A NATIONAL PAPER, PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY fOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA [No. 105, of Vol. lII.] FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES MANY of the enlightened and humane have for some time indulged a pleating hope that the slave-trade, and perhaps fiavery itfelf, will at length be aboliflied. What events of this ]<ind time may produce, cannot be ascertained at present. But all, whose feelings and reason have not been perverted, nmft be (hocked at the treat- went which the unhappy Africans and their de- fendants still altnoft universally experience in the western world ally, and perhaps from infancy, to treat their {laves with contempt and inhumanity, slave hold- ers seem frequently infenlible of the cruelty of their condmft. Alk most of the Weft-India gen- tlemen whether the Blacks are cruelly treated in theiflands? " Not in general with any unnecef- fary (everivy," they will reply, and talk of their various privileges —privileges which are tliem i'elves the mod unequivocal proofs that almost every thing is denied them which can render life agreeable, and every thing inflicled which a ty rant's caprice and passion may dictate. In the view of a Weft-Indian , neither nakedness, liun- ger, excessive labor, nor mangling stripes, are unnecefiary severities to negroes. It is alien ed that-the 'Africans are, in the Iftands. uled *' with kindness and humanity" and at th? fame time acknowledged, that thonfands are annually imported. How amiably mild mull that treatment be which destroys the human species ft> much more rapidly than they propagate ! — 41 Sparta teemed with slaves at the time of her liigheft fame as a valiant republic." Let it be added-, that it was customary for this republic to fend out her citizens at proper intervals to maflk cre coolly the (touted of the Helotes, left they ihould revolt. In the Weft-Indies, the slaves pe- ri(h by millions, in a flower and more horrible ■way. But let us turn from this disagreeable profoeft—let us next ask an inhabitant of any of the Southern States, whether slaves are there bar- ibaroufly treated ? " Not at a,II (fays he) the in •vecftives on that head are mere calumny and falfe Jiood." Enquire more particularly as to their food, cloathing, habitations, discipline, Src. and yon will find that their peck of Indian corn is re gularly mealured out to thetn ; a pittance just .fufficient to prevent their starving—that they have the privilege of exhibiting to gentlemen, and (surprizing favor !) even to yonng ladies, a great proportion if not the whole of their glofly black bodies—that their hovels, when they are not entirely destitute of a {helter, are perhapsfu perior to hog llyes—and finally, that fait is some times kindly applied to the furrows which the lalh has made in their flefli. The inhabitants of the middle and Northern States will feverelV censure the Weft-Indian and Southern (lave-holders. The humane European, and unprejudiced American citizen, will in their turn justly account these very cenfurers, or ra ther some of them, guilty to a greater or lets de gree of the fame barbarity. Who that has re sided in any even of the lalt mentioned States, where there is a considerable number of slaves, has not seen many a poor black deltitute of cloth ing necessary to keep out the wintry blast, or even to cover their nakedness from the eye ? Who has not heard well attefled relations con cerning many a slave who has experienced conti nually the pangs of hunger, whom not Itcknels icfelf could excuse from an excessive and perhaps unhealthy talk ?—ln whose ears have not, at one time or another, the cries of diitrefs and anguish resounded—cries for mercy answering the unre ilrained flrokes of the lash, which leave their marks for life .'—While filch treatment of slaves proceeds from persons dead to every emotion but those of pride, avarice and passion, reformation from them is fcarcelv to be expected. We can but lament that the fate of men fliould be decid ed by fitch brutes. It is, however, a fad: too well known to be denied, that slaves often expe rience such treatment from persons who profefs continually to obey the mild and equitable p: e cepts of Cliriftianity—from persons who pride ihemfelve* in their sensibility of loul — from per sons who look on freedom as an invaluable right from men otherwise the niolt re'petftable, and women the most acoomplilhed. LSut surely in this view, feeling, delicacy, fotmefs of manners, humanity, love of liberty and religion, are all deferred for that which is despicable, cruel and vicious. SOCRATES. Accustomed indeed continu Saturday, April 21, 1792. (circular.) SIR, IN conformity to an appointment and from theol ficers of the Maflachnietts line of the late American army, have, attended at the seas of government from the 20th ot Mar to ihe present period. The object of my commiflion was to obtain a decision on nemorial which had heretofore prefenred to Congress, 01 he fubjeft of further compensation for themselves and the sol 'iot s who served during the war. Although in the hrlt mftanc iinilar applications were expend Irom those in the difteren tates who were interested, yet that expe&ation was defea-ed by clay of the communication contained in ihr circular ad<Jrcfs o he 28 r h of Ft'bruaiy, and an idea that an earlier adjournment o 'ongrefs would have taken p'ace. Finding myfelf thus situated, and considering that the of.cer nd soldiers through the United S ales were equally intereftrd 11 he question, I deemed it a mark of refpeff and anention due hem, not even to attempt a consideration of the fubje& unttl the iad a fair opportunity of becoming attive applicants in the mea u'cs we had adopted, and of ailording us the a;d of th».ir advic< nd affillance. . , As a proper investigation and decision of this question is ot th lighcit importance, as it will afford relief to a large number o ur companions of the war, whose dift'elf s are only equalled b heir patience ; and as a union of sentiment and oi mcafuies wil >e mod likely to produce the objc £t of our reasonable wilbes, iave it in particular command frotn the ofßcrs of M^fhchufetts 0 requcit * of rhe officers of your line, at the open ng of the next fctlion of Con^rcfs. They will attend aj that time by their agent or agents, and a fa ial decision will doubtless be obtained. As my brother officers in Massachusetts have eittiuiled this bu m-fs to mv carp, and as I have devoted some attention to the con 1 deration of the fubjeft, I flatter myfelf you will not deem i; im iroper in me, in this communication, to make ioruc general ob ci vations thereon. . . The claim of the army on the public, in my opinion, is lo fax «1 in the unalterable principles of justice, that they ought to fee he fulleft confidence of success. The people of America know, and the public records will eve icrpetuate the ferviccs wh'ch have been rendered, and t,he lnanne n which they have been remunerated.—An attempt to prove tha dmnnd cf the most facrcd nature still remains uncancelled could be only to 11k w that a part is less than rhe whole ; or -ha wo, three, lour or five, ;re not equal to twenty. I lie cafe 11 -oint indeed is stronger than any which can be its sup ,ort ; and the feelings of every honcft heart will overcome evc.^ rgiiment which sophistry can devise or ingenuity invenj, in oppo it ion to the claim. Were I to attempt an investigation of the fubjeft, it would ap irarfrom the molt authentic documents that the public ejigagc ncnt to the army was a certain Turn in ipecie—lhat certa'nmi 'tary ferviccs were to be rendered in consequence of this engage nenr.—That there has been a full acknowledgment on the pan HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. if the United Slates, that the ferviccs have been faithfully pe,- THURSDAY, March 8. D*" ideates, being unsupported b.y funds, had no other value than I UC—That the Secretary oj the 1 redjur) be Jirctt vhat wit (lamped on them by public opinion.—That this value I e d to report his opinion to the Heufe, on the bej vas fanftioned by the uniform adjudications ol the coußs ot law, W(/( ra jfj, ! „ ffofc additional fuppJies which th, public^rvi ce^rr irefoyhecurry,t ye a r . iflatures of the different States, in a variety ol instances.-That (Mr. Ftndlcy sfpeech concluded J 'onwrefi themselves, under the confederation, were impressed TV/TR. KiNDLEY — If, as ic is alledged, the Se vitlTlbe fame fetltiments, particularly in the instance ot ihelalel creiary ot" the Treafllry framing revenul n confequence^o^payment Sates. " " f/tte.,.., is better calculated to support public ere Ftom thcle fafls it moftconclufively follows, that the claim of dit and gives the bufinels a greater facility in h: he army is not chimcrical, but founded in the clear and eternal pall'age through the Houfe—J lay if this IS true irinciples of justice. . 1 it proves the influence to be dangerous in a higl ™nS3 tTi'l Uegre C -C C r, a ;,,ly public crrfi, and «he mean, lecc'nt and manly mapner, a(k for our rights? The present go- oi Supporting It, ougllfto depend only on th< refnment i not only endued with the ability, bui was formed w ill of the legiflattn e, and neither on thew fdon or the express purpofeof " eftabkffimg justice. '—While the fer- ijqi . t j je ca .,, ; ce 0 f a minister ; indeed it it Hand: n the service of their country until peace and happmefs were le- I fixed upon Itabie ground—tor the leglflatlll e may torcd, remain unrewarded, it can never be said that this purpole ani | w j]l some time or other, aCt Upon Its owr. ,as been obtained. The pleafUM which every honrlt American . pr ; nc ipleS. and in this cafe the change of lyttenii Gentlemen are wrong hose ferviccs are unrewarded which modpfty need not blulh to ill arguing from the old government to the new av. contributed to the attainment of the public felicity —,[ ie government was llOt velted With pOW vhich is now enjoyed. Nor is this all,—many ot the men who ers ' n()r p o H e tle<i of ref'ources for the support ol icrformed those services ate now from the want of the jult com- ; . therefoi e the not supporting il be to the nn»mer's not origuiat tonthood of ravages, upon the frontiers ol the United States ; , ng ,l le fyi'teins. vhile nearlv every thing they eat, drink or wear, inthele dillrel- I gentlemen fay that it is proper the Secre- X •»»«' <° -company his reporl roTdcrsof them with arguments, ill Older to explain the princi 7o ft"w that those characters who are entitled to the public p] es thereof, and state the fatfls with which it is onftderatios can easily be diftinguithed, that a further compenfa- I conne< f te( l, — 1 wholly object to a minister's die iorl en be made onlyW paying^ the a^o^ c [cd a , "ha do, ng tati "g or propounding revenue systems, and nil t no e new e debt will be created, and the purthalers ol aliened fe- more to his supporting them with arguments unties will not be affected, or any interference be made with any as ir is carrying the influence of the executive vftems which have been adopted, I beg leave to prcfc-nt the 10l- I administration to aIVi 11 greater extent—The Pre owingflatement. _ j (jdent lias a conllitutional right to communicate h service ift of January, 1776. information, to recommend luch bufincfs as h« 2 Thole vrhofetermsof feiviceexpiied the tftot January,-.777. j may t lank expedient, and to exercile a Jnnitet o. Those who inlifted in the year 1777 for three yeais, or du- i negative after the bills have palled both Iloufei ting the war. The lerin of feivice of those who mlilted — £ j )e p re f ]f ] enl . was to claim a l ight to o forthree years expued IU the yea. 17 .•>. 1 j j money-bill, it would be judged con . Those who inlifted in the year 1700. 1 H .J , ' The lifft -nd feeond class have no well founded claims, because, J trary lo the pr.ncpleS of. the government, a,K here was no deprecation on the money at the t.me they w-.c dangerous to liberty —How much more danger ,aid.-The fourth class, perhaps, have no claim in equity, 1-- ouS) and I Ikul aliliolt laid d egiadlJlii, It t( aule:lie large bounties thi-y received, were a full equivalent lor 1 trans f er t [ iat j )owc r to a temporary minifler, no heir ft r v ires. The third class with the office is, '""'J" ®" ,v j chosen bv the people nor responsible to til em. aaietoiaisitsisa^sssp,? »«A he war, received ccruluatcs in payment, the: value oi which has | Secretary s duty, by the hwv which COlii. itute?. 409 Philadelphia, April 16, 1792, tii&o [Whole No. 511.] been fully considered.—They returned home under the disadvan tages of having the habits of their formei occupations impaired by their military pursuits, their property and connexions de ranged and loft, and their families involved for a nefcrflary fup pori.—Thus circumstanced, neceility compelled them to dilpofc of their certificates for the current price in the market. After the prcfent government was eftabhfhed, provifmn v.-is made for these certificates, wherever they were found.—By that provision the purchasers received an immense advantage.—The public however saved a part of the debt which was originally du<* —two per cent, for ten years on the principal of the whole debt, and half the interest which had accumulated. —This remnant now remains, and in paying it no more than the original debt will be discharged. The rival pretensions to this remnant will be the original hold ers, who earned the whole by the sweat of their brow, and the present holders, who have already received seven or eight hun dred per cent, on the money which they advanced. In the name of justice, equity, and good conscience, which claim is to be preferred ? Every man will answer, that of the sol dier ; unless his feelings are steeled against every principle of ho nor, good faith, and gratitude. This remnant theteforc, so far as it extends to our own original claims, mav be appropriated with great piopriety to relieve the fiifFerings of the foregoing description of men. In addition to this, there can be no doubt but Congrcfswill be disposed to make a liberal grant of land in the western territory, for the fame pur pose, for it is not to be forgotten that those vail poileflTons, on | which has been founded the pleasing expectation of finking the whole of the public debt, are the fruits of those toils which the government is now called upon to compensate.—l have or.ly, fi r » to request you to take the earliest opportunity to make this com munication known to the officers of your line, and I sincerely hope at the opening of the next feflron of Congress, they will think proper to make the application. 1 am, with every fen timcnt of refpe£l, in behalf G f the officers of the M-afiachufelis line of the late army, Your most obedient servant, WILLIAM HULL. CONGRESS. FHILAUE L P H I A.
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