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Letter to Editor
November 9, 1803
The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A letter to the editor warns of illegal slave importations into southern states, criticizing federal officers for failing to enforce the congressional act prohibiting it, and calls for action to inform the President and Congress.
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Full Text
FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
October 14, 1803.
Mr. Editor,
As you are known to be a true friend to our present administration, I feel confident you will not fail to give this a place in your useful paper—that our President, that Congress, (who will soon be in session) may receive information of an evil that will, that must eventually end in the destruction of the southern states—I allude to the open violation and daily evasion of the act of Congress, which was intended to aid the laws of the different states, which prohibited the importation of African slaves into them—droves of those wretched beings are often seen in our streets, our jails are thronged with them, notwithstanding which the federal officers appointed to carry the said law into effect, take no steps to check or stop the inhuman traffic so disgraceful to any country, but peculiarly so to a country like ours, where liberty indeed dwells. These officers of the general government by whose neglect this evil exists are to a man federalists: Will they, ought they, to be surprised if they were immediately to be dismissed from their offices? Surely not. It is not intended that this hint shall be considered as a desire or wish in the writer to have those gentlemen displaced. By no means; let them act as becomes them, and we complain not against them.
PLAIN TRUTH.
October 14, 1803.
Mr. Editor,
As you are known to be a true friend to our present administration, I feel confident you will not fail to give this a place in your useful paper—that our President, that Congress, (who will soon be in session) may receive information of an evil that will, that must eventually end in the destruction of the southern states—I allude to the open violation and daily evasion of the act of Congress, which was intended to aid the laws of the different states, which prohibited the importation of African slaves into them—droves of those wretched beings are often seen in our streets, our jails are thronged with them, notwithstanding which the federal officers appointed to carry the said law into effect, take no steps to check or stop the inhuman traffic so disgraceful to any country, but peculiarly so to a country like ours, where liberty indeed dwells. These officers of the general government by whose neglect this evil exists are to a man federalists: Will they, ought they, to be surprised if they were immediately to be dismissed from their offices? Surely not. It is not intended that this hint shall be considered as a desire or wish in the writer to have those gentlemen displaced. By no means; let them act as becomes them, and we complain not against them.
PLAIN TRUTH.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Politics
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Slave Importation
African Slaves
Federal Enforcement
Southern States
Federalists
Congressional Act
What entities or persons were involved?
Plain Truth.
Mr. Editor,
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Plain Truth.
Recipient
Mr. Editor,
Main Argument
the letter highlights the illegal importation of african slaves into southern states despite congressional prohibition, blames federalist officers for neglect, and suggests they should enforce the law or face dismissal to prevent the destruction of the southern states.
Notable Details
Droves Of Slaves Seen In Streets And Jails
Federal Officers Are All Federalists
Inhuman Traffic Disgraceful To A Liberty Loving Country
Not Wishing Displacement But Urging Proper Action