Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-08-19

YOU faultless before the presence o. His
glory with exceeding JOY, to the only
wise God our Savior, be glory and ma
jesty, dominion md power, both now
and ever. Amen
Signed in and on behalf Of the meet.
ing by JOSIAH FOSTER,
Clerk to I. p Meeting this Year.
TO the commons of the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland
in Parliament assembled.
The respectful Petition of the under.
signed, representing the Society of
Friends commonly called Quakers in
Great Britain and Ireland:
SHEwETH,
Tha, your petitioners have observed
| with great satisfaction the iirmness and
perseverance with which from year to
year, the Parliament of the United
Kingdom has Jcated HE cause OF the
oppressed Africans. They have re.
iolced in the belief, that the in!quity
and cruelty of the Slave Trade continue
to be felt and acknowledged by their
own country-mcn, whilst they have Oh
served with deep regret, the want OF an
effectual Corporation on the part CT o.
Their of the powers OF Europe.
Your petitioners however consider,
that whilst no legal provision Is made
for the gradual termination OF slavery
within Tho British dominioDs, the char
acter Of their country cannot be exon
Grated from the charge of injustice
At the last Yearly Meeting of the reii-
gious society which they represent,
there preva.ied a deep feeling for those
who are still held as slaves, a%cconpan-
led by a firm conviction, that this ptac
tice is in direct contradiction to he
merciful Spiri; Of the Gospel, and to
the Precepts Of its Divine Founder.--
And your petitioners are impressed
with a belief, that the time is arrived,
when it is their duty thus publicly to
express the feelings of their brethren
in religious profession, in pleading the
cause of their fellow subjects, who are
deprived of the invaluable blessing OF
freedom. They therefore respectfully
entreat your early and close attention.
to the situation Of hundreds OF thou.
sands OF human beings now held in
bondage in the British Colonies he
gardins them as their brethren ana SIS
tiers by creation, aud AZ fellow objects
of redemption by Christ, they earnest
ly beseech that no longer delay may
take place in considering the best means
by which they may be gradually bro't
into the enjoyment of that liberty, to
which as men. they are Justly entitled
and raised from that degraded cond'-
ton, in which every man lis placed, who
il reduced to the stare of a slave
Your petitioners do not presumeto sug'
gest to Parliament the way in which
this desirable object may be accom-
plished. They are aware that great
wisdom and prudence will he requisite
in so providing for the gradual eX'lnc-
ton Of slavery, a. that the slaves may
ul imately come into possession OF their
liberty in the way which shall rende'
it the most beneficial to themselves, and
afford the greatsst security 20 the CO.
lonial Proprietors. and to the state.
Entertaining, however, an mistaken
belief, that the Religion which The Au-
thor of our salvation has introduced,
would, If universally embraced an" act
ed upon, ensure the present and eternal
happiness of the human race-your
| petitioners are anxious thatall your de
alterations and decisions may be found
ed on the firm and immoveable basis of
| Christian principles they are deeply
solicitous that by pu5llcly recognizing
The precepts of righteousness and truth
! as of paramount obligation, the British
government may more and more com
mend the Christian religion IN the
sight of til. Nations of the FAITH and
then they reve,ently believe that the
blessing and protecting Pro'Idence CT
the Most High will be continued to their
beloved country.
Signed by u, Members ola Meeting
for conducting the affairs Of the
said Society inthe intervals OF the
Yearly Meung.
London. the It'll cfthe Cd month, 1925.
iurpE FOLLOW THE NAMES.