The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-12
THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE CAP
ITOL.

" The tender ties of father, husband, friend
All bonds of nature in that moment end
And each endures while yet he draws his breath,
stroke as fatal as the scythe of death;
They lose, in tears the far receding shore
But not the thought that they must meet no more!"
1t is well, perhaps, the American people
should know, that while we reiterate our
boasts of liberty in the ears of the nations.
and send back across the Atlantic our shouts
of Joy at the triumph of liberty in France,
we are ourselves busily engaged in the
work of oppression. Yes, let it be known
to the citizens of America, that at the very
time when the procession which contained
the President of the United States and his
Cabinet, to celebrate the victory of the
French people over their oppressors, anoth-
er kind of procession was marching another
way, and that consisted of colored human
beings, handeuffed in pairs, and driven along
by what had the appearance of a man on a
horse A similar scene was repeated on
Saturday last; droUe consisting of males
and females, chained in couples, starting
from Reby's tavern on foot, for Alexandra,
where, with others, they are to embark on
board slave ship, in waiting, to convey
them to the South. While we are writing.
a celored man enters our room, and begs us
to inform him if we can point out any per-
son who will redeem his friend now immur-
ed IN Alexandria Jail, in state of distress
amounting almost to distractions He has
been a faithful servant of a revolutionary
officer who recently died has been sold at
auction; parted from affectionate parents,
and from decent and mourning friends.
Our own servant, with others, of whom we
can speak in commendatory terms, went
down to Alexandria to bid him farewell. but
they were refused admission to his cell. be-
cause, as was said, I" the sight of his friends
raade him take on So" He bears the repu-
tatlon of pious man.
1t is but few weeks since we saw ship
with her cargo of slaves in the port of Nor
folk, Va: on passing up the river saw an
etAer ship off Alexandria,, swarming with the
victims of human rapacity. Such are the
scenes enactlng in the heart of the Ameri-
can nation. Oh patriotism where is thy
indignation Oh philanthropy where is thy
grief! Oh shame! where is thy blush' Well
may the generous and noble minded O'Con-
mel say of the American citizen " | tell him
ne ls hypocrite. Look at the stain in your
star spangled standard that was never struck
down IN battle. Turn from the Declaration
of American Independence. and tell him
that he has declared to God and man lie
and before God and man arraipn him 81 I.
hypocrlte." Yes, thou soul of FIRE. gIorious
O'Connel, if thou couldst but witness tbe
spectacles in Washington that make The
genus of liberty droop her head IN shame
and weep her tears away in deep silence and
undlssembled sorrow, You would lift your
voice even to tones of thunder, but Won
would make yourself heard. Where is The
OConnel of this Republic that will plead
Tor the emancipation Of the District of Co.
iumbla' These shocking scenes must cease
from amongst us, or we mus: cease to call
ourselves free, aye, and we must cease to
expect the mercy of God-wo must prepare
for the coming judgments of Him who. as
our charter acknowledges, made all men
free and equal. Spectator.
AT the same time this man was sold another
hnsband-was knocked off. The tears and AFRO.
mes OF his wife made such an impression on the
back. s-' Ni'ii
fou FORGET YOURSELF. A disappointed au
thor, lndnlging in vein of abuse against n
successful rival, exclaimed, He is, without
exception, the most superficial, sefsufficient