In what light can the people of Europe consider America after the strange inconsistency of her conduct?  Will they not consider her as an abandoned and deceitful country?  In the hour of calamity she petitioned heaven to be propitious to her cause.  Her prayers were heard.  Heaven pitied her distress, smiled on her virtuous exertions, and vanquished all her afflictions.  The ungrateful creature forgets this timely assistance—­no longer remembers her own sorrows—­but basely commences oppression in her turn.—­Beware America! pause—­and consider the difference between the mild effulgence of approving providence and the angry countenance of incensed divinity!

The importation of slaves into America ought to be a subject of the deepest regret, to every benevolent and thinking mind.—­And one of the greatest defects in the federal system, is the liberty it allows on this head.  Venerable in every thing else, it is injudicious here; and it is to be much deplored, that a system of so much political perfection, should be stained with any thing that does an outrage to human nature.  As a door, however, is open to amendment, for the sake of distressed humanity, of injured national reputation, and the glory of doing so benevolent a thing, I hope some wise and virtuous patriot will advocate the measure, and introduce an alteration in that pernicious part of the government.—­So far from encouraging the importation of slaves, and countenancing that vile traffic in human flesh; the members of the late continental convention[2] should have seized the happy opportunity of prohibiting for ever this cruel species of reprobated villainy.—­That they did not do so, will for ever diminish the luster of their other proceedings, so highly extolled, and so justly distinguished for their intrinsic value.  Let us for a moment contrast the sentiments and actions of the Europeans on this subject, with those of our own countrymen.  In France the warmest and most animated exertions are making, in order to introduce the entire abolition of the slave trade; and in England many of the first characters of the country advocate the same measure, with an enthusiastic philanthropy.  The prime minister himself is at the head of that society; and nothing can equal the ardour of their endeavours, but the glorious goodness of the cause.[3]—­Will the Americans allow the people of England to get the start of them in acts of humanity?  Forbid it shame!

The practice of stealing, or bartering for human flesh is pregnant with the most glaring turpitude, and the blackest barbarity of disposition.—­For can any one say, that this is doing as he would be done by?  Will such a practice stand the scrutiny of this great rule of moral government?  Who can without the complicated emotions of anger and impatience, suppose himself in the predicament of a slave?  Who can bear the thoughts of his relatives being torn from him by a savage enemy; carried to distant regions of the habitable globe, never more to return; and