The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-26

beggars in our streets, or suffer our properties
To be the prey Of their pillage! For men ae-
custOmed TO slavery will not work for liveli-
hood when not compelled. And what is there
so pitiable in their present condition Were
they not slaves in their own countries!
"Are not Spain, Portugal; France and the
Italian States, governed by dsspots, who hold
all their subjects in slavery, without exception
Even England treats its sailors as slaves, for
they are, whenever the Government pleases,
seized, and confined in ships of war, condemned
not only TO work, but TO fight, for small wages,
or a mere subsistence, not better than our slaves
are allowed by us. Is their condition, then,
made worse by their falling into our hands?
No; they have only exchanged one slavery for
another, and, may say, a better-for here they
are brought into land where the sun of Is
lamism gives forth its light, and shines in full
spendOr, and they have an opportunity of ma
king themselves acquainted with the true doc
trine, and thereby saving their immortal souls.
Those who remain at home have not that hap
piness. Sending the slaves home, then, would
be sending them out of light into darkness.
81 repeat the question, What is to be done
with them | have heard it sugge ted that
they may be planted in the wilderne $, where
there is plenty of land for them to subsst on,
and where they may flourish as free State;
but they are, doubt, too little disposed to la
! Dor without compulson, as well as too ignorant
to establish good Government; and the wild
| Arabs would soon modest and destroy or again
enslave them. While serving us, we take care
to provide them with everything, and they are
treated with humanity. The laborers in their
own country are, as am well informed, worse
| fed lodged, and clothed The condition o.
most Of them is, therefore, already mended and
! requires no further improvement Here their
lives are in safety. They are not liable to be
impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one
anOther's Christian tbroats, as in the wars of
their own countries. If some of the religious
mad bigots, who now tease us with their silly
petitions, have in fit OF blind zeal freed tier
slaves, it was not generosity, it was not human
ity, that moved them to the action--it was
from q conscious burthen of load of sins, and
hope, from the supposed merits of so good
work, to be excused from damnation.
"How grossly are they mistaken to suppose
slavery to be disalowed by the Alcoran! Are
not the two precepts, to quote no more, Mas
fcrS, treat yOur SiGueS lcith kindness; SlaueS
SoTUe yOur masters nth ehesrfulneSs and fdeli-
ty, clear proofs to the contrary Nor can the
plundering of lnfidels be in that sacred book
forbidden, since it is well known from it, that
God has given the world, and all that it con-
tains, to his faithful Mussulmen, who are to en-
JOY it of right as fast as they conquer it, Let us,
then, hear no more ofthis detestable proposition,
the manumission of Christian slaves, the adop-
ton of which would, by depreciating our lands
and houses, and thereby depriving so many
good citizens Of their properties, create uniyer
sal discomfort, and provoke instructions, to
the endangering Of Government, and producing
general confusion. have, therefore, no doubt
but this wise council will prefer tho comfort |
and happiness Of n whole nation Of true be- |
levers, to the wbim of few ErIka, and dismiss
their petition"
The resultwa ag Martin tells US, that the
Diyan came to this resolution: "Tho doctrine.
that plundering and en-lavng the Christians
is unjust, is, at best, probiemdtical' but that it
is the interest of this State to continue the prac-
tce, is clear; therefore, let the petition be re-
iected