crimes have
so often imbued with human blood. to en-
slave and sell bis spoil. From the shores
OF The Mediterranean, this piracy spread
along tie Atlantic, and finally enclrcled
Aires and her islands in is iron grasp.
From the very history OF this species OF
piracy, il may be confidently inferred,
that, when once suppressed it cannot be
revived. Other piraLies have their origin
in ,rausien; disorders in the world They
cease and re-appesr again This rs
remnant OF ancient barbarism-a curse
extended 10 the new world by the colonial
policy of the old. Let Africa but once
freight with the fruits Of Der soil these
ships which now carry thther scourges
and letters, and she will not sell her on
spring. Let all Christi ndom proclaim the
slave trade to be piracy aud you will
shortly feyclutiOnise the moral sentiment
of the few states, who now seem, not by
their professions, indeed, hut their con
duct, 10 tolerate this CRIME Public sem
iiEeni and law act reciprocity on each
Olhe,. Has not the denuneiatlcn OF the
African slave trade, as piracy. by the ACT
of The last Congress, done much towards
the entire abolition OF that portion OF iois
traffic which then fingered in America
The time is not very remote, when men
of high standing in our country openly
and unbiushingly prosecuted this pronta
bic commerce Is there new remaining
single man m America, who would orave
the public sentiment, not TO speak OF The
public Justice, by avowing himself par
ticlpant IN this guilty traffic ?
Sir, sad Mr.. NJ. the present period IS
most propltious for the success OF the ex.
pertinent have presumed to recommend
10 the sanction of the house aud the nation.
South America furnished and Brazil yet
affords. an extensive market Tor African
slaves Two years only nave elapsed,
since this house pledged itself to sustain
TIE executive IN a recognition OF the inds'
pendence of the South American Provin-
ces. now the states OF Mexico, Colombia,
Buenos Ayres, Chill, and Peru During
our present session, the executive has &c
puted ministers 10 the several governments
Of these ne " burn empires The instruc-
items OF these ministers, II may De pre-
sumed, are now preparing, ana " among
them there shall be comprehenoeo ms re-
solution, sustained, as l trust u VIII oe,
By the approving voice Of this house, wi'i
those governments deny to US the smali
boon we ask OF them, humanity aud JUS
tice, i'm return for our recognition oil Their
sovereignty? They have all, possibly,
with the exception Of Peru, followed the
example OF the United States, by abolish
ing this trade. They will undoubtedly
seize the first occasion to propitiate the
good will, not Of America merely, but OF all
Cbristendom, towards their infant cause
Brazil, the great slave mart, which has
so long withheld Portugal from cordial
snioa with England in the abolition OF the
slave trade, is also a candidate Tor 'hde
pendence and il may be confidently
hoped that another year will afford sum,
Gent evidence Of her ability ~ sustain II.
ShopId sho IN Eks manner with her neigh