The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-19
On the Slave Trade.
AN ESSAY BY DR.. FRANKLIN.
DAVID PIERCE.

Reading IN the newspapers the speech
of Mr. Jackson, in Congress, against med
ding with the affairs of Slavery, or at
tempting TO mend the condition of slaves,
it put me in mind Of similar speech,
made about one hundred years since, by
Sid Mahomet Ibrahim, member OF the
divan of Algiers, which may be seen in
Martins account OF his consuship, 1857.
1t was against granting the petition of the
sect called Er5ka, or Pu1iStS, who prayed
for the abolition of piracy and slavery, as
being unjust Mr. Jackson does not quote
it: perhaps he has not seen it. ii, there.
fore, some of his reasoniugs are 10 be
found in his eloquent speech, it may not
only show that mems interests operate, and
are operated on, with surprising similarity
in all countries and climates, whenever
they are under similar circumstances,
The African speech, as translated, i. as
follows:
Gala Bismilah, &c. God is great,
and Mahomet is his prophet,
Have these Erika considered the con-
sequences of granting their petition? 1t
we cease our cruises against the Chris
tians, how shall we be furnished with the
commodities the countries produce, and
which are necessary for us2 II we
forbear to make slaves OF their people,
who, in this hot climate, are 10 cul-
tivate our lands Who are to perform
The common Iabors of our city, and OF our
famiIes2 Must we not then be our own
sIaves2 And is there moi more compass
sion and more favor due US as Musselmen
Than to those Christian dogs? We have
now above fifty thousand slaves in and
near AIgiers. This number if not kept
up by fresh supplies will soon diminish,
and be gradually annihilated. If, then,
we cease taking and plundering the infi>
de's ships, and making slaves of the sea.
men and passengers, our lands will be-
come of no value, for want OF cultivation ;
The rents OF houses in the city will sink
one half and the revenues OF government,
arising from the shares of prizes, must be
totally destroyed. Aud for what? To
crafty the whim OF whimsical sect, who
would have US not only forbeor making
more slaves, but even manumlt those we
have. But who is to indemnify their mas
tiers for the loss? Win the State do it,
Is our treasury sufficient Will the En-
ka do it? Can they do it Or would
they, TO do what hey think justice to the
slaves, do greater Injustice 10 the owners!
And if we sci our slaves free, what is to
be done with them? Few Of them will
return 10 their native countries; they
know 100 we'll the greater hardships they
must there be subject TO. They will mol
embrace our holy religion: they will moi
adopt our manners: our people will po
poIlute themselves by ntermarfying with
them. Must we maintain them DIS beggaTi
f in our streets or suffer our properties TO
be the prey of their pilIage2 for men ac'
customed to slavery will not work TOR a
livelihood when not compelled. And wha
is there so piiable in their present condi'
ton Were they not slaves III their owr
coun,ries2 Are not Spain, Portugal,
! France, and the Italian states, governed
By despots, who hold all their subjects in
slavery, without exception! Even Eng
land treats her sailors as slaves; for they
= are, whenever The government peases
= seized and confined in ships of war, con
:, demned not only TO work, bot TO fight TO
y small wages, or mere subsistence, no
e better than our slaves are allowed by us
Istheir condition then made worse by the
, falling into our hands2 No: they hav
only exchanged one slavery for another
and / may say better: for they ar
$ brought into land where the sun of Is
o Iamism gives forth its light and shines il
Il full slender, and they have an opportunIl
=, of making themselves acquainted with IN
If true doctrine, and thereby save their i'm
:. mortal souls Those who remain al HON