66

sanction of our laws nor policy permitted.
For if all owning slaves had been willing
to yield them up without consideration
what was to be done with them? When
were they to be removed? And for them to
live amongst us as free persons was en—
tirely out of the question. In the language
of Mr. Jefferson we had the wolf by the
ear and to hold it or let it go wd be at—
tended with equal difficulty & danger. The
same considerations have continued to ope—
rate & constrained us to preserve a relation
which the moralist must condemn &
the patriot and philanthropist deplore.
All that our circumstances have hitherto
permitted we have done, as we have made
that relation as just & mild as in compatable
with the public safety or with the existence
and preservation of that kind of property; &
I doubt not that these unfortunate people
are more happy & comfortable than the
lowest class of people in any other Country.
The rapid increase of this Class, the inse—
curity and danger which even now re—
sult from it and which every year is
fearfully increasing, the injurious and
blighting influence which the existence of
slavery exerts in our national prosperity
have recently revived an effort in our
Legislature to effect its gradual abolition.
Whether this great object shall be attained
it remains for the people to say, and
to determine. Pa 424 "Yet with regard" &c.