Kentucky Gazette

SLAVERY

A writer in a Cincinnati paper has replied to an advertisement of a gentleman in a slave holding state, who offered a reward of 300 for three slaves. The piece is signed "Humanity," and contains language throughout like the following extract. These friends of humanity, forgetful of the obligations they owe to the government of the United States, which guarantees by the constitution and laws the right of property wherever found, are encouraging the escape of slaves. If neither the duty they owe to their country, nor a sense of justice to their fellow citizens, can teach such incendiaries forbearance on a subject which every intelligent man must acknowledge ought to be disturbed no more, it will force on us a law as unpleasant as it will be necessary. The crime which such humanity must lead to, is no less than civil war; and our legislature will be compelled to pass a law to punish such offences when committed in the state, or those found in it guilty of circulating such sentiments.

EXTRACT.

"I have lived in this world a sufficient time to become convinced that SLAVERY, as practised in some of our sister states, is as great an evil as any with which man is cursed; and that the ALL SEEING EYE which scans this world at a glance, sooner or later will render unto every man his just due:—a knowledge of these facts is sufficient to induce every man to walk as nearly on the prescribed line as he is capable to do. Conceiving it my duty, then, to use my utmost endeavors to convince you that you are violating the laws of God and humanity; and that omitting to do this would be an omission to perform my duty. I would ask you, Mr. ---, how much more aggravated would be your crime in continuing in your diabolical and unholy practices, after seeing the true path which you should pursue, than mine—in omitting to point it out to you.

Mr. ---, of what horrid crime are those three persons, for whose apprehension you offer a reward of 300 dollars, guilty? Where do you obtain the right thus to request the public to produce to you three of your fellow beings without even charging them with a crime! Know ye not that you are theirs as much as they yours? Think you that money can purchase flesh and BLOOD—or that man can buy or sell his fellow man! For shame, Mr. ---, for permitting your understanding to become so blind as to teach you to believe things so opposed to reason. Can you not see that if those three unfortunate MAKING MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY wish to "make for the State of Ohio" they have the same right to do so that you have,—and that no human being is any the more empowered to lay hands on them, and conduct them before you, than he is to produce before you the President of these States."