What a distressing scene is here before us. America, I start at your situation! The idea of these direful effect of slavery demand your most serious attention.--What! shall a people, who flew to arms with the valour of Roman Citizens, when encroachments were made upon their liberties, by the invasion of foreign powers, now basely descend to cherish the seed and propagate the growth of the evil, which they boldly sought to eradicate. To the eternal infamy of our country, this will be handed down to posterity, written in the blood of African innocence. If your forefathers have been degenerate enough to introduce slavery into your country, to contaminate the minds of her citizens, you ought to have the virtue of extirpating it. Emancipated from the shackles of despotism, you know no superior; free and independent, you stand equally respected among your foes, and your allies.--Renowned in history, for your valour, and for your wisdom, your way is left open to the highest eminence of human perfection. But while with pleasing hopes you may anticipate such an event, the echo of expiring freedom cannot fail to assail the ears, and pierce the heart with keen reproach. In the first struggles for American freedom, in the enthusiastic ardour for attaining liberty and independence, one of the most noble sentiments that ever adorned the human breast, was loudly proclaimed in all her councils-- Deeply penetrated with a sense of _Equality_, they held it as a fixed principle, "_that all men are by nature and of right ought to be free, that they are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, amongst which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness_." Nevertheless, _when_ the blessings of peace were showered upon them, when they had obtained these rights which they had so boldly contended for, _then_ they became apostates to their principles, and rivetted the fetters of slavery upon the unfortunate Africans. Deceitful men! who could have suggested, that American patriotism would at this day countenance a conduct so inconsistent; that while America boasts of being a land of freedom, and an asylum for the oppressed of Europe, she should at the same time foster an abominable nursery for slaves, to check the shoots of her growing liberty? Deaf to the clamours of criticism, she feels no remorse, and blindly pursues the object of her destruction; she encourages the propagation of vice, and suffers her youth to be reared in the habits of cruelty. Not even the sobs and groans of injured innocence, which _reek_ from every State, can excite her pity, nor human misery bend her heart to sympathy.