The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-26

"
a slave, or to emancipate him. as violation
of the law, in some parts of the Union, and
punished as crime Such is a part OF the
policy which was to be founded "in the pure
and immutablc principles OF private moraii-
:" Such are some of the traits OF that
Stree government" which was to be "exem-
plifcd by all the attributes which can win
the affections of its citizens, and command
the respect of the world -
To the state of Delaware belongs large
share of the inconsistency, guilt, and awiul
responsibility, which attach to this SUBJECT
In her constitution it is declared, that "all
men have BY nature, the rights OF enjoying
and defending life and liberty, and OF acquir-.
Ing and protecting reputation and property
aud that ".ll the courts Shall be open, and
every man, tor an injury done him i'll his rep
utation, person, moveable, or immoveaple
possessions, shall have remedy by due course
of law, and justice administered, according
10 the very right of the cause" But the de-
sccndents of Africa are men, and this state
is, therefore guilty of a palpable violation ot
these solemn engagements, by framing laws
which operate unequalll on this class OF her
citizens, both bond and free, whereby rem
cdy is not obtained for injuries received, nor
impartial Justice administered; and also by
withholding from the slave, his best earthly
inheritance. Through a painful period OF
thirty years, her legislatures have been IN
terccded with by petitions and remonstran-
ccs; yet, without many of those preteXts al
letlged by other slave states, III defence o.
their conduct, and with "A fair opportunity
of dischaigng her share Of the accumulated
debt OF righteousness; of jutltyiDg her by
fruits, and thus fulfilling one of the highest
trusts, ever committed to a political COM
munitv, they have persisted in refusing the
most obvious demands Of justice, and thus
impaired an air of fraud and imposture to
professions, publicly and solemnly made III
the face of the whole world.
Your memorialists believe that society,
having the power OF framing its own laws,
is liable to all the responsibilities OF a moral
person and we view the rulers thereof as
the guardians IN whose hands these rcspon-
\ ,ibilities reposc. 70 them is delegated the
power of carrying INTO effect the objects OF
\ aur political ASSOCIATION: and amongst these,
and occupying the first place are universal
Justice, and moral and intellectual improve
ment ; and your memoriaists are wholly at
a loss to discover one reason for delaying to
fulfil them.
Shall we continue to degrade the slave and
| then offer this degradation as a reason tor
perpetuttlng his sad condition, and even
transmitting it to his offspring whilst we
withhold from him the means of moral and
intellectual Improvement, In this State.
the number Of slaves compared with that OF
the white population, Is small and even av
arice itself might give this AS a reason for
their emancipation. Fran the year 1890
70 1910, there WAS a progressive decrease
but the last census presents US with the a
. lgrn1lutr t4Ct that have lately lnCrCdS-
ed in NUMBERS, and shows, in relation to the
:, whites Il comparative increase of about ) to
, thus aiiur,ling additional reasons tor tue
prompt interference of the legislature. Bu'
whatever objections may be made TO the no
GRAFTON of the present generation oi slaves
and however strong the grasp OF cruel ava
rice may hold on human flesh and blood, and
call them LroEery, yet not the shadow OF
) a claim can be supported to their posterity
M ono will pretend that he possesses a prop
, erty in an unborn child 1t is fully admit
ted that the right Of one man to the labor
] the liberty, and the happiness OF another
however asserted by our unrghteous laws
= is founded neither in nature, reason, nol
! justice much less then can any such righ
extend to that which is not in being. M
? one can be deprived of what he does not pos
sess.
IT Your memorialists profess to be Chris
tians, and thus far, we have appealed TO yol
AS Christian rulers, bound by the high ant
: indispensable law, OF doing good to a!
u men 7vithOut distinction, " as YOU would tina
:. they should TO You" Reasons of state
= Or the doctrines Of fexpedienCv when brough
into competition with this divine law, ar
but imposing names ~ cover injustice an,
u crime because the AilWise and Suprem
! Law -giver has adapted the constitution Q
men and things, so as to answer all its re
q, QUESTIONS hence the obligations of duty ar
y" in all cases compatible with the best inter
Z, = csts, and conducive to the highest happnes
u of man Irresistible evidence of this grea
truth. is amply furnished by tn, subject be
= fore us. Experience has demonstrated tina
{ voluntary, rewarded labor, is more profta
y bic than the compulsory, reluctant, unre
q Quilted drudgcry OF slaves. Thus thos
" States that have emancpated or exclude
= them, have Increased in wealth, sire ct
>. and resources, greatly beyond those whic
a. keep them. Ono Of these last, which
" few years ago, vas the FIRST, is now but tn
=, third, and VIII soon be IN all probability br
'" the fonrth State in TIC Union. Shaver,
= then, is a canker worm, that preys upon tn
= Titals of the physical and moral system
'e The first glance of the eye, over the Ian
= burdened with the evil betrays it's presenc
" Fields, fences, roads, buildings, the pric