The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-07
For the Evansville Journal.
SLAVERY AND NEn,ASkA.
Facts from n Ds.fy.

suOJeCt vi tidVeIy III the Onlteu StdteSj Ill
though so much has been written and said
about it.
A few facts from the early history OF our
government will be sufficient to show the
sincere inquirer after truth, how far our pres.
ent politicians have departed from the true
doctrines Of Republication. Our govern
ment was formed "to establish justice and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity," but the shareholders are
endeavoring to prevent it to the unholy pur-
pose of building up and perpetuating slavery.
Washington, Jefferson, M adison, and other
illustrious founders of our Republic, suppos-
ed that with the suppression of the African
Slave Trade, that institution would become
extinct. The letters, speeches and official
acts of these patriots of the revolution, con-
clusively prove that they anticipated such a
result at no distant day.
The following extracts from the letters of
General Washington, taken from his wri-
tings, reveal his wishes and sentiments on
this subject:
APRIL 5th, 1888.
To THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE
"The scheme, my dear Marquis, which
you propose as a precedent to encourage the
emancipation of the black people in this
country from the state of bondage in which
they arc held, a striking evidence of the
bsnevolence of your heart. shall be happy
to Join you in so laudable work, but will de-.
fer going into detail of the business till I
have the pleasure of seeing YOU" Vol. 8,
pages Ala, 4l5.
MOUNT VERNON, April 18th, 1856.
To RoBERr NORRIS
81 hope it will not be conceived from these
observations, that it is my wish to hold the
unfortunate people, who are the subject OF
this letter, in slavery. | can only say, that
there is not a man living who wishes more
sincerely than do, to see plan adopted for
the abolition Of it. But there is only one
proper and effectual mode by which it can
be accomplished, and that 10 by the legisla-
tive authority, and this, as far as my suffrage
will 60, shall not be wanting" Vol. 9,
pages 1888.
To GEN. LAFAYETTE
"To set the slaves afoat at once would,
really believe, be productive of much incon-
venience and mischief, but by degrees it Ger.
tainly might, AMI assuredly ought to be eff.
fected, and that too by legislative authority
Vol. 9, puges 1884.
SEPTEMBER 9th, 1856.
10 MIR. JOHN nlERCER-
81 never mean, unless some particular cir
cumstances should compel me to it, to pos
sess another slave by purchase, it being
amongst my first wishes to see some plar
adopted by which slavery in this country may
be abolished by law"
Slave catching and negro hunting is on,
of the favorite amusements of the presen
administration, even at the risk of blOodshe,
l..
!, the opinion of Gen. Washington upon tina
subject. While he was President and nea
> the close of his second term he sought to re
cover a slave of his, who had fled to New
Hampshire. He wrote t. Mr.. Whpple, tn
{ collector of Portsmouth, upon the subject, re
questing her return:
, PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 2Sth, 1896.
81 do not mean, however, by this request
that such violent measures should be used
as would excite a mob or riot, which nigh
S be the case if she has adherents or even un
easy sensations in the minds of we'll dispose
!, citizens. Rather than either of these shout
happen, would forego her services alto
: gether, and the example also, which is O
I more infinite Importance.
y GEORGE WASHINGTON.
: This fugitive never was returned, but live
y in New Hampshire to a good old age, mon
ument ofthe forbearance aud humanity of hiu
. whom we Justly call the Father of his Coun
Z try.
8 Gen. Washington, although himself
q stakeholder, desired nothing SO much as tn
. entire abolition of slavery in this country -
Acting upOn this humane wish he emancipa
It ted all his slaves by his will, and made fu
: and ample provision for the support of tn
o aged and infirm, and for the education Of tn
young. Vol. 1, p. $50.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the patriots G
n the revolution of 1875, celebrated no less i
II the annals Of science than in government
3, who, by his lightning conductors, paralyze
:. the thunderbolt, who has a monumen
upon nearly every house and barn in the Re
public, was always the foe Of slavery. At a
I. early day he was president of society j
Philadelphia, which put forth "An address
;e the Public, from the Pennsylvania Society, fc
e. promoting the abolition of Slavery, and TIE n
,f lief Of free negroes unla,cfuLy held in BONDAGE
> dated Nov. 9th, 1889, and which was signe
by him. Franklins Works, vol. 2, page
III 2lS-220.
re Gen. Lafayette. while in the prison
Magdeburg, wrote very remarkable an
interesting letter in which he said
-, 81 know not what disposition has bee
" "made Of my plantation at Cayenne, hut
ns "hope Madame de Lafayette will take cal
y shat the negroes who cultivate it, shall pr,
he "serve their liberty" Sparks Life OF Cove
w nor Morris, vol. /, p. 4lO.
The debates in the Convention whic
&c formed our National Constitution, as we'll
that instrument itself, also show that tn
sentiments and feelings of the people of tn,
rs early day revolted at slavery in all its form
70 and that they supposed it would soon die on
:, The Madison papers contain those d.
~ bates, reported by Mr.. Madison, himself
member of that body. In convention, Wet
10 nesday Aug. 22d. 1887.
Extract in reference to the Slaue Trade.
Col. MASON, of Virginia
10 "This internal traffic originated in tn
laYarice of British merchants Thu Rritis