A Question About Slavery

A QUESTION ABOUT SLAVERY. Some persons are anxious to form societies, the members of which bind themselves to abstain from all articles produced by the labor of slaves. They believe that when planters can no longer find a market for the productions of slave labor, they will emancipate their slaves.— The colony at Liberia already offers some of the same articles, produced by free labor, and if sufficiently enlarged and strengthened, will furnish others; and as fast as the markets are furnished with coffee, rice, sugar, &c. from Liberia, the same articles, produced by slave labor, will be driven out of market. Must not the friends of 'free labor societies,' therefore, in order to be consistent, do all they can for the prosperity of that colony? —Vermont Chronicle.

The gravity with which the question is propounded in the foregoing paragraph, 'Must not the friends of free labor societies, in order to be consistent, do all they can for the prosperity of Liberia?' is truly ludicrous. The logic runs thus: it is desirable to obtain free goods— free goods are raised by the colonists— therefore it is the duty of conscientious individuals to give their support to the Colonization Society, which is abusing, proscribing, injuring, and attempting to expel one sixth portion of the American people, on account of their complexion! We assure the clear-sighted editors of the Chronicle that the members of free labor societies have no disposition 'to do evil that good may come,' by encouraging this monstrous crusade.