The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-06-14

to The 4th OF july, lSO4 the males on
arriving at % years, and the females at
u years of age and under the opera
ton of this law slavery has ceased to-
exist.
1t is rare TO find political economists,
or legislators, actuated By other motives
than those of general cxpediency. They
are seldom characterized by sympathy
with inferior or unfortunate classes OF
men. Their IDEAS are generally conscr-
va i've, on the side of properly, response
b;lity, and public faith.
Ilcrce we may safely conclude thai
emancipation in New Jersey was pre-
dicatcd upon the fact that slaves were
not considered valuable property a
legitimate consequence Of the prohibition
Of the domestic slave trade 1t was
early decrccd that @ no negro or other
slave shall be removed out Of his Safe,
whose residence has been Twelve mon hs
therein, with the design or intention thai
his place of residence shall be thereby
changed, without his or her consent, and
the consent of his or her paren $, as csti-
fed upon privae examination, before a
justice of the peace Of the county where
in be or she resides" When we con-
slider the depression of agriculture at this
period, the condition of the worn out
lands, the fact that no slave could be
emancipated, except of certain age,
and i'll u sound state of physical health;
above all, that no one could be sold
beyond the borders of the State, it can
be understood how emancipation became
necessary, even 10 the Shareholders them
selves 1t is questionable, however,
whether this state of things con rbuted
to the personal comfort of the slaves, or
whether as their value lesscned the
masters care did proportiopately de-
creased. An anccdote, Illustrative Of
his, was related to Inc by a lady ac-
1uainted with the circumstances, and
which, though not showing human ma ure
in very cnyiablc light, is doubtless
true:
An old man whose small possession was
| already overs ockcd viii slaves, received
by inheritance Of land, female slave,
eight or nine years old. The burden Of
this child's maintenance he considered
a great drawback on. the value of his
newly acquired property, conscquen ly
the poor girl became the object Of
animadversion and reproach. One day,
during the absence Of her master, she
had the mSfor unc to fall down the we'll.
When he returned, the children ran with
the news.
Well, I'm glad of t." he said, wi h
countcnance expressive OF the liveliest
satsiac ion.
But, father, we got her out.'
"Wha did you DO ;hat for!' he an
grily asked.
"We thought she would spoil the
water"
Spoil The water, indeed I'd rather
the water had been spoiled ten times
over, than TO have her alive
And the old man did not get over lis
veXation for Il whole week.
Now suppose this same master could
have sold his slave, would not sclf-intcr-
cs' have prompted him to desire not only
her life, but her health and strcnr h p
The slaves, however, were burdcnsomc
to their masters consequently the act
of emancipation did no violence to the
in crests or feelings of the latter. With
out opposition or reluc ance they readily
| acquicsced in the Legislative decree. -
Negro children, when of full age, went
into the world to make their fortune.
" And how did they succeed :" asks
the reader.
Sure enough, how did they
Had the domestic slave trade been
prohibited in Maryland, or Delaware, or
Virginia, as it was in New Jersey, those
States would have found it impossible to
support the system for any length of
time and it is almost as equally Ger ain
that had the domestic slave trade been
allowed in New Jersey during the period
of agricultural depression, New Jersey,
at Ibis day, would be Slave Safe.