Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-27

Daily Paper, SS-C0nnfry Paper, %, p er dIN1e-m
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 81, 1927.
Communicated for the Phenix Gazette.
VIEWS
Offhs Beneuolenf Society Of .4krGndfia Jor n
r,sliorating and improving The condition 81 tie
People Of Color.
oN THE TREATMENT AND MANUMISSI0N OF
SLAVES IN SOUTH AMERICA.
I, NAV. perhaps, be replied, by some OF those
who neruse these ESSAYS, 1--WE will admit all
vonr statements to be corrective know that
slavery is, in the end, Improbable to the mas
tcr-that i, is grea, national evil,-that II pro-
duces the worst effects upon the rising genera
ton Of WITHSTAND that the domestic slave
trade is, and always must be, attended WIN
grea, cruelty and injustice; bit tcaat are zee 10
do triia Ihem2-They were beQRea,hed 10 usby
our ancestors; we have been accustomed 10 de'
pend upon them; aud even ii we were TO hberate
them, al once, they could not provide Tor them
selyes aud would become SUI greater curse
to societv than theg are ow.-Oniy point out
a wav in which il can be done with safety, and
let Others come into the measure OF emancipat-
ing their slaves, aud then We Will do so too!'
These arguments, We have often heard from
"a
sions they express are frequently sincere; but
we think tha, all who will examine the subject
a,,entively, and with single eye to correct con-
clusions, must acknowledge ,ha, every effort
tina, has hitherto been made in this country and
in others, TO emancipate slaves, has resulted
more fayorablv than could have been expect ted;
and that the dangers to De unprecedented from
the present system OF slavery IN our country,
are far greater than any that may be expected
from emancipation.
In orderto aid us in forming correct conclu-
sions upon this subject, we will take view OF
the course tina, has been pursued by some 9TH
err nations in the treatment CT ,heir slaves, and
OF the causes which have led TO their rnanumis-
sion.
II is remarked by Dessous in his &C count of
Caracas. that ssevery country has subjected the
slaves Of its Colonies To particular regu lations,
adapted to its own manners and genius. The
English trea, them with rIgour which forms
a singular coutras, with the principles which
they profess. They never speak to them but
in the tone Of passion and severity. The
French, without exchanging many words with
them, insist on The performance OF their tasks
at The stated hours, but ask no account OF the
intervals appointed TO rest. Theft, drunken
ness, and laziness, are the only vices they pu'
nish. Except these three offences, all the &C
lions Of slave are referred to the tribunal OF
his own conscience; magnificent hospitals, at
tended by skiful physicians, attest the care
which is taken of the sick. The distribution
of labour according to the strength Of each in
dividual, The custom Of having provision store
upon every plantation, which is opened when
ever the inc emency Of The weather prevents the
earth from producing a sufficient supply; the
clothrng regularly furnished every year; lhe. ge-
morally received opinion that the best manager
is the mos, sparing Of punishment, and the vi
GLANCE Of the tribunals 10 repress the abuse OF
the masters authority, all announce that in the
French Colonies exist sentiments of justice and
humanity, which greatly allesiates the chains
Of slavery" at is generally thought that the
Spaniards treat their slaves with more huma-
nily than other nations. This opinion. correct
in some respects, is, in many Others, erroneous"
But, Gas some compensation for the ungenerous
treatment experienced by the Spanish slaves,
the law 10 soften the rigour OF their lot, gives
them some resources "a tirely unknown in the
Colonies Of other nations. In every other
country, the slave is condemned for life TO su(-
fer under IN unjust master amongst The Spa
niards he may quit the domain of him ,oho abuses
tie right he has orer his person." "The law, how
ever, requires that he should specify his reasons:
satisfied on this point" The master sis not
allowed 10 exact an exorhi,ant price He must
sell at whatever price he purchased him; and
further, it must not exceed 500 dollars, What
ever talent OF qualification he may have to re-
commend him All that has been advanced for
him above tina, sum, is charged to the caprice
Of the purchaser, which cannotml,ta,e against
the privilege which the Law secures to the slave,
Of endeavoring to better hrs situation by chang
ing his master. IL his value suffer any diminu.
ton on account Of bodily in6rmi,ies, the Judge
orders an estimate to be made which fixes the
real price Of the slave who makes the applica-
tion.'' every slave, therefore, has il in his
power to effect his own redemption, by refund
ing to his master the sum which he originally
cost him, or by paying down the sum Of 800
dollars, in case he has advanced more than that
amount. A written acknowledgment Of the
payment is considered as a sufficient document
of his manumission, and entities him TO the
rank OF a citizen, without the interference of
either the law or fiscal department, in trans
acrion of such importance that all other nations
have subjected it to more authentic forms, at
,aoded xv;,h Wary considerable expense