The Providence Journal, And Town And Country Advertiser

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Delaware State, to his friend in Philadelphia, dated July 4, 1801.

"I am just returning from a tour through the Eastern shore of Maryland, where I endeavoured to obtain information respecting the inhuman practice of kidnapping, and I was informed by good authority that six hundred Negroes, partly purchased, and partly stolen, have been transported from this district to Georgia; within the last six months. The centre of that traffic is at a small village called I.B. about 12 miles below the head of Chester; and the common vender is a certain monster in the shape of a man, named Kerrington: This degenerate wretch and his associates in infamy are become bold by sufferance: there is no opposition, and they set out in groups in every direction in search of prey, and the poor negroes, if warned of their approach, fly before them with terrific speed, as the harmless sheep at the approach of a merciless wolf. How Heaven will tolerate this system of cruelty, I know not: how long the government will submit to this aggravation of national shame and human misery, I cannot tell.

Future ages will, no doubt, form a very dishonourable opinion of the present; if historians are faithful, they will find the benevolent virtues sacrificed on the altar of avarice, as the most favourable construction that can be made of this disgraceful business. Interest must be attributed to the action, and prejudice be considered as the foundation of supineries on the part of the community.

I embraced every opportunity of informing myself of the real condition of these poor blacks in these parts. I saw them in their huts and at their labour. I wished to see them as they really are; and their condition, with few exceptions, is truly deplorable; independent of those principles which confirm our belief that the whole system is irreligious, irrational and inhuman."