Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-02-13

sI,ve and lodged in the JAIL OF w ashihSSoh
-, He was advertised, but, 10 one appear
;n, 70 el.in him, be was, according to law, pu'
MIA, public auction, Tor thc payUcns OF his
isil fees: and sold as slave fnr lie! lie was
uurc hased by slave Trader, who was nor re-
ouired 10 give security for bis remaining ~ '''e
District, and he was, soon alter, shlppeu al
AJexandi il Cor one Of the Southern States. IN
attempt was made by some btnevolenl lna'.f
duals TO have the sale postponed until his c'a',n
to freedom could BE- investigated; put teeir u
forts were unavailing, and thus was "u.na'
being sold into erPetual bondage at the APP
tai OF the ireesr Government on earth, wi'hou, :
even a pretencc Of trial, or an allegation o.
crime. ,.s.-s.e..
We blush for our country while we relau
this disgraceful transaction, and we would ia'h
conceal il from the world, did not lis very sn"f'
nifty inspire US with the hope that II WIZ rouse
the phllanthro2st and the patriot 10 e1cr'lon'
We have no hesitation in believing your homo
rahle body never intended that This odlous law
should be enforced; il was adopted with the
old ode of Maryisnd. from which, we believe,
il has been expunged since this District was
coded 10 the General Gereroment
The fact Of its having been SO recently 'xe'
cu,ed, shows the necessity OF this subject heing
:
hope will be eady 10 correct it,
We are aware Of the d fiji ultics iha, would
attend any attempt 10 relieve us from these
grievances by sudden emancipation OF the
slaves in this District, and we would there
fore, be far from recommending SO rash mra-
sure. But the course pursued by many o! the
States of his Confrderacy that have happily
succeeded in relieving them seNes from sl,nt-
lar burden. together with the brigh, example
which has bee'rset us BY the South American
Republics, proves, most conciusi'eiy, that
course Of gradual emanc ipation, 10 commence
At some fixed period, md to TAX, eff CT only mp
on those vino may her, after be born or rrrnov>
ed into the District, might be pursued, wit =
ou, dctriment 10 the presen, propre,ors, aud
wonld greatly rebound 10 the honor and pros
perity Of cur country.
The existence among US Of distinct class ct
peopl., who, by their condition as slaves, are
deprived OF almost every incentive TO virtue
and industry, and shut gu, from many Of the
sources OF light and knowledge, has an evident
tendency 10 corrupt the morals OF the people,
and 10 damp the spirit Of enterprise, By accus-
,oming the rising gene alton to look with con
tempt upon honest labor, and to depend tor
support TOO much upon the labor Of Others II
prevents useful aud industrious class OF peo-
pie from settling among US, by rendering The
means Of subsistence more prccarious 10 the
laboring class Of whites.
1t diminishes the resources Of the com :nuni-
~, by throwing the ,nings of The poor into
the Golfers Of the rich; thus rendering the for
mer dependent, setvie, and improvdent, while
the latter are tempted 10 become, in the same
proportion. luxurious and prodiga.
That these disastrous results low from the
IT Il emf 70 tl Ia
conspicuous, when we contras, the Ianguishine
condition ofthis District, and the surrounding
country. with the prosnetity Of those part, Of
the Union which. are less favored in point of
climate and loo alton. but blessed with free and
industrious population.
We would, therefore, respectfully pray that
these grievances may clam the attention Of
your honorable body, and that law Of Con.
sress may be enacted, declaring tina, all chill
dren Of slaves, born in the District Of Colum-
bia, otter the 4th day of July, 1898 shall be fee
at the age Of 25 years; and that those laws
which authorize the selling OF supposed runa
ways for their prison fees maintenance, may
be :epeaied.
And, also, that laws may be enacted 10 pre-
vent slaves from being removed into this DIS
trict, or brought in for sale, .ice, or tran por-
taiion; wilhoul, however. preventing Members
Of Congress, resident strangrrs, or travellers,
from bringing and taking away with them their
domestic servants.
Before the twenty-five years mentioned in the
petition shall have elapsed, ii is hoped that the
Colonization Society, with the aiG Of the Ge>
neral Government, will be able to furnish all
the free colored people in this Dis r CT with a
passage 20 Liberia II is believed tina. our po-
2ulation would soon be augmented by indus
trious and epterprsing citizens from the Free.
States, if we could hold out 10 them even
distant prosptc, Of the abolition Of slavery iii
this District.
Those citizens who may not be called upon,
are requested to call at The Post Office, where
copy of the Memorial las been left for sig.
natures.
[COmmunicated,l
Messrs. Editors-I was much surprised to
ste notice in your paper Of to day, stating
that the Soup House had been closed. The