The New Hampshire Gazette

Thoughts on Slave Trade--No. I.
Let us trace the proceedings of those
employed at this traffic of human flesh-of
those who, devoid of all principles, and in
pursuit of their only god, wealth-sacrifice
every other sentiment to that of ambition.
With these, every virtue becomes a vice--
every caution a stimulus to commit those
very things with which that virtue and that
caution are in contradiction. With Eve,
obedience was once no doubt a virtue, but
as her ambition to be equal with the Su-
preme, began to predominate, virtue re-
signed its empire and She fell a victim to
that fatal passion which in lieu of raising her
to the summit of the wished for grandeur,
plunged her into the deep gulf of vile-
ness and depravity. What followed and
still must follow the fall of this our common
mother is too well known to need a dis-
cussion here and to every rational being it
must appear evident, that not only the
Crimes of Eve but every and any deviation
from virtue must be attended with similar
circumstances and sooner or later they will
experience the wrath of God But to re-
turn let us take passage on board that ship
which is ready for a Guinea voyage and be-
hold, when we perceive what company we
are in and inquire into the particulars of
their conduct, we are soon aware that the
far greater number of them are the refuge
of society, unable to get employment elsewhere
and scarce worthy the name of man, were
it not for a hope of their returning to a
right sense of their duty. Some may think
what I advance too harsh or too inconsider-
-ate, but I appeal to the feelings of every
candid reader for the truth of it. And is it
to be wondered at? Is not the nature of this
diabolical practice such, that none but the
unworthy and the most depraved wretches
would embark in it? The anchor's a-weigh,
the sails unloosened and a favoring breeze
soon conveys us far from our native shore.
To thinking minds how favorable a moment
for reflection
How gracious to them ap-
pears that Being whose power and goodness
is their only safe guard in the hour of calm
serenity, and their only refuge in the mo-
ment of distress and peril! What awe fills
their breasts at the thoughts of offending the
mighty and only Governor of the Universe!
How oft would a sigh escape that bosom
which has been torn from the objects of its
affection, esteem and tenderest solicitude!
How oft would the soul pour out fervent
and humble prayers before that God, to
whose care & protection they commit their
dearest interests! These and the like senti-
ments animate the bosom of the good; but
alas! widely different are those of whom we
now speak. Repair to the cabin and what
do you hear? What degrades human nature
-what affrights the soul-what my pen
cannot paint in colours sufficiently black.
They are planning upon those stratagems
which will most insure their bloody designs
-which will most speedily make up the
number of those who are to become their
prey. If this is the cabin talk what will and
must the sailors say P Lo I hear a whisper,
let us draw a little nearer & catch the heads
of their conversation. What other infer.
ences can we draw from it but that it is a
confederacy betwixt them, that they are all
concerned in the hellish plot. They are al-
ready testing upon those tortures which
they are to impose upon the helpless vic-
tims of raving ambition. This employed
the calmer part of the passage and when
the roaring thunders grumbling in the dis-
tant clouds or suddenly bursting over our
heads : when the lightnings rushes from
his den and expands in flames--when the
foaming billows-the raging & tempestuous
winds and the more rapid hurricanes-when
the necessity of the moment compel a sus.
pension of their hateful. but to them favo-
rite occupation. instead of being awakened
from their slumber of vice--instead of re-
ceiving these awful messengers often of Di.
vine wrath and vengeance with that defer.
ence and awe which they are so well calcu-
lated to inspire, instead of reviewing their
past misconduct and resolving to amend-
instead of preparing themselves worthily
for those summons which in the twinkling
of an eye will consign them to a silent grave
-I say, instead of considering all this, noth.
ing proceeds from there lips but the most
impious oaths-they abuse the name of that
Being whose power alone can shield & save
them. When death presents itself on all
sides and no hopes of returning to some hos.
pitable shore is remaining, even then, the
air is poisoned with their blasphemies-they
are often heard to implore upon their bro-
ther's and their own souls the curse of that
being who is infinite in power and would
thus plunge themselves head long into
eternity, but for the saving mercies of that
heavenly father, who wills not "s the death
of a sinner. but that he live and repent."
They dread to be cut off from among the
living and for no other reason but that they
are going into that state of inactivity which
prevents a prosecution of their darling occu-
pation, their well planned schemes, yes they
are going into that state where "to the wicked
cease from troubling." The tempest stilled
and thus musing we are safe at anchor on
the shores of Africa,