[13] Would it be superstitious to presume, that the sovereign Father of all nations, permitted the _perpetration_ of this apparently execrable transaction, as a _fiery_, though salutary signal of his displeasure at the conduct of his Columbian children, in erecting and idolizing this splendid fabric as the temple of freedom, and at the same time oppressing with the yoke of captivity and toilsome bondage, twelve or fifteen hundred thousand of their African _brethren_ (by logical induction,) making merchandize of their _blood_, and dragging their bodies with _iron chains_, even under its towering walls? Yet is it a fact, that _slaves_ are employed in rebuilding this sanctuary of _liberty_. [14] It is a notorious and afflicting truth, that in the United States, the head of a _poor black man_ has been cut off _with impunity_, by a white man (or master;) that black men have been _wantonly shot_ by white men; and that a free black man (whom I have seen myself) was _hoppled_, and being unsuccessfully offered for sale as a slave, was bound to a post in the winter, and left without food until his feet _were frozen_, where he would probably have perished, had he not extricated himself by his own struggles. [15] This statement was furnished by a respectable citizen, who was one of the first that found the dead body, near his own house. N.B. Nothing can more strongly indicate the true state of the case than this _disguising of names_. The _Author_ dared put _his_ name; but he was in _Pennsylvania_: he would, probably have exposed his _Maryland_-informant to _death_ by naming him. W. C. [16] It is a frequent custom in the district of Columbia, Maryland, and Delaware, for masters to endeavour to reform their bad slaves, by terrifying them with threats of selling them for the Georgia market, or "_to Carolina_" them; which is often carried into effect. There are, notwithstanding, several individuals, so conscientiously opposed to selling men against their will, that the most unpardonable conduct will not induce men to do it; and they prefer rejecting them, and letting them keep all the wages they can get for their own use. [17] One of the members of the house of representatives (Mr. ADGATE,) related to me, while at Washington, the following fact:--"That during the last session of congress, (1815-16,) as several members were standing in the street, near the new capitol, a drove of manacled coloured people were passing by; and when just opposite, one of them elevating his manacles as high as he could reach, commenced singing the favorite national song, "_Hail Columbia! happy land_," &c.