The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-24

are broken forever.
Nor is this traffic confined TO those VIII,
are legally slaves for life. Some who ar,
entitled to freedom, and many who have
limited time TO serve, are sold into uncon
ditional slavery; and, owing to the deiec
tiveness of our laws, they are generally
carried out OF the District before the neces
sary steps can be taken for their release.
We behold these scenes continually
taking place among US, and lament oul
inability to prevent them. The people o
this District have, within themselves, nc
means Of Legislative redress; and We there
fore appeal to your honorable body. as the
only one invested by the American Const
tuition with the power to relieve us.
Nor is it only from the rapaeity Of slave
traders that the colored race in this Dis
trict are doomed to suffer. Even the laws
which govern us, sanction and direct in
certain cases, procedure that we believe
is unparalleled in glazing injustice by any.
thing at present known among the Govern
nonts OF 6hristendon. An instance oil
the operations Of these laws, which occur,
red during the last summer, We will briefly
relate.
A colored man, who stated that he was
entitled 10 freedom. was taken up az a run.
away slave. and lodged in the Jail Of Wash.
Ington. He was advertised; but no one
appearing TO claim him, he was, according
to law, put up at public auction, for the pay.
ment Of his Jail fees, and sold as a slave
for life lie was purchased by a slave.
trader, who was not required to give secu-
nty for his remaining in the District, and
he was soon after shipped at Alexandra for
one Of the Southern States. An attempt
was made by some benevolent individuals
10 have the sale postponed until his claim
TO freedom could be investigated. but their
efforts were unavailing; and thus was a
human being sold into perpetual bondage,
at the capital Of the freest Government on
earth, without even a pretence of trial. or
an allegation Of crime.
We blush for our country while we re-.
late this disgraceful transaction, and we
would lain conceal it from the world, did
not its very enormity inspire US with the
hope that it will rouse the philanthropist
and the patriot to exertion. We have no
hesitation in believing your honorable body
never intended that this odious law should
be enforced; it was adopted with the old
code Of Maryland, from which, we believe,
it has been expunged since this District was
ceded to the General Government.
The fact of its having been SO recently
executed shows the necessity OF this subject
being investigated by power which we
confidently hope will be ready 10 correct it,
We are aware Of the difficulties that
would attend any attempt to relieve us from
these grievances by sudden emancipation
OF the slaves in this District, and we would
therefore be far from recommending so rash
a measure. But the course pursued by
many OF the States Of this conlederacy, that
have happily succeeded in relieving them
selves from a similar burden, together with
the bright example which has been set us
by the South American Republics, proves
most conclusively that a course Of gradual
emancipation, TO commence at some fixed
period, and to take effect only upon those
who may thereafter be born or removed
into the District, might be pursued without
detrlment TO the present proprietors, and
would greatly rebound to the prosperity and
honor Of our country.
The existence among US Of distinct
class Of people, who, by their condition as
slaves, are deprived Of almost every incen-
tive to virtue and industry, and shut out from
many Of the sources Of light and know
ledge, has an evident tendency to corrupt
the morals OF the people, and to damp the
spirit of enterprise, by accustoming the
rising generation TO look with contempt
upon honest labor, and to depend for sup.
port too much upon the labor OF others
Il prevents a useful and industrious class oil
people from settling among us, by render.
ing the means OF subsistence more preca.
rious to the laboring class OF whites.
Ii diminishes the resources Of the com.
munity, by throwing the earnings Of the
poor into the Golfers of the rich; thus rem
dering the former dependent, servile, and
improvident. while the latter are tempted to
become, in the same proportion, luxurious
and prodigal.
That these disastrous results flow from
the existence Of slavery among US is sufh
GENTLY conspicuous, when we contrast tn,
languishing condition Of this District ant
the surrounding country, with the pros
perity Of those parts Of the Union which
are less favored in point Of climate ant
location, but blessed with free and indus
trious population.
We would, therefore, respectfully pra,
that these grievances msy claim the atten
ton of your honorable body, and that
law of Congress may be enacted, declaring
that all children Of slaves born in the Dis
trict OF Columbia after the 4th day Of July
1928, shall be free at the age Of twenty
five years; and that those laws whicl
authorize the selling of supposed runaway
for their prison fees or maintenances ma,
be repealed.
And, also, that laws may be enacted, t
prevent slaves fran being removed into thi
District, or brought in for sale, hire, o
transportation; without, however, prevent
ing members of Congress, resident strar
gers, or travellers, from bringing an
taking away with them their domestic sci
wants.
This, sir, is a petition Of the inhabitants {
the District of Columbia. II was signed b
one thousand and sixty persons. counted tn
names, and believe that is the correct numbe