THIRD SERIES. No. 18-VOL. IV.] BALTIMORE, JULY 2, 1825. [VOL. XXVIII. WHOLE NO. 720 THE PAST THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. HAYTI. The editor of the "Genius of Universal Under the head "Peru and Bolivar,” page 280, | American, 3,460 Brazils, 425 West Indies, and 14 will be found that which will warm the heart of East Indies. every one who loves liberty. Mankind owes a debt to the Colombian chief. His example is precious, and will fix a standard by which things shall be judged-of great importance, indeed, to the yet not sufficiently enlightened people of South America: emancipated, it is true, from Spain, but still slaves to many of the prejudices which Spain spread and inculcated to preserve her dominion over them. Emancipation" has furnished us with a proof-sheet of the number of his work about to be published, from which we extract the following paragraph: It has its comment in itself. "A gentleman from Virginia, applied at the office of the Baltimore Haytien Emigration society, on the 24th ultimo, for information respecting the proprieWe have a copy of the treaty lately signed ty and practicability of sending a large number of between Great Britain and Colombia. The republic slaves to the republic of Hayti. After he had receiv is fully acknowledged as a sovereign power. Other ed from the agent a statement of the present situathan on account of this important fact, it is of notion of things, relative to the emigration of our coparticular interest to the people of the United States, lored people to that island, he requested assistance but is one of those things that ought to be registered, in procuring a vessel for the purpose above-mentioned. This was cheerfully complied with; and, the next day, a contract was closed with a ship-owner, COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. We have the pleasure to take out EIGHTY EIGHT SLAVES, all belonging to the to present a general abstract of the valuable docu- gentleman aforesaid, the price of whose passage he ment annually furnished by the secretary of the trea-pays himself, and, for the use of whom, he also pursury, on the commerce and navigation of the United chased agricultural implements in this city, to the States. The part which yet lies over will be so pub-value of $130." lished in the next number, as to prevent a break in the article when the volume is bound. and so shall be inserted. The awkwardness with which the heavy pamphlet before us was prepared for the press, has not only uselessly cost a considerable sum of money for printing, but materially diminished the value of the statements, as to the imports of the United States. There is one long series of tables, shewing the imports of the first three quarters of the year, and another shewing those of the last quarter. The reason of this, doubtless, was because the new tariff went into operation on the 30th of June-but if the object was to afford information as to the result of that law, why were not the items for the last quarter placed in columns adjacent to those of the three first quarters, that the whole amount of the imports, as well as a contrasted view of them, might appear at once? Now, if it is desired to know the amount or value of any particular article, imported from either of the nations with whom we deal, it is necessary to refer to both tables and then add their amounts together, to arrive at the facts sought for-and it is these facts, chiefly, that more than 100 pages of the pamphlet are designed to shew. In the last RECISTER We noticed that a great rise, in the price of human blood, had taken place at Baltimore, and that it was then worth from 15 to 17 dollars per lb. It appears, by the paper just above mentioned, that, since the first day of March last, one hundred and ninety nine slaves have been shipped at Baltimore, for the New Orleans market. Is it not time for the people of Louisiana to begin a-looking to the end of these things? The worst of the bad are those that are sent them. These cannot forget that they have been forcibly separated from their wives, children or parents, and what was their home-humble, indeed, and miserable enough, perhaps but still the place of their nativity, endeared by a thousand pleasant recollections, and home, "though ever so homely." THE AFRICAN COLONY. If this colony shall prosper, as it probably will, though it is too distant to have much effect in reducing the number of the free colored population in the United States, which was the original design of it, it may have a happy effect on The large table, inserted in page 284, was made the neighboring nations or tribes in that quarter of up by adding the results of the last quarter to those of the world, and become highly valuable to us on acthe preceding quarters. The labor of thus re-model- count of the commerce which it will afford. Coffee, ing the whole statements, as to particular articles im-cotton and rice grow here as natives, and may be ported, could not be spared at this time-but, per-cultivated to any extent. With these rich staples haps, the matter is so arranged that it will answer (for export, and a soil capable of producing abundant every ordinary purpose. COTTON. The New Orleans price current, of May 30, shews that there arrived, since the 1st October last, 189,125 bales of cotton, and, in the same time last year, only 134,065-cxcess of the present year, fifty-five thousand and fifty-seven bales. The stock on hand, including all on ship-board not cleared, was 34,236 bales; at the same date, last year, 18,923. supplies of grain, what mighty results may be hoped for, when this colony of civilized blacks shall acquire power to command the respect of the adjacent inhabitants, forbid the slave trade, and enter into treaties with the European and American nations? All these things may happen in less than fifty years, and possibly, at an earlier period; and the hope of spreading light through this dark land, should make us zealous for the success of the project, notwithstand- -- ↳ Liverpool papers, of the 23d May, state that the ing it may not materially effect the design for which sales of the preceding week had amounted only to the colony was established. The present colonists 7,760 bags, of which, about 4,000 were on speculation. are healthy and appear to be prosperous—and will Though the demand was dull, the prices remained be joined by others as fast, perhaps, as the general pretty firm-Uplands 164 to 19d. New Orleans 18% to 21; Tennessees 164 to 181. The prices had declined a little at London. Imports, at Liverpool, during the week ending 20th May, 17,384 bags-viz: 13,195, VOL. XXVII.- 18: good will admit of. A very rapid accession of popu lation cannot be otherwise than injurious, as destructive of those fruits which experience has reared for the safety of persoas and property, LAFAYETTE, having made a triumpha! journey, the representatives of the greatest republic on the through New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, is probably approaching New York. Withersoever he goes, the love and affection of the whole people ascend to heaven to ask benedictions upon him-Never before did mortal man make a tour like Lafayette's; never before were the offerings of grateful hearts more modestly received. Our guest is, indeed, blessed with fortitude to bear all that prosperity can be stow or adversity inflict-not being inflated with the first nor prostrated by the last; and his life, truly, has been a chequered one. Let us look at the following contrasts: "He was, (says an English paper, published in 1796), seized upon in neutral ground, and from the month of August, 1792, buried alive, in coid subterraneous, solitary dungeons, deprived of exercise, of air, of the light of heaven, of all intercourse with human beings; stripped of all his clothes, before his being plunged into his last dungeon at Olmutz, and clad Jike a galley slave, in trowsers and waistcoat of sail cloth; enduring, in that condition, the memorable winter of 1794, destitute of every thing, refused even a knife and fork, and the scanty comforts allowed to felons; obliged to lie on the straw and a miserable mattrass, the relict of his Russian prison." earth, in the centre of the most splendid legislative hall in the world, filled to overflowing with delighted men and women-hugged to the bosoms of the wise, the virtuous and the brave, and greeted by beauty-regarded by all as a benefactor, beloved by all as a man; revered for the goodness of his heart and on account of his years, but honored for his manly virtues and services as a soldier, whose right arm was bared and struck for freedom in the days of his youth, and which forgot not "its cunning" when liberty again called forth his exertions to redeem mankind from oppression and cause suffering nations to be free. journed, without at all attending to the "entreaty" GEORGIA. The legislature of this state has adof gov. Troup, that the members should "STAND BY THEIR ARMS," or even calling up the wonderful report of Mr. Lumpkin, by which they were to pledge "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor," to support that queer entreaty of the governor.Thus, these mad doings are to be regarded only as the acts of individuals, as it was suggested in our last that they were; and the people of Georgia are no And where was he in 1824-5?* In the United States necticut for the exhibit of "blue-lights" at New Lonmore responsible for them, than were those of Conin the midst of ten millions of freemen, in everydon, hat the flag of the republic, borne by Decatur at one of whose hearts he was at home. In the midst of the main of his frigate, might be changed for that of the *Some fool, who makes articles for Blackwood's It must be regretted that the governor of Georgia, and a enemy of our country. So far, all things are well. (Edinburgh) Magazine, and is, no doubt, paid for them committee of the legislature of that state, so much forby the yard, after some nonsense-run-mad about gen. got what was due to themselves, and the actual conCharles Lee and others, says "We mention this now,dition in which they were placed, as to give vent to with more emphasis, because the republic is all in feelings which have only excited a rude laugh or commotion about Lafayette-pretending-shame on mortifying pity in the people of other states-but it such impudence! that all this uproar comes of their is a cause of rejoicing, that those acts were treated gratitude. Gratitude! we know them better. But, by the legislature as they deserved-and have passed even while we speak, the fashion is over-we have to the "tomb of the Capulets," as though they never no doubt of it-we put our opinion, therefore, upon had been committed, save and except as to the indirecord, with a date, (1st January, 1825); we say that viduals concerned. already the fashion is over in America; that, already, they have done pursuing the father of their country, only a party political motive in his denunciation of It would be wrong to insinuate that gov. Troup had as they profanely call him, after Washington, with the general government and call to arms; or that Mr. outeries and parade. Gratitude! we know them bet-Lumpkin, in his declaration, that the states "from ter." "It is curiosity-not gratitude. Gratitude is consistent. Curiosity is not. Gratitude is the growth of knowledge in a case like this. Curiosity is the growth of ignorance." Virginia to Georgia, from Missouri to Louisiana, must confederate," had in his recollection, and for his model, the famous propositions for calling up the "nation The date probably records the day of the pub- simple purpose of acquiring political power-some beof New England" some years ago, and for the same lication of the article. It is very possible it may ing more willing "to rule in hell than serve in heahave been written at the very moment when La-ven;" still it must be manifest, to every one who fayette was in the hall of the representatives of the observes "the sign of the times," that certain persons people of the United States, at Washington, which are resolved to produce a local political excitement, was on the 10th Dec. 1824. On the 17th June, 1825, whether there is any reason for its existence or not. he was the chief cause of gathering together a greater And it fortunately happens, that these have blindly quantity of people than, perhaps, ever before assem-stumbled upon the most unlucky of all the points for bled on so small a space of ground in North America, indiscriminate opposition, that they could have fallen unless before the soldiers and priests of Spain had over. depopulated Mexico and Hayti, &c.: and behold! the blast of political war is sounded on the preposterous It respects their slave population; and the fashion" is not yet over. Nay, not even at Wash- assumption of a fact, that the general government has ington, wherein he has resided a considerable time interfered, or is about to interfere, in the concerns befor a "ir built frigate," to carry a "bit of striped tween master and slave, and so hazard the property bunting at her mast-head," has just been launched and safety of the people of the south, and violate the there, and called the Brandywine, because, in that federal compact. battle, Lafayette first spilt his blood for liberty. Yes, and so long as this vessel lasts, there is not one Ame rican seaman, whose lot it shall be to combat on board of her, that will not ram his cartridge more surely "home," because of the facts associated with the name of this "non-descript" "74 in disguise." Why is such stuff published? Do Britons suppose that it frightens us or interrupts our progress? We care as little for John Bull or Sawney Bull, as John or senator from the state of New York, offered a resolu1. During the last session of congress, Mr. King, a Sawney can care for us. wood's magazine is supposed to be a renegado-and debt was paid off, a part of the product of the sales of But the writer for Black-tion expressive of his opinion, that, when the public one renegado is worse than ten Turks." the public lands ought to be appropriated to the colo the state of things does not require it, for such a conIt is not our present design to discuss this subjectfederation, as was recommended by Mr. Lumpkin, will only be ridiculed for its absurdity,-yet it may be well to shew the whole ground on which the assumed fact rests, as to the interference just above spoken of. nization of the free blacks, and for the emancipation | duce three or four times as much as the like rental in of slaves. [See note.] 2. Mr. Tucker, of Virginia, offered a resolution, in the house of representatives, shewing his desire that a part of the country, west of the Rocky mountains, should be set aside for the colonization of the free people of color. 3. Mr. Wirt, of Virginia, attorney general of the United States, gave an official opinion, that a certain law of South Carolina, authorizing the imprisonmenter on account of its slaves-25 or 26 members in of any colored persons who might arrive there as mariners, or otherwise employed on board of foreign or domestic vessels, was inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution of the United States, which vest all powers, for the regulation of commerce, in the general government, &c. (See below.] These are the three things urged to provoke the local excitement alluded to-and the Richmond Enquir er, (and two or three other southern papers and no more), groans under the weight of the matter which is published about them; notwithstanding, they all happened during the administration of Mr. Monroe, who is a Virginian, and two out of the three were the acts of the chosen sons of the "ancient dominion," herself. the two last, and the difference, as to surplus capital, is in a much greater proportion. It follows then, that the non-slave-holding states cannot have a pecuniary interest in the liberation of the slaves of the south; and the political interest that they once had therein is so rapidly decreasing of itself, that it is not worth their while to disturb it, even if ever so disposed. It is true, that the south has a large proportion of political powcongress, and about 30 electors of president. But the proportionate power of the south has been exceedingly reduced in the general government, and will not much longer be regarded by the people of the other states, on account of the increased number of their own inhabitants, and the mightily accumulated force of physical and moral power, (arising from superior free population and wealth), that will be located in them. Ohio now contains more white men than Virginia-and will soon have as many members in congress too; and there will be several other great states in the north-west. This is self-evident; and the power in the senate, as well as in the house of representatives, will speedily rest where the free popu lation is. It cannot be prevented. It is desting, and so ought to be: no one dare deny it. In referring to these things, it is the furthest from my wishes to depreciate the worth or wound the feelings of any brother in the south-none are more liberal, generous and brave, or more devoted to the constitution than they-and, in politics, I myself surely, and even yet, rather belong to the "Virginia school, though I have seen so much to condemn in many who have set themselves up as masters in it, to dictate to the consciences of man-and, like Procrustes, reduce or extend all persons to their own standard-measure. But the reasonableness or truth of what I have stated, must be admitted by every one that will take the trouble to think on the subject; and the whole will shew, that the people of the non-slave-holding-states cannot have any motive to injure or interfere with the real or supposed interests of the people of the south, save and except that which grows out of an opposi tion to the system of slavery, which every American condemns, and regrets that it ever existed in the new world. As to the projected colonization of free people of color, we shall insert an extract from an essay published in the 'Richmond Enquirer,' signed 'Virginius,' in reply to a writer signing "Camillus." It puts the question at rest-the legislature of Virginia has three times ACTED on the very subject, which it has been made a crime for Messrs. King and Tucker to have THOUGHT of! The Extract. Mr. King's proposition was merely the expression of an opinion, that it might be recorded. He did not suppose that it would be acted upon. He had no prospect that it could be taken up until long after his death, (for it is not to be expected that he will live to see the public debt paid off)-and if it had been otherwise, it would seem to us that it was the people of the non-slave-holding states who ought to have found fault with him, not those of the south; because that he was willing to appropriate money belonging to the whole nation, to relieve a part of the people, of some portion of a population which they have always admitted was a "curse upon them," making payment in money for such population, as property, to those who might be willing to part with it, and so lessen the amount of "that curse." There is no danger that such a proposition will ever be adopted!-and, if it should come up for discussion, it will appear that the people of the states, north of the Potomac, will be quite as loath to grant the money of the United States for the emancipation of slaves, as those south of that river can possibly be to receive it on account of their blacks. What interest have the people of the non-slave-holding states in this matter? As to trade or commerce, interior and exterior, it is advantageous to them that slavery should exist in the south, that the free persons therein may be diverted from giving up their talents and labor to navigation and manufactures, and their dependent businesses; for there is no fact better established than this-that a chiefly agricultural peo- "A writer, under the signature of "Camillus," in ple cannot come into competition with another that a late number of the Enquirer, arraigns Mr. Tucker is jointly agricultural, manufacturing and commer- of Virginia, and Mr. King of New York, for having cial; because, in the last, one man, by the aid of scien- proposed to appropriate part of the public lands of tific power, performs the labor of many men. In ge- the United States, or of their proceeds, to the colonineral, thus aided, one is equal to an hundred. The zation of the free people of color of the several states. two millions of persons in England, engaged in manu- "Not content with exposing the usurpation of facturing iron, wool, cotton, &c. with their steam en-power, which such a grant would, it seems, imply; a gines and other machinery, it is estimated accom- charge, which those gentlemen are very able to replish the labor of two hundred millions of persons, fute, and which one of them has, already, indignantly without such engines and machinery; and, against repelled, Camillus seeks to fasten, a like imputation this odds, it is impossible that a body of pure agricul- on the Colonization Society. "The fact," he says, turalists, (even growers of cotton and at its present "can not now be concealed," (as if concealment had high prices), should contend. If proof of this is want-been designed), "that this question is to be forced ed, it may be found in the vast accumulations of upon congress, in some shape or other." "From capital in England, and the surplusses of it which exist at Boston and Providence, compared with Charleston and Richmond. The two first have about the same population as the two last. Boston and Providence may represent the commercial and manufacturing interests-Charleston and Richmond the interests of cotton and tobacco-planting; but the annual rental of the buildings, in the two first would, probably, pro previous indications, we are lead to conclude, that congress is to be called upon to aid in promoting the object of that society." Thus it is, "we see that the constitution is to be made to yield to circumstances," &c. "If Camillus will examine the proceedings of congress, and of his own state legislature, he will discover, that the fact, to which he refers, has never bren countled. That it has been twice presented to tish frigate were to visit Charleston, and had on beard. the house of representatives, by memorials from the a black cook, or sundry black seamen, duly entered on Colonization Society, and is as old as a period of high her books, free-born in Jamaica. Would the captain phily exciterion, of the very description which he of the frigate give them up to imprisonment during 4, en a desirous to cherish, the airst administration of his stay in that port? No-if not able to fight his way fe expentive governacnt of Virginia. by Mr Mon-out, by cannonading the town, he would strike his rơo, and the first teran of Mr. Jeterson's presidency. flag, or be cashiered at home; and the event would "The proceedings of the house of delegates on a necessarily bring about a war, or some act of humiliresolution, almost unanimously adopted by that body, ation, like that of the British, then they gave up the in December, 1916, from which the injunction of men that were taken from the Ch.speake frigate. Yet, scereey was removed by special order, disclosed the because Mr. Wirt, of Virginia, in his official capacity, fact, that on this, as on two prior occasions, between as attorney general, gave an opinion that this law of 1800 and 1891, the federal government was urged by South Caroling* was unconstitutional, he is elegantly the state of Virginia, to procure a country without, or called the "mouth-piece" of the government, at the provide a territory within, the limits of the United head of which then was Mr. Monroe, also a Virginian, States, to serve as a place of permanent abode, for and as great a stickler for "state rights" as we crer the free people of color of the commonwealth. In wish to see occupying the presidential chair, though the last instance, the mouth of Colombia river was not less friendly to such state rights than gov. Troup strongly recommended by the present senator of the himself, or even our friend of the Richmond Enquirer, state in the congress of the United States, as the most notwithstanding we may differ as to what it is that eligible place for such a colony. A correspondence, shall best preserve or most endanger the "sovereignty in pursuance of the former resolutions of the general of the states, in their respective orbits," and keep the assembly, was opened by Mr. Monroe, the governor federal government in wholesome operation for the of Virginia, with Mr. Jefferson, the president of the general good. United States, and not a doubt was, at any time, expressed by the legislature, or the executive of Virginia, of the right of the state to ask, or of the government of the United States to concede, all that the resolutions conteraplated.. "Now, if Virginia may, constitutionally, call on the general government to aid her in colonizing her free people of color, so, unquestionably, may all the other States; and, in all of them, the most urgent motives exist for making the application." Gov. Troup's recommendation and Mr. Lumpkin's resolutions will not have any bad effect in the United States. We are familiar with such ebullitions. We have too often seen the political pot boil over, and so extinguish the fire that provoked its action, to feel alarm at things of this scrt. But they injure us abroad, and in the estimation of all who cannot comprehend, because they know not the force of, the moral power which pervades this republic-a power that rules when the bayonet would fail to enforce submission to the law of the land. NOTE. Now, gov. Troup ought to have called upon the people of Georgia to "stand by their arts" against those of the state of Virginia, and not against the peo-Resolution introduced into the senate of the United States, ple of the United States, for impertinent inter meddlings" in this matter, as he politely cails them!-] for Virginia has actually interfered three times, as Mossrs., King and Tucker proposed that the United States might do, at some remote and indefinite period; and the act of neither of the last, (being only expressions of opinion), was no more an act of the United States, than the recommendation of the governor of Georgia, that the people should "stand by their arms," is a marching of the militia of that state to Washington, and a consequent dissolution of the union!Which beaven forbid! As to the third point-The legislature of South Ca rolina, hurried by the impulse of supposed necessity, passed a law a variance with certain fundamental principles of the constitution of the United States, and repugnant to our treaties with most of the commercial nations, which treaties are respected as the supreme laws of the land. In several of the states, free blacks are citizens, and so citizens of the United States! and the British, French, Spaniards, &c. employ many free persons of color in navigating their vessels, specially those trading to or from the West India istan and, perhaps, not less than one fourth of the mariners of the republies of Colombia and Mexico are perrons of color-n? all those of Hayti Are meu. It is impossible to believe, that any state cin pas a low te imprison citizens of the United Stator citizens or subjects of foreign nations in amity with us, engaged in a business that all the world acknowledges Lowful, merely because their skins are Lot exactly of the same color as on's. If the law is a rightful one, it must "go through”-suppose a Bri ། by Air. King of New York: Resaford, That as soon as the portion of the existing funded debt of the United States, for the payment of which the public land of the United States is pledg ed, shall have been paid off, then, and thenceforth, the whole of the public lands of the United States, with the nett proceeds of all future sales thereof, shall constitute and form a fund, which is hereby appropriated, and the faith of the United States is pledged *It appears from subsequent information, that Mr. Wirt's greatest offence was, that, in arguing on the merit of some Portuguese claim, (the particulars of which we do not gather from the papers before us, and they are unimportant), made a general remark that slavery was inconsistent with the laws of God and nature.-[See another message from gov. Troup, inserted in the note at the end of this article.] And this was a crime in Mr. Wirt! What did JEFFERSON say in his Notes on Virginia, written in 1781-2, more than forty years ago, when speaking of slaves and slavery? It is needless to quote all that respects these subjects from the 18th query-these extracts are sufficient: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that his justice cannot sleep forever; that, considering numbers, nature and natural means only. by a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation is among possible events: THAT IT MAY BE COME PROBABLE BY SUPERNATURAL INTERFERENCE!— THE ALMIGHTY HAS NO ATTRIBUTE WHICH CAN TAKE SIDE WITH US IN SUCH A CONTEST!" What is the amount of Mr. Wirt's remark, under the heat of discussion and in the cause of his client, to these expressions, deliberately used by Mr. Jefferson? As a drop in the *No doubt, there was and is great apparent neccs-bucket; as the dust in the balance! Why did not gov. sity for such a law in South Carolina. We have fre quently spoken of the bad consequences that follow s mixing of the free people of color with slaves. It is injurious to both parites, and especially so where the staves are AumeroL. Troup rather condemn the ex-president than the attorney-general? It may be added, also, that Mr. J was the early friend of the colonization system and of the emancipation of slaves, as a public duty for the public safety, as his writings shew us. that the said fund shall be inviolably applied to aid the emancipation of such slaves and the removal of such free persons of color, in any of said states, as by the laws of the several states respectively, may be allowed to be emancipated or removed to any territory or country without the limits of the United States of America. This resolution was not called up by the mover, nor otherwise acted upon. wait until the principle being decided against us, the Several of the states, among them New Jersey, Delaware and Ohio, had, long before the resolution was offered by Mr. King, passed resolutions expressive of their opinion that the general government ought to adopt some measures for the colonization of the free blacks and the emancipation of the slaves, (with the consent of the slave holding stales," to use the THE SPIRIT OF PERSECUTION shews itself in various language of the Delaware resolutions, which is the ways-and when the law will not authorize the use of same in substance as Mr. King's),-very probable be-fire and faggot "for the good of religion," persons caise the state of Virginia was so anxious on the subject; are not wanting who manifest the same spirit that having thrice pressed it on the consideration of the go- once legalized the roasting of men. We see it announneral government. ced that the rev. Elijah Dodson, of the Baptist church, has been dismissed for the crime of being a freemason. This happened in Illinois-not in Spain. PEELIC DOCUMENTS. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 members of congress. Or these only three survive, viz. John Adams, of Mass. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md. and Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. The convention that formed the constitution of the United States, consisted of 40 members. Of these only three survive, viz. Rufus King, James Madison, and Charles C. Pinkney. The convention' that formed the constitution of Pennsylvania, consisted of 65 members, only nine of whom are now liging, viz Timothy Pickering, Robert Coleman, Joseph Heister, Samuel Sitgreaves. Charles Smith, James Ross. Albert Gallatin, John Gloninger, and Alexander Graydon Another message of gor. Troup. Executive department, Milledgeville, 7th June, 1825. I had hoped, that in submitting to the legislature the resolution of Mr. King, the abstract from the go- THE GRAND LODGE of freemasons of Ireland, have vernment paper, the several resolutions of the legis-issued a circular, dated the 7th May, directing the latures of certain states, and the reference to the different lodges to forthwith congregate the members, doctrines maintained by the attorney general, before resume the masonic labors, and disseminate friendthe supreme court at Washington, in cases involving ship, charity and brotherly love, as the late prohibithe question, slavery or no slavery, and had expressed tory act, relative to private societies, does not commy own opinion upon them, I had done enough. In prehend freemason lodges. cheerful compliance, however, with the express wishes of the house of representatives, I make this further communication. Even from the moment we became parties to the union, notwithstanding the guarantee of this interest by the constitution, efforts have been made to render unavailing those guarantees, to make inroads upon the subject of them in various modes, sometimes by open assaults, sometimes be covert acts, equally injurious to the interests involved as disgraceful to the parties effecting the injury. Throughout this period and to the present moment, we have defended ourselves by memorials, remonstrances, resolutions, supplications, &c. All reflecting men had foreseen that these might serve the purpose of the times, because as God would have it for those times, the strength and courage was with us; now the times are changed, the strength has departed, and they would destroy the interest that they might! destroy the moral principle which sustains it. The spirit which animates these disturbers of our peace, is of no ordinary kind-it is the same as that which rallied under the banner of the cross, and propogated religion by the sword-it sticks at no measures-it weeps over no distress, but believing all means justifiable and holy and consecrated, marches to the object without regard to age or sex, and wars even with the sleep of the cradle: This is the spirit of fanaticism. But the other day I sent you a resolu-mitted by the tenants of the penitendary, it will not tion of the state of Delaware, formerly with us, now against us. Maryland, loosing her interest, will soon follow her example. The resolution of Mr. King, preposterous as it is, is just as likely to succeed as any other silly thing. Mr. King, certainly one of the most able men in council that this nation has produced, proposes to buy out our interest with our own property; Mr. King, in token of the high value set upon this service, is sent ambassador to England to refresh his memory with the law in Somerset's case, which is also a favorite one with our learned attorney general The government paper at Washington, KENTUCKY. It seems that the elections in this daring more than ever had been dared, announces state are near at hand; and it is announced in the that this is the appointed time. The attorney gene- papers that one set of candidates for the legislaral, representing the United States, says before the ture is in favor of, and another opposed to, the new supreme court, in a ripe and splendid argument, that court of appeals. Almost every other consideration slavery, being inconsitent with the laws of God and appears to be swallowed up in this leading difference nature, cannot exist. Do we want more, or shall wel of opinion among the people. A GRAND SWINDLING MATCH is spoken of at Richmond, Va. It seems that three gentlemen had associated together, by making notes and drafts on one another, (and which they never intended to pay), to obtain large quantities of goods and money, and by which they acquired 50,000 dollars, and came very near realizing 100,000, before they were found out. The names of those persons are given in the papers-but it seems that, though the amount of their roscalities may be greater than that of all the depredations.com be easy to punish them-being "rogues of distinction," their speculation, probably, will come under the denomination of debis--and there is a much greater feeling for "poor" debtors than for ruined creditors. For my part, I regard the highwayman as an honest fellow, when compared with a gentleman who contracts debts that he does not intend to pay at the time of contracting them. Subsequent inability is a different affair; and, if brought about by misfortunes, will claim the sympathy of every body. |