Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-18
For tie Phenir Gazette.
MR. EDfToR.

pressed oy your SoTfeSpo"eS"s =
cha. the discussion ofany question, when con-
Quoted with proper degree OF moderation and
forbearance, is calculated to elicit light,
shall eodravor in this brief notice Of his re-
marks, to initiate the good example which he
has set me, and more especially, when IL mis-
take not, il flowed from heart most beneso-
len, and humane, and dictated by mimi, GER
,sinly Of no ordinary attainment in learning and
logic. Encoun,ering therefore such an ad'
yersary, i. is to be expected, thatl approach The
subject with becoming difidence, and even with
reluctance. never for moment, commended
that the laws Of Virginia and Maryland as they
stoeS at the assumption OF the District, were
;Jyeroeabls; but contend, that Congress ought
not, and certainly would not, place Us ina worse
situation, than that in which it found us; and II
neither of those States had done no act to inn
pair private rights. Congress should moi, as re-
earded the Citizens Of the District, even adj
mittirg tina, it had the power II is readily
conceded that laws should be altered and a
msnded, by the proper authority from time 10
time, to as TO meet the many charges Incident
10 state Of civil society; but the question pro-
posed for discussion was one, which involved
not merely Tie srpedieney, but the eonshfuf,onoi'
ay of the proposed Lsw, TO abolish Slavery IN
the District. Your correspondent observes
SNOW !, should be recollrcted, that that which
is NOT in existence, is not property, and that no
human being can be the property OF another IN
virtue Of any natural right, but only because
the Laws of the Land recognize the existence
Of slavery and give TO the slave holder legal
right to the possession of the slave II there
fore the Laws were altered, SO as 10 deciare that
none hereafter born in The District, shall br
slaves, how could any man assert either a lie
gal or an equitable RICH, 10 subject to slavery,
the children born there afer." To which re-
ply, that when legal title once PESTS; he Legis-
la,ure cannot by subaequen, Law, diresf The
possessor, without 6rst providing as have al
ready declared, an adequate indemnify. Slaves
in the eye Of the Law land the Law is the only
rule of action, in this country are looked upo"
as property and their future increase is Just as
much the iudisputable right Of the pressn, owr-
er, as would be, the future em5lements OF nis
LAID. 1.-THE Paren, be nv slave, the nome.
she gives birth to child or children, thar mo-
ment my iigh' becomes vested, and no power
known 10 our Laws, can div.st me, so long as
they permit slavery; and hence the arsumen, Of
PROSPECTIVE emancipation ,oiihom indemnify,
falls to The ground, upon legal & constitutional
priacipes-& the moment they cease to govern,
direct and controul Us, hat moment there IS an
end to civil government, and he who is strong
e., would be mighIiest!
I purposely abstain from the discussion oil
slavery or no slavery upon abstract principles
Il is question entirely uneonnec'ed with the
peculiar circumstances which brought this evil
upon US, and forms no par: Of the issue joined
between your correspondent "a Merchant"
and myself;--nei,her does that part Of the De-
clara,iou Of independence, which declares "ihat
all men are created EOS al--t5at they are endow-
ed by their Creator, with certain unalienable
rieh,s-tha, among those, are Lille, liberty and
the pursui, Of appiness''-eontroul our rights
in legal sense, to hold siaves-this right having
been clearly aud mos, distinctly recognised by
the States, without solitary sretption, when
they eonfederated This then being the settled
Law of the Land, it becomes the bounden duty
Of every good Citizen, patiently and quietly to
submit thereto, leaving The 6nal result to Al
mighty God, who alone can decide-gdver and
direct the moral world. Il was Gods pleasure
tina. the Jews this chosen people, should be
held in bondage for season. and we are to pre- |,
sumo, tina, j, is equally his pleasure, that the
eoioured people should be, vet in due time and
&, season, ne will doubt raise up a second |
Moses, to conduct them in safety, 10 the Land
of their Fathers. Does il not then, become US
10 be qsiet and calmly await his good pieasurei
Il is admitted by jour correspondent, tina,
prospective Law, having FOR is object, the abo-