Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-06
). f,aila,, a the ph.n,r Goselts.

\ wTiier in your paner OF the Am inst who
subs,ribes him. elf A Ci,izrn Of the County
OF Alexandria" has made remarks upon the
sebiec, Of Slavery in the Dis'ric, which seem
10 require some notice.
4, appears from his FIRST paragraph, that she
war, not wi h he opinions Of other men on the
subject OF sl.vsry in the District, in the 40
sirnet; bat when practical measures are to be
taken for correcting or mitigating ITS acknow' :
Iedgcd evils his feelings Of. 6enscolenes and hu-
mandy ATE immediately aroused, mot for the
poor ffierdless bsings who are shu, out by our
laws from the privileges Of freedom, aud SUBJ
iec,,d 10 the scoarge Of the oppresser, and the
manacles Of the sla,e-trader mo, not for these,
bu, for those who hold them in bondage, a.
mons w HON lac says, are she widow and the
orphan"
He further informs US ha, there are also men
: in this community, who, by their oacn personal
labor, aided By that of their SLAVES, procure
hard-sarn,d suficiency 10 support themselves
add familes"-an thus "pay for their bread
sand pork, hog and hominy By their o,cn LABOR,
sand withou, the agency OF discounts
Now, this humane "Ci,izen'' should have re-
collected that one has ever asked Congress
10 take away from their owners the slaves that
are already in possession, especially those which
belong to the widow and the orphan The adj
vocaies Of the gradual abolition OF Slavery in
the Di>,ri,,, and especially the honorable mov>
er Of the resolu ions in Congsess on this sub
jeet, have never asked more than tina, laws
msy be passed to proven, slaves from coming
iriothe Dislrici fo- sale, hire or residence, and
.gssd dom al certain age" This last provision
would, in The opinion Of our author "inlsrfere
with The value Of the female part Of the slave
population" but believe il would operate only
upon those who are engaged in the business Of
breeding slares for sale, which trust is very rare
among our citizens.
The "Ci,izer" is entirely mistaken in sup
posing that none have right TO interfere with
this question, excep, the holders Of slaves. !
believe IT may be Demonstrated, that every
class Of citizens, except the slave-traders and
those who par'akc of their gains) are deeply
interested, both in moral and pecunary point
Of view, in this question; and especially in pre-
venting this ,ows from continuing to be, as i,
now is, one Of the principal marts Of the do.
mtsuic slave-trade. To the owner Of real es-
tate il is Of vast Importance the experi-
ence Of all the States aud of the whole world
goes TO shew, that no where is property so va
liable as in free States, for i, is only among
community Of freemen that commercial en,er>
prize and manufacturing industry are vigorous
ly and successfully exerted. In these respects,
the people Of New England, New-York and
Pennsylvania are at least half century before
rs, and thus it must continue to be, so long as
nearly one half the population of the Dis
trict shall continue to be people Of color, who
whether slaves or free, are by our laws and pre-
JUDGES, shut on, from every prospect OF ad :
vancement in society and deprived of every in>
centive TO industry.
II is certainly our in.eres, and the interest OF
the people Of color, that every encourage ment
should be afforded them 10 emigrate 70 the land
of their fathers, where they may enjoy, unmo>
Tested, the fruits ut their own labor, and aspire
to the dignity Of self-go,ernment.
We ough, also to provide for the freedom
and emigration Of those who may be hereafter
born in the Distric, and to prevent any more
from coming among US whether slauss or free.
These provisions would, 4 believe, meet The
general appreciation Of our ciiizens, and most
of them have been embodied in petition to
Congress, presented last winter, which was
signed by more than one thousand respectable
citizens Of the District, many Of whom were
slave holders. fla Convention Of the people
Of the District were to be called, asreeably to
the proposition Of the "Ciiizen," have no sp-
prehension OF the result; although he thinks he
would have the vantage ground in point Of ar
gpment. ] feel perfectly certain, thar the chi,
merss Of Imagination will ultimately vanish be-
fore the light Of truth; and that the true inter