Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-27
CANADA ON THE SUBJECT OF sLA-
VERY

We extract from the Montreal Transcript,
of the 23d instant the following significant
amendment, proposed by Mr.. Larwell, of Kent
county, to the address to the queen in relation
to the recent reciprocity treaty;
That all the words after the word that in
the 18th paragraph be struck out and the fol.
lowing words be inserted in lieu thereof: This
house will gladly show liberal spirit and
friendly disposition towards the United States,
for their generous conduct in legislating upon
this matter reciprocity j aud that in proof of
such disposition on their part, the provincial
legislature will hereafter exact from negro i'm
migrants poll tax, equal in amount to that
now imposed upon other foreigners-will not
incorporate any associations for the special
benefit of menof color as q class. and will dis
courage the promotion of any institution the
object and end whereof would be junction
with the abolitionists of the Northern States,
to bring about severance of the American
Union" $500
1t is amusing to read the Indignation which
this amendment has excited in the philanthro-
pic breast of the editor of the Transcript.
The amendment is characterized as "foul,n
"gross," insulting" "barbarous,p and its
author is denounced as seeking to subserye
some dirty purpose of his own, and as being
sneaking fellow, worthy to be made the general
superintendent of the traffic in African slaves.
Why this just and generous amendment
should receive such a burst of denunciation and
such volley of Billingsgate, we are at loss
to imagine. 1t is the boast of the Transcript
that the black man and the white man stood
on an equality in Canada !" and yet it violently
opposes and denounces proposition which
only establishes that equality. From the Ian
guage Of the amendment we are led TO believe,
without having seen the Canada law, that a
discrimination is made in favor Of the negro
immigrants, that associations are incorporated
for the special benefit Of men ofcolor, and that
institutions have been heretofore encouraged,
the object Of which is to form an alliance with
the Abolitionists Of the North. Now this may
be the Canadian idea of equality between the
black man and the white man, but surely it is
the grossest inequality in the eyes Of any un-
prejudiced searcher after truth.
The philanthropy of the Canadian does not
differ materially from that Of his abolition
brother Of the North. Whether It derives its
color from the complexion Of The object, OF
from the hue Of the heart, we are unable to
judge but Of one thing we are satisfied, that
it confines its benevolent action to the black
alone. We hear nothing Of the hungry Euro
pean emigrant being denied q gratuitous en-
trance into the Eden" Of Canada, but it CRATES
upon the tender heart of the sentimental Trans-
c7lpt to think of a fugitive Stare being stayed
on the threshold Of what he has been told is
the land of liberty, because he has not dollar
to pay for his admission. he may look at
Eden, but lacking one hundred cents, may not
enter it,
We are justified, then, in saying that there
has heretofore been, and still is, systematic
attempt on the part of the Transcript and Of
those for whom IL speaks, to interfere directly
in the domestic institutions Of this country
an attempt to allure the slaves Of the South to
Canada, by Offering bonus to their immigra-
ton there, and by protecting them from recla-
nation. This direct and unjust interference
with foreign government, and this open de-
nunciation Of a man who was willing to re-
move the iniquity, comes with bad grace from an
organ that has been rabid in It's abuse Of the
recent just punishment inflicted by Captain
Hollins on band Of pirates.