ABSTRACT
In England, where their laws are probably more extensive than in any other country, they are still without one to punish the inhuman and unnatural crime of stealing children. Of this, some years ago, we had authentic information, deduced from the trial of a woman who had stolen a child, and who could only be prosecuted for stealing clothes! It was never supposed a human being could find sufficient inducement to plunder a parent of his offspring, and therefore, no provision was made to punish so monstrous a crime. In this country, however, nay, in the city of Philadelphia, and in this city also, we have witnessed, with regret, instances of this nature, which stamp with indelible disgrace the authors, and indeed reflect discredit on the community. One of these instances I shall give an account of; and I trust no person, because the child was black, will conceive the crime less infamous. Parental feelings are not acquired; they are natural, and therefore, no doubt, as poignant in the breast of a black, as a white mother.
