Year: 1863

Could the recesses of the heart be laid open and


the secret actions and sympathies of be exposed


it would apprehend, be made manifest, that in so


far at least as the State Of Delaware is concerned,


the Government has been characterized not by undue


severity, but exceeding eniency and that has
been molested, who not actually diseya
against whom there did not exist reasonable ground
of suspicion.


Had strict inquisition been established it might
have been discovered that those who have been
rested not the only ones obnoxious to censure
and had mere justice been meted out, some who have
continued at large denouncing the Government
might have been properly dealt WITH not only as
sympathizers, but actual partakers in treason.


1t is my duty, also, to express my view in relation
to the interest of the State of Delaware


Connected with the Southern States by identity of
domestic institutions and therefore, in some degree,
attracted towards them by educational bias, we are
nevertheless indissoluby tied to the free States by
the stronger cords OF geographical position and
mercial necessity.


Essentially an agricultural people, we find in the
North the market for all sell and the mart from
which we are supplied with all we buy.


The increase of population by immigration, is al
most wholly derived from that quarter and, in the
sale OF our real estate, for anything than the
mere neighborhood price, we look for purchasers
wholly from that direction Advertisements are
inserted in Southern newspapers to attract bid
ders and for whatever Improvement has been effected


in the cultivation of the SOIL we are indebted mainly
to northern enterprise.


To the State of Delaware Southern Confederacy,
if established, must be foreign nation We cannot
unite with and, in preparing for whatever eontin-
gency the future may present of Union separation,


it becomes duty well interest, to assim-


late rapidly as possible with those with whom,
from necessity, if not from choice, we are compelled
to associate.


The only difference between us and the State of
Pennsylvania with which relations of trade and
intercourse closest, is the existence of African
slavery and to 1t alone is to be ascrbed whatever of
doubt created to the loyalty of people, and
whatever of sympathy really existed among in
favor of rebellion.


Originally forming portion Of the same provincial
government, from failure to initiate her audable
example of emancipation, we have Jagged in the
march OF material improvements bat not even the diff
ference of domestic institutions thwar the opera
ton of the laws of trade and Philadelphia as much
the Metropolitan city of Delaware as of the neigh
boring counties of Pennsylvania.


With these facts naterably established, it must
be that slavery in this State is doomed We have
material interest to the prosperity of which it con-
tributes. The gradual assimilation constantly going
on must work out its extinction. The period may
be longer shorter but the result is inevitable, de-
spite the struggles of those who would perpetuate it,
as social institution or political machine.


know that, in State in which slavery has been
long established with the habits and prejudices of
the people moulded by it, emancipation is a slow pro-
cess /
ceased to be profitable. In the settlement of new
country, where the people approach the formation Of
their organic law, free from the trammels of existing
it is different and do not hesitate in the
opinion that if the question concerning the
of slavery into this State the sentiment
of the people would be largely against it.


If this be true, there ought to be valid reason
why we shoald hesitate to do away with this exist
ing evil than to bar the door against its intro
duction Unfortunately, mere politicians habitu-
ally mid and looking at the result of the next cleo
ton they resist the agitation Of any new question: no
matter how important to the interests of the people,
which can, by possibility counter to the prejudces
of those who hold the balance Of power and by insist
ing upon the acquiescence of the majority subordi-
nate the welfare of the State to the Of pot-
cal organization, which, in the end rebounds to the
benefit of few individuals, leaving the of the
to suffer for their advantage


| submit whether this is not the only cause why
the State of Delaware has not heretofore freed herself
from slavery, long felt incubus upon her pros
perity.


Now that there is disposition disregard the ties
Of former political associations, and men searching
for the true principles of government, it to me
peculiarly meet to call the attention of the people to
this subject, and relying upon their intelligence to
appreciate aud finally to approve the suggestion,
earnestly recommend the adoption of such measures
as will relieve them of burthen that hnders their
social and material advancement


Nor should there be any decacy in the considera-
ton of this question 1t is matter of merely muni-
cipal regulation. The status Of the negro, whether
bond Free rests in the determination Of the laws
of the State of Delaware. That he is the subject of
property here, is the result of own local usage
liable to be altered any other common law CUSTOM
by the enactment Of our own Legislature. No other
authority has any jurisdiction over the matter.
Others may suggest reasons--may offer inducements
but whether it shall be done, and the time and mode
of doing it, for own people to decide, in view
of all circumstances of benefit or injury