Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-02-23
INAUGURATION,

BY law OF the State of Massachusetts, passed a
year or to ago, whites and blacks permitted
TO intermarry. A few days since We observed that
petition had been presented to the Legislature to
repeal the law above named The petition wa.
namerously signed (I) by the sooty ladies of Bos-
ton, who gave for its repeal, that un-
less there was legal Introduction Of matrimony
Of losing their African swsins, because the "een-
irmen Of color" protsrrcd white wives the sable
ladies' of their own race, and consequently they
would be left without hclp.me-ts. We have no,
heard what disposition was made of the petition,
bu, suppose it had at least a respectful con.id.
Grafton, as it would be great pity if the philan-
ihrnpic members of the Massachusetts Legislature.
who we're so free to enact law permitting tie
amsgsmsrion OF the races BY matrimony, we're
to refuse equal favor 10 their negro citizens
by depriving the ladies Of their besus.
That the smalgamstion of the white and black
races ia unnatural, and revolving in the high
est degree, We do not see how any one with sound
faculties for moment deny. ard ones ind g
marion il not greater than his surprise at seeing an
intelligent Legislative Assembly seriously placing
on ills statute book law permitting such an out
rsgeous and disgracefu state of things. The fol-
lowing notice of an article from the Boston Nedi.
cal Surgical Journal which we find in the BSlti-
more American of Tuesday, sheds lisht upon
the suhjec, which is US, that the phyisaI in
hrmites Of mulattoes greater thsn either those
in white. or blacks. The article SAYS
II il stated that the mortality of the free people
Of color in the United States i. more than 100 per
cent greater than tina, of the slave. The subject,
II ia said, ha. been fully Investigated by the writer
and his statements drcla,ed to be based upon su-
thentic statistics. 1T is Rlso stated fact esab
lished by similar Investigations that the longevity
OF the pure Americans is greater than that of the
inhabitants of any other portions OF the Globe; and
that mulattoe. are decidedly tho shortest lived of
any class Of the human race. The striking NOR
tally of The free colored people is particularly
manifested among the mulettoes.
One deduction drawn from these facts is, that
the smslgamauon &c the two races, whites and
blacks, is only abhouent notions Of proprie.
~ and the laws ui social organization, but repug-
nant also to natural laws.
The American, in it' notice Of the above, adds
"But the greater mortality of the FREQ colored peo-
pie. compared with that of the slaves in the Uni
ted States, may warrant another conclusion. IL
may to show how little the negro is benefited
by that nominal emancipation which brings TO him
no real freedom-which takes him from the con
troll of single master to place him more complete
y under serituds to society. The decisions
arising from names and words never more
sgnally manifest than in the exhibitions of that in
considerable zeal which prompts so many 10 inter
NEEDLE in the relations between master and ser.
want without looking beyond the present moment
to what must be the consequences OF their off
ciousness. II no regard for the welfare Of theil
fellow cirzens of their own and color in the
slave holding States may exist toteseh moderation
some consideration Tor the coIored peor e, who's,
condition must be made worse, whether they sue
coed or fail in their designs might warn these agi
tstors of the Improperly of their COURSE"