Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-22

Daiiy Paper, 81 Country Paper, IS, per annum
FRIDAY. JUNE %, 1897
Communicated for the Phenix Gazette.
VIEWS
OfM. Benerolenf Society Of Aierandria yr a.
,,aeiiorat;pg and improring the condition 81 me
People Of Color.
ON THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE U. STATES.
There is perhaps no subject which mas more
powerfully excited the public sympathy tnan
The Slave Trade Both in this country and IN
Eurone. the tongue Of the Orator and the pen
of The Poe, have been enlisted against it.
The cruelties exercised upon its wretched
v;c,;ms-,he enormous evils inflicted upon the
country from whence they are taken, and the
injury sustained by the community where they
are held, have often been portrayed IN the
nowerful language Of truth and feeling Nor
have the efforts Of The philanthropist and the
christian been unavaiing--the public sentiment
is now decidedly against il. By the govern
nrnts of Europe it is generally discouraged,
and by the laws Of our own country the foreign
sIave trade is declared an act Of piracy and pun
isbed with death. Yet even now, so inconsis-
tent are the republicans Of this country, that
Domestic Slave Trade exists among US, no less
cruel in its nature and demoralizing In its In
f,uence. For how shall we draw q line OF dis
tinction between them, that will justify US In
furnishing the one by the scverest penalties,
while the other is sanctioned and encouraged
by our laws and customs, without even soil
tary restriction to secure its victims against the
brutal violence of the traders in human flesh
This trade is not, like the former, carried on
in distant land, and against barbarous peo-
ple. whom we have been taught to consider the
worst of idolators--but in the bosom OF our
own community is it perpe,rated, upon peo-
ple who have been horn among us-have per-
formed kind Offices for US, and have been taught
to believe IN that Holy religion, which teaches
that Gone is your master, even Christ. and all
ye are brethren
Yes, these are the people--far advanced to-.
WITT me spiFlt 0ISSxIEsrs BY this cruel
traffic separatec ffSsNkf a.r1he local attachments
of early iife-from all the friencs Of their youth
land often, very often, from all the tender les
Of consanguini,y anG affection. Tbey>are con
veyed hundreds of miles from the place oftheir
birth, where no tidings offsiends or relatives
can ever reach them-where the lash Of the
task master urges them by day, and forebodings
of his cruelty disturb them by night-where
they eat their sc an,y allowance moistened with
the tears of affiiction, and Can only hope for
sseedy relief from that pcstilenlia, climate
which is the terror of their masters Nor are
they destitute of those tender sensibilities
which cause these circumstances 10 press hea-
yily upon the heart. Instances OF self destruc-
ton, to prevent the misery attendant on this
cruel separation, have often occurred; and some
have been known to sink in the arms of death
al this trying moment, from the mere anguish
or a wounded spirit. An instance Of this kind
has Just been related to US by the most respec
table authority, which we will present to our
readers as an exemplihcation OF the misery AT
tendant on this inhuman traffic:
"Some years ago." says our informant, ga
eolored woman, who had always been treated
with kindness by her master, was sold by him
to person in this neighborhood, In order tha,
she might be near her husband, who was also
slave. In The course Of few years, she chang
ed owners several times, add az length fell into
the hands of the slave traders, who were making
up company for the Southern market Whes
these tidings were communicated 10 her, and
she found that she must leave forever all the
objects Of her affections, to endure life Of mis-
cry in distant land, she could not supper, the
anguish Il occasioned, and fell lifeless to the
around "
Scarcely week passes without some of,hese
wrelchee creatures being driven through our
streets. Alter having been confined and some
times manacled, in loathsome prison, they are
turned out 10 public view, to take their depar-
ture for the South. The children, and some of
the women are generally crowded into cart or
wagon, while the others follow on foot, no, un
frequently handcufed and chained together
To those who have never seen spectacle Of
this kind, no description can give an adequate
idea Of It's horrors. Here you may behold fa-
theirs and brothers leaving behind them the
dearest objects OF affection, and moving slowly
sloug in the mute agony Of despair--,here the
young mother sobbing over her infant, whose
innoeent smiles seem but TO increase her mise
~. From some you will hear the burs. Of Bit
ter lamentation, while from others the loud
hyslerie laugh breaks forth, denoting still deep
er agony.
The District OF Columbia is now made the
depot for this disgraceful traffic! The very
fountain from which the laws Of freedom and
equal rights are expected to fowls poisoned
With its influence! These enormous cruelties
cannot be prae:iced among US, withou: pro-.
ducing sensible effect upon the morals of the |
for the temptation to participate
n so lucrative traffic, though stained with hu- |
nan blood, is TOO great to IL with,tood by ALL |