The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-08-02
EMANCIPATION.


The meIjoration of the condition of the
African race became an object of solicitudc
Win the Society of Friends, as a body, early
afrer their establishment in this country
Several regulations were from time to time
adoptcd, with this view, one Of which, we
helieve, was, that no member possessed OF
alaye should sell it. But, It was not until
early in the last century, that a rule was de-
Gnitely adopted, that no member OF the So
ciety should hold fellow being in bondage.
This article of their discipline, which - a.
dopted throughout the Union, has in many
instances, subjected the society and lndivld-
uals to great expense and inconvenience,
owing to the obstacles thrown 10 the way OF
emancipation by the laws OF most OF the
Southern States. These require that II
master sets slave free, he shall remove
him from the State, or give heavy bonds to
guard against his ever be ecomns chargeable,
and also. we believe, hold the master still
accountable for any misconduct OF the eman'
cpated slave.
With these requsitinns. it was impnssi'
bic for many individuals to comply, and the
burthen consequently devolved on the ooci'
etv. 1t was most felt in the Yearly Meeting
of North Carolina, where the number oi
slaves who fell into their hands was great
est. Trustees were appointed TO nave inc
care Of those who were set tree, TIL they
could be removed from the State, and be-
yond the danger Of being again brought into
slavery. The number under care OF the
trustees had accumulated to more than
thousand A part of them tell into the
hands Of members, by inheritance, from
those who were not members. and part
belonged to individuals who were in posses
Cat. tha,r sptnn g
Two or three years since, measures were
adopted for their speedy removal We
have now before us an address from the last
Yearly Meeting. from which it appears that
about 500 persons have been removed during
the year preceding, at an expense OF $500.
Being left to their choice Of places, about DO
were taken to Liberia, (Africa,) 1l9 to Hay
ii, II to Philadelphia. and the remainder to
Ohio and Indiana During the year. the
donations in aid of this benevolent WORK
were from an individual in Philatielphla,
S2.914; from the Yearly Meeting of Ne%-
England, $1,000 from the Yearly Meeting
Of New York, $3.50; from the Yearly Meet
ing Of Philadelphia, $500; and from an mdi-
vidual in Burlington. NJ ]. 500. About
500 of the remaining free people OF colour
are willing to remove to free governments;
above 800 Of them to Liberia and 200 to
other places. A donation of $500 has been
made to the Colonization Society towards
chartering vessel tor Liberia, and $500
more is pledged if necessary. This vessel
we believe. has since sailed A further sum
ot two thousand dollars was found necessary
to complete the removal of the whole num-
ber, which has been apportonedto to be raised
among the several Quarterly Meetings.
In conclusion, the address says--"Not-
wi,hstanding all the varied difficulties at
tending this subject, it appears to US that
the blessing of Divine Providence has attend
cd our exertions in peculiar manner.-lf
the Father of Mercies should continue to
smile on our operations, we shall in year
or two more, in all probability, be released
from the heavier part of this burthen, and
feel the inexpressiblc consolation of having
plucked from the jaws of slavery, thousand
of our fellow beings, and placed them in free
governments, where they may enjoy the
privileges of citizens, and the additional sat-
isfaction of having been instrumental in per-
forming work which will doubtless have
very striking influence on the community
at large, and assist in paving the way for
the mitigation or removal of one of the great
est evils that ever affected the human race"
Massachusetts Sly.