American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-23

chetishes in an unjust or unfeellng owner, all the
Undue ments Of ayarlce to the invention OF un'oend
ed accusations or 10 the exaggeraton OF actual trans
p,essions 10 the commission OF such acts as may
provoke or noite The slave TO crime or to SUCH I'M
positions on his ignorance and his iears as may ell
cit or extort declarations TO entrnp him. 10 these
cases, he who is already deprived oi liberty and pro
perty the best means OF self defence, has no conH
sci, no protector, and in fac, no trial. submit u
therefore 10 YOU, gentlemen, whether the dictates Of
Iustce aud policy, as well as the merc,ul pIecepts
OF our Redeemer do not require ct your hands some
alteration 10 the laws on this subject. 1t II should
be deemed necessary 10 preserve the power 70 II
cense exportaon on an ca pdrte nearing may y
no be thought prudent as a measure OF precaullon,
to define. as distinctly as may be, the causes iof
which such license should be grained, and, ~ every
case, to insert condition TO the grant, ihat the
avails Arising from the punishment, ol maleconduc,
or criminal offence IN slaves as IN reemen, shall DC
paid INTO the public treasury as fo,feit for the VIC
laon Of the laws? The master is enti,edin in justice
10 the full value Of hi. slave a, the lar selling price
given by residents in the State but not TO the pro
hls which may arise from his crimes or his general
bad behavior. 1t will be recoecied that il slave
be guilty Of an offence for which his life must pay
the forfeit, the law establishes two-thirds Of his as
sessed value az a tuffclent remuneration TO the
master for the sacrifice due TO the Justice OF The
ounuy. II then, in sll cases whetea slave may be
guilty oil such less heinous ttansgressons as may
require transportation, the owner should receive the
full appraised value OF that slave in the home mar-
ket, out Of the proceeds Of safe made under q i
cense 10 export, why should the remuneration TO
The sacrifice due to Justice IN such cases be deemed
insufficients A proper assessment ot the compen-
sstion to be paid to the master upon this principle
could be readily made by two judlcious appraisers
at trhlng expense, and the excess. after deduct.
ing tha, compensation and expense from the amount
Of such sale effected by the sheriff, would with
much greater propricty be paid into the public cof-
fers than applied to The pro6 OF the original owner.
Aware Of The decaey OF this subjec, gentlemen
have touched il ohly from sense Of duty; and in
submitting il to you, know that neither the fear
Of oer,ufe nor The prospect Of applause will drive
or allure you from full rl' estigaon OF It's merits
Aiy predecessor IN office, whose faithful admin
stta,ion has secured TO him the gratitude and con
idence o his fellow citizens ard whose publie and
private virtues emintbtly entltle hin opipons 10 our
respect, al ,he last session, recommended TO the
eouDenance and cooperation OF the legislature,
tho projected erection OF an artificial harbor near
the Cspes VI the Delaware. A. the same session
40 application was made by the Chamber Ct Com
5zetcs ol Philadelphia, for hs aid and support oi
the State oi Delaware in efecting that measure
he subject cf the cession to the United Staes OF
such jurisdiction deerned requisite or auxiiia
ry TO the construction Of the harbur and its
sary slons, was then consldeted and although
II IS believed that no material diversity ul sentiment
eslaed in relation TO il yet il has remained among
he unfinished business OF that session. Few object.
ot more importance now present themselves than The
establishment oil such protection Tor our shipping.
The safety Of the lives and property OF the citizens
OF other S,sles depending 90 il, the prospect Of re-
endorsement 20 the national revenue which ought
to defray the expenses o the work, and all The ben
ehts derivable through it to the commerce OF the
nation have been too often the theme oil discussion
o require further elucidation. But the peculiar
advantages which will result from it 10 this State.
and to that commercial city with whose prosperity
ours intimately connected ought al once to awaken
our energies and 70 excite deep anxiety in the
breasts of citizens, for the erection Of this i'm
prsyemen on liberal and extensive scale, worthy OF
the efforts Of great commercial nation. The rx-
perence Of the late war should teach us tha, few if
any States in the Union present greater extent OF
| coast more susceptible Of annoyance and depreda.
ton from hostile tiee,, in proportion TO their pop
uatlon and means OF defence. than the State OF Del
aware Al thai time our country was often plum.
dered without resisance becaus. the enemy effected
his obecl and reesied before force could be con.
ctnlfa,ed OF the point Of his attack. The extent Of
shores subeeted TO all the disadvantages OF
predatory warfare in which we were generally act.
] ing on he defensive and could not retalia,e. Ort
vessels were burnt our coastng trade was insessant
~ hsrrsssed, and our citizens were constantly in
state OF restless anxiety and alarm. Such was our
situation while hostile squadron remained with
1 10 the Caprs OF the Delaware and such will il
Be again under similar circumstances The pro.
posed breakwater, with its Notifications would NOT
merely offer protestion against the elements and
the enemy 10 our coasters, but safe rendezvous 10
| a naval armament sufficient TO commend The entrance
Of the Bay aud then, even if our naval force
there stationed, should at any time prove inferior
hat OF tha enems, yet The former secure under the
forihl alton: Of the harbor. would be ready to attack
whenever the exposed condition Of the latter should
make il exPedien and would render the situation