Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-24
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1929,


Mayor, on a mst,rro of grea, importance to our
community, is presented to you Tor inser'ion.
The documents emana,ing from the "Commit-
tee of ,he District Of Columbia" referring to
This interesting subject, have been given TO the
nublic through the columns Of the daily prints;
and The publication Of this letter is desired by
MANY.
ALExANpRIh January 26th, 1929
To MARK ALEXANDER, Esq.
Sin: An absence Of some days from town has
prevented my giving an earlier answer to your
letter Of the 18th instant, enclosing copy OF
two resolutions, under the con- ideralon of the
Commi,ree for the District Of Columbia, in re-
lstion TO the subject Of slavery within said Dis
,rict.
A, the first re solution refers to the subject in
very general terms only had recourse 10
The preamble or iginally connec,ed with these
resolutions, and as published IN the newspa
pers, in order TO ascertain more precisely the
points Of in quiry; an0 to these various points,
in the FIRST instance, il was my desire TO have
answered IN detail. Time however, will not
now oerniN me. With view TO accuracy as
10 facts. and of ascerlaining how far my know
edge and experience on the subject would be
sustained by tina, of Others, have called upon
four or i've Of the most intelligen, AID active
of our magistrates, aud by whom, in Tact, NOR"
than ninr-trn,hs OF the whole business OF this
county has for many years past, been ,ransact>
g., aud find am by ,Eeia entirely supported
in saving that W., in this city, Snow OF no Tact
that would lus.i he statements contained in
tha, preamble.
In answer to your more particular irquiries.
we say; that our public joil in not used Tor any
of The purposes suggested, nor Tor some years
past, in any way, for carrying on the domestic
slave trade; though we do not believe that he
cause Of humanity has at all been advanced by
such disuse0 The dealers have found thai,
they keep their slaves at less expense in the es>
Establishments which they have themselves erect
ed. In lhess 2Ie-asSssp~t 'rfrk entitled TO
credit, and believe, that the slaves are trt at,
with humanity, and that thty are unoommonly
well clothed and fed; and as far as our expert
ence and observation have excluded, those rn-
gagged in the trade appear TO have found il tn ir
interest, as il has aiDly been their policy, 20
exercise towards their .iav. srather sor, Of Sc
duc'ivr influence than any thing like cruelty or
,iolence.
We know Of no ms ance whate yer Of any one
1eing kidnapped and carrie beyond the means
Of edress; nor Of any person bound 10 limit
carried off, SO as to defeat his ultimate right 10
FIR, edom Occasional attempts have been mad,
to p.rps,rste these crimes, bu, they have been
few in number; and on everV such occasion, w
have found the laws as now in force iu.y fiji
caoious. And whenever f.qair 4, these bOrs-
es have been readily opent' e." any msEi s,rale
orIespec:abie cIlizen, f,reXaa.."ayIor 1t mi . II
however, BE- well TO SECURE, a mates al rug It,
the examination Of these !, aces IN more 81 m
mary way, as, from the u ure Of the case, it
may often not be ia the power Of any one to
make such an affidavit, as might be necessary
for that purpose, under existing laws. That
the slaves should b. assembled together at some
given point, belize they are TAKEN off from the
neighborhoud, does, we believe, boh aid the
cause Of humanity and TEND 10 protec' the rights
Of private properly. And in this point Of view,
these houses, where they are collected togeta-
er, have not beeb without their USE a. the very
effor, TO carry OFF slave in a manner more ra-
pid or secret excites suspicion and inquiry
that would generally lead TO detection, il any
thing illegal we're attempted
There are orher matters somewhst connect l.
ed with this subject of inquiry. ihatt may no,
be improper to notice. When this District
was separated from the adjoining States, il was
soon perceived that grea, inconvenience would
connected as they were, with the ad iacen, eoun-
try. should be placed on the sam. footing it for
merly occupied, and be permitted to be used
as heretofore on both sides of The line This
was accordingly done. Soon after, removal OF
slaves was permitted, by act OF Congress from
one county to the other Of this District; but
still no provision has been made for persons
removing their slaves from an adjoining coun-
" Of Virginia to Washington, or from Mary
lard 10 Alexandria. The acts Of the States a
rsinst imporr a ion, and a. adopted by Congress
for the government, Of the Fespec live sides OF
the river, re manning The same, with the above
exceptions, as al the date Of our separatlon.-
These acts have, in practice, led to great num-
Der Of v.xs,ious lawsuits; and many individu-
ais have lost their property, wi'hou, produc-
iurIh leas, general benefit. The affidavit
required br the former law OF Virginia and now
in force ON tbi. side Of the Dlstrie is frequrn,-
ly no,,usde from ignorance, and, when made,
no, being repaired ~ be placed on record the
evidence, If il is soon lost 'Tis not long SINCE
the Cireah Court Of Ibis District decided that