The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-16
For the Wilmingtonion.
NEGRO SLAvERY.--No. Ip
TO THE CITIZENS OF DELAwA.r

throughout great part OF that extens;v.
continent, two descriptions of persons. v.rv
distinctfrom each other. included in the com.
prehensive appellation of slaves. The do.
mestlc and the vendible slaves; and 50 strong.
ly marked is the distinction between than
on the African coast, that the former ara
considered as being in state of comnar.
atlve freedom. To convert domestic slave
into vendible one. by whatever process
effected, is, in the language frequently used
by travellers, to reduce him 10 SLAVERY.
James Penny, Esq. who, during eighteen
years. had traded OH the African coast ana
had resided two years in Africa, in his ev.
idence before the Privy Council, saws.
"Three fourths of tie inhabitants are sIaveo
domestic slavery is very common in tb;,
country-their domestic slaves are never
sold except for crimes. They are tried for
their crimes, and the number of slaves is so
great, that the government would be afraid
OF committing amy act of injustice for fear or
revolt. He did not know "that there are
any countries, either on the coast, or in the
interior Of Africa, where the slaves are bred
for sale"
Governor Dalzell, who resided three wears
on the Gold Coast, in his evidence before
the same body, gives the following account
=" The gold coast is divided into number
OF petty states, governed by their chiefs or
Coboceers.-rhese Coboceers have each
their particular vassals, but have not such
an absolute power over them. as to be able
to dispose of them without the consent Of
their fellow vassals, or the pynims or elders
of the town. The Coboceers have no power
over the hpes or PROPERTY of their vassals
except in consequence of a trial before these
pynims or elders"
Captain Matthews, a jealous supporter OF
the slave trade. speaking of the district in
the nSghbourhood of Sierra Leone, says
} The slaves make three fourths of the in.
habltants on that part of the coast" and
yet, as he says i'll another part Of his testimo
ny, 'of the numbers taken from this coun-
try, only small part are natives of the sea
coast; some of whom are prisoners, madein
the wars which the petty states have with
each other; others are sold for various
crimes" Again :-"If the domestic slaves
are born in mans possession, or have been
in his possession twelvemonth, they cannst
be sold without the form Of a trial" Whe-
ther the form Of trial is mockery Of JUS
4 tice, or fairly conducted. is point.on which
r the witnesses do not entirely agree.
Robert Norris, slave captain, speaking
OF the slaves on the gold coast, says, "the dis
! tinction is this; slave that has been pur-
c chased or acquired. may be disposed Of at
n pleasure; but slave born within their walls,
cannot be sold at the will of his master, un-
less guilty of crimes" He afterwards stat
ed that the sentence of a magistrate was re-
8 quired to authorize the punishment OF SELL
ing.
Governor Barnes, who resided IS years IN
= Africa, in his evidence before the House o!
n Commons, testifies that "house slaves are
: never sold except for crimes" Their trials
are said to be openly conducted by the Ell
!, ders. In Senegal and Gambia, he says
n "the slaves of black masters are very wen
IS fed, except in famines, with corn and hsn.
;, They are not worked for any regular time,
d nor constantly, and never under the whip
IT Nearly similar is the testimony OF Gov
ernor Fountaine, ,-"Slaves purchased by the
natives, may be sold again at their pleasure
but such as have fallen TO them by inherit
: ance cannot be sold, but by the general con.
c sent of the other domestics, unless eonvic'eo
= OF crimes" Again, "1n such habits OF ID
: miliarity do masters live with their slaves
that except for very capital fault the:
g would not be subjected to punishment
y, Captain Wilson, states, "The slaves e"'
10 ployed by the Africans, live with their n's'-
II tiers, and are sotreated as to be scarceiy ai'
SO tinguishable from them"
as Wads,rom, companion of Or. Spaar''"'
d in his account of Africa, says-"olaVes an
" kept by the natives at Goree and oenes"'
but scarcely any on the continent. ~,
are very well treated and never so!o'
- there should be an nsurrcction among ''''"