Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-12
MEMORIAL
OF INHABITANTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA,
Praying for The gradual abolition Of Slavery IN the
District of Columbia

MARCH "a, 1928.
Referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia
FEBRUARY 8, 1885,
Ordered, On motion of Mr.. Hubbard, of New IIamp-
SHIRE to be printed with the names thereto attached
TO the Honorable the Senate and House Of
Representatives ofMc United States Of Amer-
lea in Congress assembled
We, the undersigned, citizens Of the coun-
ties of Washington and Alexandria, in the Dis
trct of Columbia, beg leave to call the attention
of your honorable body to an evil of serious
magnitude which greatly impairs the prosperity
and happiness of this District, and casts the re-
proach Of inconsistency upon the free institu-
tons established among u.s.
While the laws of the United States denounce
the foreign slave trade as piracy, and punish
with death those who are found engaged in its
preparation, there exists in this District the
seat of the National Government, domestic
slave trade, scarcely less disgraceful in its char
acter, and even more demoralizing in its inhu-
ence. For this is not, like the former, carried
on against barbarous nation; its victims are
reared up among the people Of this country, ed
ucated in the precepts of the same religion and
imbucd with similar domestic attachments.
These people are, without their consent, torn
from their homes; husband and wife are fire.
ouenty separated and sold into distant parts.
children ale taken from their parents, without
regard to the ties of nature: and the most en-
dearng bonds of affection are broken forever.
Nor is this traffic confined to those who are
legally slaves for life Some who are entitled
to freedom, and many who have a limited time
to serve, are sold into unconditional slavery;
and owing to the effectiveness Of our laws, they
are generally carried out Of the District before
the necessary steps can be taken for their re-
lease
We behold these scenes continually taking
place among us, and lament our inability to pre-
vent them. The people of this District have,
within themselves, no means of legislative re-
dress; and we therefore appeal to your honora-
Bile body, as the only one invested by the Amer
lean constitution with the power to relieve u.s.
Nor is it only from the rapacity of slave ira
ders that the colored race in this District are
doomed to suffer Even the laws which govern
us, sanction and direct, in certain cases, pro-
cedure that we believe is unparalleled, in gIar-
ing injustice, by any thing at present known d.
mong the Governments Of Christendom. An
instance of the operation Of these laws, which
occurred during the last summer. we will briefly
relate.
A c"ored man, who stated that he was emit.
tied to freedom, was taken up as runaway
slave, aad lodged in the Jail of Washington city
He was advertised, but no one appearing tc
claim him, he WAS according to law put up at
public auction for the payment Of his Jail fees
and sold as a slave for life! He YVES purchased
by a slave trader, who was not required to give
security for his remaining in the District, and he
was, soon after, shipped at Alexandria for one o
the southern States. An attempt was made by
some benevolent individuals to have the sale
postponed until his claim to freedom could be
Investigated; but their efforts were unavalliHg
and thus was human being sold into perpetua
bondage at the capital of the freest Government
on earth, without even a pretence OF trial, or al
| allegation of crime.
2 We blush for our country willie we relate
this disgraceful transaction, and we would fair
conceal it from the world, did not its very enor
; nifty inspire us with the hope that it will rouse
the philanthropist and the patriot to eXertion.-
We have no hesitation in believing your honora
BILE body never intended that this odious law
should be enforced; il was adopted with the ole
code of Maryland, from which, we believe, il
has been expunged since this District was cedec
to the General Government
The fact of its having been so recently exc
cuted, shows the necessity Of this subj ect being
investigated by power which we confidently
hope will be ready to correct it.
We are aware Of the difficulties that woulC
attend any attempt TO relieve US from these
grievances by sudden emancipation of the
slaves in this District, and VIC would, therefore
be far from recommending so rash measure
But the course pursued by many of the State
of this confederacy, that have happily succeed
cd in relieving themselves from similar burden
together with the bright example which ha
been set us by the South American republics
proves most conclusively that course of grad
period, and to take effect only upon those who
: may thereafter be born or removed into the Dis
trict, might be pursued without detrment to thu
present proprietors, and would greatly redount
to the prosperity and honor of our country.
: The existence among us of a distinct class
people who, by their condition as slaves, arr
, deprived of almost every incentive to virtue an'
industry, and shut out from many of the sources
: of light and knowledge, has an evident tenden
4 cy to corrupt the morals of the people, and t.
y damp the spirit of enterprise, by accustomn
o the rising generation to look with contempt upo
y honest labor, and to depend for support too niue
C upon the labor of others 1t prevents useir
:. and industrious class Of people from settling 9
: mong us, by rendering the means of subsistence
!, more precarious to the laboUing class of whites