Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-18

lition Of Slavery'in the District, might An
most probably would be frustrated, by s'aVe
holders sending their slaves without the DIS
,ric,-but vet he thinks it would be advisable
nevertheless TO pass such law, because il would
rid q, OF Slaves, But l would here beg leave
to enquire, If slavery be an evil. and The cure
of this evil the sole object Of The legislature,
would this object, under such circumstances,
be effs cled! would suffering humanity be re-
Iieved! would mere change OF masters oper-
ate an exemption from the, injustice here eom>
planned of apprehend not; but. on the con-
trary, it might increase their miseries. What
then would become Of our boosted benevo'enee!
would.i, no, be merged in selGshness! Where,
aud in what, she I'D we manifest our sympa'
thies-our love of justice and equal rights,
when we calmly and deliberately resign, into the
hands Of Others, the slave without fault, or the
slave grown grey in our service, merely to re-
lieve the District from slavery!
To relieve ourselve 5enefeidly Of slaves, it is
absolutely and indispensably necessary 10
change colored for a white population-sla'es
for wh,te f,eemen, and not slaves for eoorsd free
men. Where, ask, should we look Tor the
blessing, and benefits Of general emancipation!
IL the few who are now free, are, generally
Speaking, poor, miserable and wretched-,he
consr quence Of sloth, idl-ntss, dissipation and
,ice-would augmentation of ,heir number, a.
meliorate, soften or improve their condition.!
and would such population invite wealth and
talents to settle amongst US! ] take II, that
there can br but one answer to these questions;
while, on the other hand, those who are now
held in bondage in the District, Eve yell, work
moderately. and sleep soundly il they will-,ak-
ing no thought Of 10 morrow, but contenting
themselves by adopting the philosophical max
i'm, "Thai sufficient for the day is the evils
thereof"
If the "granlte palaces Of Boston-the India
trade Of Salem-the whaling fleets Of New
Bedford-the wide extended commerce OF New
York, or the solid capital Of Philadelphia" are
the legitimate fruits Of their non-slave holding
habits, how shall we account for the difference,
in growth, population, commerce and wealth,
between London and Li,erpool-Paris and Boz
deaux-NIarseilles and Calais Providence and
New Portland Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Norfolk, in our own country? Whv SIM
ply upon this principle-because in this world,
both persons and things, property and places,
are subject to constant mutations, while no
power on earth can keep them equal. In con-
clusion-is is a Truth, that all men are by ma
ture more or less ambitious; and 10 declare d
man free, and yer deny him all political rights,
would b. as Inconsistent with the declaration,
as il assuredly would be unsatisfactory TO the
emaneipa'ed; and hence, / again repeat, that
gene al emancipation should be based upon ge-
neral indemnify and emigration. Let, then, the
slave holding States adopt this course; and ]
venture TO assert that, not only would the evil
depart from our land, but that il would be
welcomed by all classes wi universal Joy and
glainess Of heart. W,h ,hese crude remarks,
hastily thrown together. ! must beg leave TO
decline fnrt .er discussion Of the subjec,-hav.
Jag neither leisure, capacity, or wish, to pursue
i,--not. however, wi,hou, frs, assuring your
correspondent "A Merchant" Of my very high
respect, for his gnod sense, moderation, and
iecorum.
a CITIZEN OF THE DISTRICT.
From tn. Massachusetts, Jollrnal