Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-24

nro Of Of this affidavit having been made rested
on the owner, even after The lapse OF 40 years;
a,houob his idea ma. since 6een over:uied,
We, ,hr diff, ul,y is still understood to exist
unimpairt d, within any period shor, oi 20 years
Slaves 100, at first brought from Virginia 10
Alrxandria. Or from Maryland TO Washington,
are sometimes, subse quen,ly removed to the
other side Of the DIS trici; and thus new class
OF suits have arisen, TO asceriai" whether the
original importation was bona hide. or to evade
the law, and with real intent 10 remove 10 the
opposite side OF The river.
Virginia, as you know, has, after meny ex-
p<rimrrts and much at,ention to this sunJect,
become perfectly satisfied, that, as ,he tide Of
slave population is setting towards us from no
quarter whatever, but, on the contrary, direct
" from US all such regulations tend only 10 IN.
dividuaI embarrassment and inconvenience, IL
not general mischief; and by their act passed
the Cd March, 1919, have repealed the whole
system. We do not doubt that similar course
would conduoe greatly TO the convenience OF our
citizens and to the safety Of our property, and
in no way tend 10 the augmentation Of the slave
population.
With The Grand Jury Of Washington we en-
| ,irely concur in the sentiment that II has be-
come of ths first importance 70 prevent the fur
| Their migration Of free negroes into this Dis
| trict Our situation is peculiar Both Mary
land & Virginia permit emancipation only upon
| CONDITION Of removal from their territory; and
| If this policy be not me, 6y some correspond
| ing provision, this District must shortly be o.
verrun by hordes Of free negroes and runaway
slaves. Can any man consent that all TIL, spe
| ces Of population, now 81 altered over sur.
f,ce of upwards Of seventy thousand square
L L a ntar,.
on, This ten miles square? Our lays now for
bid such mgralon; but two modes OF evasion
have Frequently. of late, occurred either fc
| ticinus sale is made 20 some individual within
the Dis,ricr who takes the title for the very put
pose, and Immediately executes deed oil em
ancipa,Ion; or the slaves are brought in for
the purpose, and, as soon as all parties are
here, the deed of manumissIon is executed, and
he owner ,e,urns home, leaving the negroe:
a, lar &c upon us. No remedy, AT present rx'
lists Tor ,hese abuses; ard 10 what extent they
are likely 10 grow. under existing circumstan
crs, leave you TO Judge
As to the second resolution, very little ex
cirmrnt has We, beer telt hire, only because
,ne,e is general and strong conviction tina
Congress will permit no such movt mem to bt
m sde. Independent, Of neral considerations
situated as we are, with dividing 'rrritoria
line running or our skirts, AID actually cutting
IF a portion Of our town, YOU will perceive
h,w impossible i, would he 10 produce any gen
rrai effect, kept producing indi, idual ,neon'
ye"ience, aud inerposing with private rights
1t IS a su ,jrct on which will trouble you will
no details, as doubi not you have seen 1t II
lis bearings; but you may be ASSURED IL i
one which is here both understood and felt.
For tht ci',zens OF Pe,nsyl, ania, and of eve
ry other S,s9. however remote, we entertain
every proAr respect when irgiimateiy enga
grd W disposine Of their own affairs in taei
own way; and we should MOI be guilty Q! ~.
| ~
The ma agemeni Of Their local concerns; tn,
more especially upon matter Of great drli' y
cy, and surrounded with dficulri-s, which from
our si'ua ion, we could nei:ner have seen no
understood. We loak indeed, TO Congress a.
holding the pow"r nf xclusi,e legislation o
v"ras; but in exercising that power, as dis
charging the d"',es # nu' local legislature; sbt
with grta' co fi.lrnce rely that, in the
character, aud under d"e sense Of all tn
rights and obligations that flow from it The,
will 1esl>la'e for US without gard 10 any ex
traneous infurn,r or foreign Interference what
soerer. Very rc>pec fully, 81,
Iam yopr ord't serv'r.
THO. F. MASON.