The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-29
From Div Mu.iOnaI E.ra.
L'ls-a @r9..-sof The Age Abolition
o. g,".Z. SD slave Markets.

o. ..faZ.3b Slave Markets.
The Loa1ou Daily News, received By the
last steam ship, contains q little paragraph,
which ],,s impressed rs strongly as a very
significant indication of the spirit and temper
Of the age in which we live, with respect to
human slavery Apart from this view Of it,
however, The event which it records is, Of it.
self, highly cheering to the heart Of humani-
ty:
"ABoL1TToN OF SLAVE MARKETS IN
TURKEY-The Sultan has ordered the abo-
ltion Of slave markets. This is the first step
in that change which, in its results,will be the
most important that has ever taken place in
the administration of the Ottoman empire
The Sultan has alluded publicly, in address
ing his ministers, TO this unhopcd for event,
and his Mojesty's words imply that he enters
fully into the humane and philanthropic sem
timcnt of Lord Palmerston, and that all the
suggestions of his lorllship on this subject will
be finally dopted'-Daay NerS
The slave markets of the Mussulmen have
been fruitful themes of eXecvation, on the
part of Christians of all lands. from the time
of the Holy Alliance of England and France,
in the 18th century, against the Barbary slave
holders, to the present day. The revolving
scenes of the examination, sale, and separa-
ton Of the miserable beings therein herded
together, like beasts that perish, have furnish
cd material for sympathy or invectiyo in every
book of Eastern travel. Yet the fact has all
along been, that Mohammcdan slavery was far
mora cnient and tocrable than that existing
in Christian countries. Slavery in the East
owes its origin mainly to luxury in Europe
and America TO avaricc. The Koran recog-
.,elo Int opiD,,c In
duty Of kindness and consideration towards
their slaves, whom they are required to regard
as their brethren. The decencies Of Turkish
life forbid the selling of slaves, when once
they have given birth to a child which is the
fruit of union permitted by the master; or,
after any heightened period of service after
the masters death. Manumissi2n is common ;
it is regarded as an act of picty. The manu-
miEted negro encounters no Christian preju-
dice against his color; on account Of his for
mer condition, he finds no distinction un,ayor-
able to him, in any society he has the means
of access to. The Mohnnmedan religion toll
crates no distinctions of rank or color III the
worship Of God: the Mosque has no negro
pew black and white, rich and poor knecl to.
gether on its floor; and the voices of master
and sorvant unite in repeating, =" God is Great
and Mohammed is His prophetw
Yet, even this lenient form of servitulc is
now, it would seem, adjndged Incompatible
with the general scope and tenor, the true in
tent and spirit of the precepts of the Arabian
prophet; for the great change which the Sui
tan proposes could not be carried into effect
without the cooperation and cordial support
of the Mutt of Constantinople, the religious
head of Islam. Many of the moral precepts
of the Koran arc unquestionably inimical to
slavery; and in the words of Monkton Mines
in his somewhat eXtravagant eulogy of the
Oriental Faith, its author proclaims that
I" in Allah's plan,
True men Of every rank and race
Form but one family of man."
when DR.. Madden presented, in 1910, the
address of the Worlds Anti-Savery Conyen-
ton to Mehemet Ali that willy chief with
many protestatons of his own desires for the
abolition of slavery in his dominions, referred
the English deputation to the Sheik Ell Islam
Or Mufti of Constantinope twas difficult
question, he said, to settle in Egypt, as it was
one of law, and the proper tribunal was at
Stamboul, and not at Alexandria. 1t will be
remembered that the Dey of Algers made