The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-14

Bought a. dawes they .old In @srssi osess-~ss
slaves they arc esnsidored BY tho Msho@edAn a"'
Heather laws, as lawfully wives OF tho SECOND grace
and yet liable to be transferred at VIII IN Ma
homedan countries they are brought from uis'a''
markets from remote countries-some nomina"y
Christian some Mahomedan, some Heathen-and
are exposed TO sale subject 10 the most exact exam
nation by the person who comes 10 purchase 'hem'
The Turkish Sultan himself, since the lime oil The
Emperor Bsjazet, has never had any wives but I'M
der the name and idea OF slaves. Whatever may
have been the real reason Of this course, the one
principally assigned has been the insults to which The
wives of Raiazet were subjected when that Emperor
and his harem were captured by Timour. And what
ever the origin of the CUSTOM there be no doubt
of the existence of the fact for period of four hun
dred and forty years down TO the present hour.
We find, then, that in order to abolish slavery
x listing in the most delicate reaons-and sustained
by the tastes and habits of the rich and great, and of
course most influential, among at least 1916 600 900
of the inhabitants Of the world-the British Govern
ment must attack the polygamy prevalent among the
rulers and atluent oil this immense Mabomedan and
Heather population Until they can induce those
gentry to forego peygamy-which is sanctioned by
their religion and by the example OF the founder OF
one of these sects and the authors of the others
slavery will continue TO exist-involving that of
millions Of females who are, assuredly not less en-
titled to full freedom than the male sex. For while
this practice continues slaves will be bought IN
almost all the countries of Asia and Africa, and
brought to the markets of Turkey, Persia, Egypt,
and other Mahomedan countries.
Yet do we find the British Government gently or
urgently limiting TO his Ottoman Hghness or any Of
their other Royal Highnesses and Serentes or Dgni
ties that they deem the custom OF polygamy very
injurious one to their interests and that TO lay aside
would exceedingly become them, and prove extern
siyely beneficial to the welfare Of all their people
And if they dd-whle these potentates and mobiles
continue to venerate the Koran which sanctions and
the example of Mahommed, which authorizes it
they likely to lend willing ear to their advice or
remonstrance And, ifnot, how are they to succeed
in releasing the great numbers held in slavery IN
these countries under the respective laws of the
tions who possess them Many of the slaves also'
belonging to the rich and great of Mahommedan and
Hea hen countries are in that condition, the Datu
raj consequence of the multiplication of their wives
and concublnes. The slavery is proper and al.
most necessary sequel to the other-at least accord
ing TO their ideas.
But yet we have not heard of any advice, exhorta-
ton, or ation monition, or remonsrance, ad
dressed to any Sultan, Shcik Bey, Lord, or Grandee,
to any Mandarin Of the first, second, third class,
by the British Gov this subject. Nothing &,
how ever is clearer than that branch of slavery
of great extent, must always continue while these
prac ices exist; peculiarly and powerfully affect
| ,ho ofso nd here
especially entitled to the attention of those who have
resolved by direct means, friendly advice, and urgent
admoniton, TO extingush slavery throughout the
| world.
! If the British Government can succeed IN effect
ing change Of ideas among this vast population and
with their numerous rich, and rulers, they will GER
tanly have gained ground the most important to-
wards the object they have in view And it does
not appear that if all Chri,tendom were to abolish
slavery, that the abolition of it in Mahomedan and
Heather countries would be n any considerable de-
sioo '-~"''-.-' as LONG novvamv exists and i,
is connected with their religion in the manner in
which the books and teachers, whom they hold sa
cred, represent it-so long, whatever may be the
practice of Chrstendom, they will maintain it,
1t is manifest that far the question Of slavery
is concerned, the annexation of Texas cannot rea
sonaby be alleged to favor its continuance On tn,
contrary we firmly believe otherwise. 1t would, il
our judgment, better the present condition Of tn,
slave and have favorable bearing the ullimat,
extinction Of slavery. At any rate 1t would add no
thing 10 the difficulties relating to that subject Tn,
/ number Of free States would remain greater thar
the number of slaye-hoding States. Mr. Clay re
CARDS slavery a temporary institution, (see his las
letter. and in substance declares that he thinks tn,
question of slavery ought not to affect the question
- of annexation.