American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-17

which was to be exemp6ed by all the attributes whleh
can win the affections Of its citizens and command 'e
respect of the worldp' ,r.h
10 the state of Delaware belongs large share OF the IN
consistency guilt, and awful responsibility, ~hcn atac
IN This subject In her constitution is declared tnat al
men have by nature the rights OF enjoying ana uelenas
life and liberty and of acquiring and proeIns aua
every man. for an injury done him in his reputation per-
son. noveable mmoveable possessions shall nave rene
DIV BY due of law and justice administered accord
n 10 the very right of the Cause But the descendants
of Africa are men, and this state is therefore gnty on
papable violation of these solemn engagements, oy ram
nr laws which operate unequay on this class OF ner c
zens, both bond and nee, whereby remedy no!
for INJURIES received nor impartial justice administered;
and also by Withholding from the slaVe ms oeH eart NJ
hertance. Through painful period Oh thy years. nc,
legislatures have been interceded WIN py peuoi. au
remonstrances yet without many OF those preteS's a.
lodged by other slave states, defence Of their conduct
and with fair opportunity of dischargng her share OF 'e
accumulated debt of righteousness OF Jusnyng her oy
fruits and thus fulfilling of the highest trusts, ever com
mtted political community, they have persisted IN re-
fusing the most obvious demands Of JUSTICE and thus I'M
parted of fraud and imposture, TO professions pub
cy and soemnly made, in the face OF the whole world
Your memoralists believe that society, having the pow
of framing its laws, liable to all the responsibilities
of moral person and view the rulers Thereon as Tue
guardians, in whose hands these responsibilities repose
10 them delegated The power Of carrying into effect the
objects of political associations and amongst tnese and
occupying the first place are universal justice and moral
and intellectual Improvement and your memorialsts are
wholly at loss discover one reason Tor delaying 10 un
them.
Shall we continue to degrade the slave and then offer
this degradation for perpetatnB hs SAD con-
dition, and transmitting it to his offspring whist We
withhold from him the means of moral and intellectual I'M
provement In this ate the number of slaves compared
with that Of the white population is small and even ava
itself might give this reason for their emancipation
From the year 1870 1910, there progressive de-
crease but the last presents us with the alarming
fact that they have laery increased in numbers, and
shows in relation to the whites comparative increase Of
about to one; thus aordng additional reasons for the
prompt interference of the legislature But whatever OBJ
econ may be made to the liberation Of the present gene
nf slaves and however strong the grasp Of cruel
avarice may hold human flesh and blood and call them
PROPERTY yet not the shadow of claim can be supported 10
their poserity. No will pretend that he possesses
property in unborn child 1t fully admitted that the
right of one man the labor, the liberty, and the happi
of another however asserted by unrghteous laws is
founded neither nature reason, ustice much less
then any such right extend TO that which moi in be-
ing No be deprived of what he does not possess
Your memoriass profess to be Christians, and thus far
have appealed you christian rulers bound by the
high and indispensable law of doing to all men pout dis
tincon, "as you would that they should do 10 you Rea
of ate the doctrines of expedency when brought
into competitor with this divine law, are but imposing
names to injustice and crime because the AWse
and Supreme Lawgver has adopted the constitution of
and things, as all its acquisitions hence
the obligations of duty in all cases. compatible with the
best interests and conducive TO the highest happiness Of
furnished by the subject before Experience has de
monstrated that voluntary, rewarded labor, profta
bic, than the compulsory reluctant unrequited drudgey
Of slaves. Thus, those states that have emancpaed or
cuded them, have increased in wealth, strength and re
sources, greatly beyond those which keep them. One Of
these last which few years ago, the first IS now but
the third and will soon be in all probability the fourth
in the Union. Slavery then. cankcr worm, that prcys
upon the vals of the physical and moral systems The
fl glance of the eye, the land burdened with the
evil betrays its presence-Felds fences roads, buildings
the price of propertyal declare it. On the contrary
wherever It has been abolished, real property has risen
value, internal improvements have rapidly advanced; al
interests have been promoted and the happiness of all
classes increased.
But slavery not destructive of external prosperity
han Of internal peace and virtue The degradation Of The
slave is Infectious and impars laxity Of MORALS the
White population The shareholder, under sense of bis
Injustice and cruelty, leads life of inquetudp and alarm
He fears the day Of rerbu,ion, for he knows that God
illus ,, and lie often trembes when he reflects that shis
justice cannot sleep forever"
To conclude; your memo alsts believe, that whether
an appeal be made to reason, to justice to humanity
the self evident truths and acquisitions of the christian re-
gon; to of state, to motives Of cxpcdency in
dvidua or common interests to the general welfare, the
sacred obligations OF this naton--hc permanency of its
government; to the righteous dispensatons of the
Great Ruler of the wordha from each of these sources
cogent arguments press the mind proving the necessity
OF your immediate exercise of those powers vested you
by the constitution, for the abolition Of slavery in the state
OF Delaware.
Signed By direction and behalf Of said meeting By
| ISAAC JACKSON, Clerk