Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-21

Ii may be prevented without GePriVihS the
sia, e-holder oil his property Lei tne slaves IN
this country be raised 10 the rank oil those Eu-
roDean peasants to whom they have sometimes
been compared by the advocates OF slavery
et the m be made the siaUes of The soil; liable TO
be sold or transferred with the estate; but not
without it. They would then be safe from the
fanes of the slave-lrader; they could always look
forward TO a continuance Of their domestic en-
ioymen,s; and the creditors of their masters
would be more cautious in suffering their debts
TO accumulate, when they could no longer seize
upon the slave as personal property.
Such is an outline Of the plan we would pro-
pose for the gradual abolition Of slavery; and,
perhaps, it may be thought one OF its strongest
recommendations, that there is nothing entirely
ne,o in its features; nothing that has not already
been tested by experience, and found to be emf
nently beneficial, not only to the slave but like.
wise 10 the master.
We would, however, recommend 10 the phi
lanthropisi, the patriot, and the christian, not 10
val: for legislative aid 10 improve the condition
of his slaves. We have already shown that
much may be done by individuals; and we be-
lieve there is none who may not commence the
work himself, and so conduct it as 10 promote
his own interest as well as tina: Of !he slave
lie. those, therefore, who are called 10 this
work by convictions OF duty, delay it not to
distant day, nor leave for their children to do
that which they can better do themselves. Let
them grant such privileges 10 their slaves as
will stimulate them to industry and economy;
and when they shall, by this means, be prepar-
, ed for the enjoyment Of freedom, if they do not
feel telling to manumit them, let moderate
price be fixed upon the adults, which may be
accumulated by their own eXertious.
The children we think they may afford 10
give up without much sacrifice; and places may
generally be found for them, in which useful
trade will be taught them.
The education Of the rising generation Of
blacks should, we think, claim the particular
attention Of society. Whether they remain in
this country as free people, or become inhabil-
ants OF distant colony, il is equally important
that their morals should be improved, and their
minds expanded by education, and i, is very
gratifying to observe, that there is among many
of them great desire Of improvement Hun
dreGs Of them attend the sabbath schools in this
town, and have derived great advantages from
the instructions bestowed upon them.
One ofthe objects Of the society from whence
these essays emanae, is, TO afford 10 The free
pc ople Of colour such instructions as will rem.
der them happier and better members of socie.
IT, Another object we have in view is 10 pro-
,ect in the enjoyment Of their rights, those who
are iegallq entitled 10 freedom, many of whom
have been sold al various times to the slave ira.
ders and Carried off TO the south, contrary 10 the
laws Of our country. And third object not
less i'm porant, is 10 collect and disseminate such
information on the subject ofcmaucipation from
slavery, as will tend to promote that great work
Of benevolence and charity, on which the desli-
MES Of this country must mainly depend,
The happy government under which we live
being essentially popular in its constitution,
every important and permanent improvement
which takes place, must be done by the will Of
the people. II is therefore Of the utmost i'm
por,ance tina, the body Of the people should be
informed of the evils which attend the present
system of slavery, and Of the awful caamities
which await the Southern States, If il be not a.
polished We believe il will not much longer
be estion, whether slavery shall be abolish
ed-but hoe IL shall be done with the least dan
ger and Inconvenience TO the country.
For the rapid growth Of the slave population,
which doubles its numbers in less than twenty
five years, aud is in the South still further aug
mented by the domestic slave trade, proves be-
yond doubt, that before the next jubilee shall
he sounded in this country, the slave population
will have ncrea sed to about sir millions
and that they viii be concentrated in The Southern
aud South Western States, where the white po-
pnlation is nearly stationary, owing TO the emf
grafton of the poorer classes to the new states
Now as slavery is an unnatural state OF society,
and can only be maintained by force, we leave
il to the reader 10 say which OF the two classes
will be more likely to be masters in States where
more than Two thirds Of the population will be
negroes. But this view oil the SUBJECTS iraught
with SO much gloom that we gladly turn from
il TO the contemplation Of one that may well
cheer the heart Of every lover of his country
The change noW taking place in the popular senii
naent Of the middle slave holding States, which
we would fain believe is also extending 10 those
of the South. We trust that the evil begins 10
be seen in its true colors, and that the work Of
philanthropy and patriotism will not be stayed
until the manacles shall fall from the hands Of
every child o! Africa, and the groans of oppres-
sion shall cease TO go up from our land. This
change in the sentiments Of shareholders, we
think, has been greatly accelerated by the ef-
forts Of the American Colonization Society in
establishing d Colony on the Coast of Africa.
Many persons in the slave-holding States who
e..