The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-28

We hnd 10 recent number of the Bangor Democrat an
extract from law passed by Pennsylvania in l779 and
drawn by the patriot, statesman and philosopher Frank
n which is worthy OF serious attention al this day
The law provided for the gradual abolition OF slavery and
shows most conclHsively that the principles on which
that movement rested entirely adverse to the spirit
Of fanatcsm with which the subject has been treated in
modern times. The philosophy and patriotism OF that
day conprehended the duties Of International good faith
and rebuked every attempt 10 introduce principle which
would array section OF the country against another
on account OF the right OF property in slaves
But without further comment, we give the very Just
observations Of the Democrat on the legislative act which
II quotes:
WHAT OLD BfS FRANKLIN rIoUGHT r-On the Ist Of
haeh, l1s, the legislature OF Pennsylvania passed an
provide for the gradual abolition oil slavery within the
units Of that Commonwealth. The act was drauphted by
Benjamin. Franklin, who was bred TO the trade Of pntey
and W. considered In his day man of good deal nj
common sense u he was living lie would be thought,
e OF In comparison with Theodore Parker, Henry Ward
Seecher add Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Other orn,
! ments OF this /" hightr-ia p" age.
tits interesting however. after all, look back and see
What such beaghted old colgers a. BENJAMIN F,apklin
thought and did before the lights began to dawn
TIE eleventh section Of Ben Frsnklns act above rsf,
red to- IL in the words following
Tha, this or any other thing in Il contained shall M,
t OF nulauo slave servant who has absconded himself
shall ab'en, himself from hts her owner master Of
mtes' residing IN any ether STATE couatrv but such
owner master, or mistress shall have like right and AID II
ema1d claim, and take away his slave servant as Ia
sight haze had IN case thus act had MOI been made"
We can now see exactly what passing in the old
poo'ors mind He did not relish slavery all he saw
nat mig be abolished in Pennsylvania and Inc wa.
aoshtng law for that purpose. A. the same time he
new thar slavery had got such a hold In Maryland and
hgnia that could very well be abolished or at any
% mat the people OF Maryland and Virginia Thought 80
wv. war time and not.only then, but afterwards and
ways hen Franklin thought that the union or these
rs w"s the bottom OF the greater part Of their pros.
penY pon the whole, the old Djctor eoncIndad tha
"onah Pennsyigsnia might free her own slaves %,
we could not make her territory an asylum "a nm
N"sys from Maryland and Virginia without exc,,; ~
s~nment OF those States and thereby weakening ,L a.
\ e'nal bonds which made the United States one comet,
od one people Aud so he dSaughted this eleventh .ec
0o' although Pennylyauia bound by any ssree
ol to return fugitive slaves the old artc es OF copfedea
being silent ON that point and the present an
,as United States not being then In existence
i pity IL that the old Doctor could NOT have a,ny
seventy years later, and since the 6d-ash oned notion
the rgh. aud feeling, Of others has been 20
thoroughly exploded WV" "