Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-04-18
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mend the condition Of slaves it put me in
mind OF q similar speech, made about one hun
dred years sincc by sidi Mahomed Ibrnhiin, a
member of The divan orAlgers, which NAV
be seen III Martins account of his Consulsliip,
1887. II was against granting the petition OF
the sect called Erika or Purisis who prayed
for The abolition Of piracy and slavery, as be-
ing unjust-Mr. Jackson does not quote it 4:
perhaps he has not seen it. II, therefore, some
Of its feusonings are TO be found in his elo-
quent speech, it may only show that mems in
teresls operate, and are operated on with sur
lpising similarity, in all countries and eli
mates, whenever they are under similar cir
cumsttnces. The African speech, as transla-
ted, as follows: nn
ANaBsmilah, SC. God is great and Ma.
homet ishis prophet"
"Hav these Eiha considered the conse-
quences of granting Their petition? If we
cease ou crulze against the Christians, how
shall We be furnished with the commodities
their countries produce, and which are so re-
ccssary fG us live forbcar to make slaves
Of their popo, who, in this hot climntc arc TO
cultivate or lands Who nro to perform the
common lbors OF our city, & Of our families
Must wehot then be our own slaves? And
is there MT more compassion and more favor
due to Us nussulmon than to those Christian
dogs7 We have now abou; fifty thousand
slaves in aid about Algic-s. This number
if not keptup by fresh supplies, will soon di-
! minish, andbe gradually annlhilatcd. If, then,
we cease phndering and taking the infidcls
ships, and making slaves OF the seamcn and
passengers, our lands will become ONO valun,
for want ofcultivation the rents oI houses iii
the city viii sink one half; and the revenues
of government arising from the share OF prizes,
must be totally destroyed. Aud for what2-
To crafty the within OF whimsical sect, who
would have us not only forbcar making more
slaves, but even nIamIlnit those we have
But who is 10 indemnify their masters for the
loss viii the state do it? is our treasury
sufficient Will the Erika do in Can they
do in Or would they, TO do what they think
justice 10 the slaves, do u greater injustice to
the owners? And If we set our slaves free,
what is to be done with them Few of them
will return to their native countries they know
too well the greater hardships they must there
be subject TO. They will not embrace our ho-
ly religion: they will not adopt our manners
our people will not pollute themselves by in
tor-marrying with them. Must we maintain
them as beggars in our streets; or suffer our
properties to be the prey Of their pillagel for
men accustomed 10 slavery will not work for q
livelihood when not compelled. And what is
there so piiiable in their present condition p
r
Arc not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Ital-
ian slaies, governed by despots, who hold all
their subjects in slavery, without exception p
Even England treats her sailors as slaves; for
they are, whenever The government plcases,
seized and confined n ships of war, condemn
ed not only to work, but to fight for small wa
ges, or mere subsistence not better than our
slaves are allowed by rs. Is their condition
then made worse by falling into our ha nds o
Nos they have only exchanged one slavery
Tor another and may say a better for here
they are brought into land where the sun Of
Islamsm gives forth its hight, and shines in
full splendor, and they have an opportunity Of
making themselves acquainted with The true
doctrine, and thereby save their immortal
souls. Those who remain at home have not
that happiness. Sending the slaves home,
then, would be sending them out of light into
darkness.
81 repeat the question, what is 10 be done
with them? have h, ard it suggested, that
they may be plated in the wilderness, where
there is plenty Of land lor them to subsist on,
and where they may flourish as free state
But they are, doubt, 90 little disposed 10 la
Dor without compulsion, as well as too igno-
rant to establish good government and tho
wild Arabs would soon modest and destroy, or
again onslave them. While serving us, we
take care 10 provide them with every thing
and they arc treated with humanity. The Ia. I
borers in their own counties are, as am in-fl
formed, worse fed, lodged, and clothed. The
condition of most of them is, therefore,, alrea-
dy mended, and requires no turtle improve
mcnt Here, their lives are in safety. They
are not liable TO be impressed for soldiers, and
forced TO cut one another's Christian threats,
az in the wars OF the own Countries. If some
OF he religious mad bigots who now tease us
with their silly petitions have in a fit Of blind
zeal freed their slaves, 1t was not generosity,
il was not humanity that moved them 10 Inc
action il was from the conscious bur.,on Of
load Of sins, and hope, from the sro,osed mer-
It's Of so good work, TO be excused iron,
damnation. How gross. arc they mists' <sn
IN imagining Silver, TO be dsavowed NV The
A'eoran' s-rr rot the two precer,,s :. 10 quote
10 nioio' edasters, treat W mr. slaves with
~ ,s--Sluyes, serve ,onr masters with
CT .serfulncss aod fide'' ., clear proofs to the
contrary mo' III the plnndenng OF 'nhde.s
be IN ,"a e'' I'd book forb dden since 1t Is
wen n" .Nn from 1t, that God has gwen lh'
W." and all that it contains, 10 ms 'elhin
,iusselmcn, who are 10 enjoy 1t, oil right, a
last as they conquer H. 800,
Get us hear no more Of this detestabl
propostion, tho manNmisslon Of C'f,S''a
: ,layes, the adoption of which would, ny depf'
cio,ip @ our lands and houses, and thereby uc
pliying so many good citizens OF their pfoPe,i
lies, create universe, discomfort, and rfoVoF
, instructions, to the endansernS 0, gov n
] mcnt, and Producing general conlHs' on.
: have, ther 1rSrc, no doubt, that ;nis v,lso con
5 oil will. prefer the comfort and ~ ppness of
5 Whole nation OF true believers, TO the whim
> a lew Erika, and dismiss their petition"
The result was, as Martin tells u.s., that I
Diyan came to this resolution, "Tnat the do
lrine, that the plurdering and enslaving
n Christians 10 uniu st, is at best problomatic'
y, but that it is tho interest of this state to cont
y; ~ ue the practice is clear therefore, let the
VI iilon be rejer led" And il was rejected acc