Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

From the United States Chronicle.

MR. WHEELER,

Please to insert the following observations
in the Chronicle, and oblige the friends
of justice and humanity.

IT appears by information from Suri-
nam, that the brigantine Nancy, of this
port, commanded by Joseph B. Cook, had
arrived at that place, with a cargo of
slaves from the coast of Africa ; and that
during the passage, they made an attempt
to recover that liberty with which they
were endowed by the common Parent of
the Universe, and of which they could
not have been deprived without the most
outrageous violation of every principle of
Religion, Justice, and Humanity; but in
consequence of this laudable attempt to as-
sert their natural and unalienable right,
several of their number were destroyed by
the Captain and crew of the brig. It may
perhaps be alleged, in extenuation of the
crime, that the white people only acted in
self-defence-_but the reply is obvious.
Who were the aggressors ? Who forced
the wretched Africans from their native
country-from all the tender and endear-
ing attachments of husband, parent and
child? Who crowded them into the hold
of the vessel, or as Mr. Wilberforce em-
phatically styles it—“ The floating shop for
the sale of human flesh.” who by such base
and barbarous means, provoked them to
a natural and just resistance.

Should we condemn a number of Ame-
ricans for rising on the crew of an Alge-
rine cruizer ? Should we not rather ap-
plaud and wish them success. May not
the barbarians of Algiers retort on our
African slave traders, the severe rebuke of
an inspired apostle, " Thou that sayest a
man should not steal, dost thou steal ?"

Can they who are concerned in the detes-
table slave trade, and are thus accessory
to the murder, and the misery of so ma-
ny of their fellow creatures, can they en-
joy the profits resulting from the 'blood
stained traffic? Can they reflect on the
tears, the groans, and the agony of the
wretches whom they have reduced to such
complicated sufferings, and not feel their
souls harrowed with the most painful re-
morse; but by whatever arts they may
now sooth or suppress the upbraidings of
conscience, the time is assuredly approach-
ing when they will sorrowfully realize
this sacred declaration, " Verily there is a
GOD who judgeth in the earth, who
will render to every man according to his
works ;" and as He hath been pleased to
ordain civil government "for a terror to
evil doers," surely it is incumbent on the
strong arm of the National Legislature to
exert itself in the prevention of Crimes
more abhorrent than those which the In-
dians on our frontiers frequently perpe-
trate on the defenceless inhabitants-
those savages with respect to Divine rev-
elation " it in darkness," while we are
indulged with the meridian splendor of
gospel light ; we boast the most accurate
knowledge of the rights of man, and ex-
ult in having been the successful defend-
ers of those rights ;-they in many in-
stances only avenge the wrongs they have
suffered, while our Slave-Traders send
to a distant country, seize on the inno-
cent and unoffending natives, and com-
pel them to a state of the most cruel
slavery-but this abominable traffic in
our own species is not only repugnant to
the dictates of that Revelation which in-
forms us, that " GOD hath made of one
blood all nations" but the feelings of hu-
manity are shocked at the sad recital of
the atrocious crimes which are inepa-
rably connected with the odious practice ;
and philosophy, by the elegant pen of a
Raynal, reprobates it in language too
pointed to be omitted in this animad-
version. The Highwayman (says the
"Abbe)attacks you, and takes your mo-
ney, the Slave-Trader carries off even
your person—the one invades the
rights of society-the other those of
nature ;-this certainly is the truth, and
if there existed a religion which authori-
zed only by its silence such horrors ; if it
did not continually denounce vengeance
against the authors, and the instruments
of this tyranny-if such a religion exist-
ed, the minister and the altar ought to be
crushed in one common ruin."

If it should be thought that the severity of censure contained in this publica-
tion requires an apology, the writer would
borrow one from Mr. Pitt's admirable
speech in the British House of Commons
—after describing, in terms of the most
pathetic eloquence, the matchless horrors
of this nefarious trade he adds" I
know, Sir, I state this subject with
warmth ! I feel it is impossible for me
not to do so--or, if it were I should de-
spise myself for the exercise of moderation.
I cannot without suffering every feeling,
and every passion that ought to rise in the
Cause of Humanity, to sleep within me,
speak coolly upon such a subject. There
is no excuse for us, seeing this infernal
traffic as we do, it is the very death of
Justice to utter a syllable in support of
it."

HUMANITAS.