American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-20
coMMuNlchrEn.


| Our readers have probably been informed, that
the Legislature of Maryland have recently APP
pointed Delegation to the Legislatures of Della
ware, New Jersey and Pennsy lvania, to procure,
u practicable, some enactments, tending to relieve
the citizens OF the Southern States from the diff
cultes and einbarrassments attendant OH the re-
covery OF their fugitive slaves. We are assured
on jndubltable testimony, that these Delegates are
now in attendance on the Legislature of this State
and that, either through their influence, or by
some other means, a bill has been brought forward
and passed the Senate, with only two dssentent
votes, John Erwin of Newcastle Co., and Charles
M. Cullen of Sussex,) the character and tendency
OF which it beh0oves the enlightened citizens of
this commonwealth to appreciate.
The question to be considered is not, whether
the system of negro slavery, is morally Just or
politically expedient, but whether the citizens of
Delaware are prepared to sacrifice the interests,
and PROSTATE the rights, of her own populations
white as we'll as black, to accommodate the men,
bers of sister republic.
We have not yet obtained copy of the bill in
question, but understand its provisions to be that
any captain of a steam boat or other vessel, who
shall convey out OF the State, any slave who is not
furnished with legal pass, shall be liable for every
such offence, to fine of Fiue hundred dollars and
an Imprisonment Of sir months. These penalties,
it appears, are not limited in their application, to
INC HldSlcI WIN Sildil hNOOHply anu WtUtHTLy
transgress the law but the ignorant and innocent
are equally involved.
Thus the master of a vessel receiving slave on
board, who is furnished with pass, may be ruin
ed by trivial error neglect of some technical
fornality. The free coloured population of the
State are upwards of thirteen thousand many of
whom are employed in navigating the waters of
our own and the adjoining States. Must those
who are accustomed to employ them, relinquish
tngt haul .lo -
engaged in mistake? The free people of colour,
as well as the white population, have frequent &C.
casion to travel. on business connected with their
livelihood, beyond the limits of our own little
State ;-the inconvenience TO which they must be
subjected by the law In question, is too obvious to
escape observation; nor is it difficult to perceive
that the poverty and Indebtedness resulting from
such Interruptions to their usual avocatons, as the
law, if enacted, must eventually produce, will
ultimately increase, in no trivial degree, the bur-
dens Of our white population.
That no person, tnged with an African com
pexion, unless carrying about him conclusive testi-
mony Of his freedom, should be capable of crossing
the Delaware, or creeping along its shores beyond
the boundaries of the State, without hazarding the
freedom and property Of the man by whom he is
conveyed, would be an evil OF no ttifing magni-
tn lie.
We may question the propriety of assisting the
OF his master, without considering the claims of
the slave holder so sacred as to require that the
property and freedom of our citizens should be
extensively jeopardized, and the means of support
of our free blacks seriously curtaed, to secure a
questionable advantage, to comparatively trivial
number OF the citizens of other States. The pre-
sent communication is designed merely to call the
public attention to the subject we expect copy
Of the bill by the next southern mail when more
particular analysis of its provisions, and COMPARE
son of its principles with the Constitution OF the
State, will probably be attempted.
The operation of the bill in question, the free
black population of the State, appears still more
alarming. We hope the Legislature will pause
before they pass INTO law bill calculated TO de-
prve large portion Of free blacks Of the liber-
ty solemny guaranteed to them by the highest
authority of the commonwealth.
MEDICAL NOTICE.