The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-08


ply made. may proceed to. obierve, that in any
iit,'aon in which the blacks can be placed thou
land deeP-rooted prejudces in the whites, their pre-
ference OF the color and fmmetry of their own race
and their frequent ntermixture with cmigrants from
the iareit Eations Of Europe would the pro-
bable period Of any comfortable blending of complex
ions to 10 great dilance, that it appears to be
mong the lait and lean mifshefs to be apprehended
FROM emancipation.
The next huation defcribed in the fpeech to which
we have referred fuppofes the two races to remain
dJ4'19 but egnai in f6ei, ,isbts.
II the idea Of a mixed and ,awny poferty is odious
TO our feelings, il certainly cannot be les TO- to look
forward to period which may exhibit the contraft
and rivalihip of the two colors fitting the fame
eats Of legla,ion ard iufiee. and holding an ndic
cr'ninate and equal authority, where it may be the
fortune OF the white have his rights his mite
reit or his life decided ON, by eyiflator or Judge
aganf whole complexion & lineage he may have ill.,
herited the fronPea and n,,a contemptuous preiu-
dces Whether thefe prejudces, ( that can be call
ed prejudice which eems to be founded on nat,i-
raj entimenD would be condemned by an enlightened
and humane phloiophy, nor, it is unneceGary, at
Prei-nt, to enquire It is ucent for our misfortune
and smbarraamen, that they exit, and are perhaps
10 deeply rooted, and 70 interviewer with the feelings
and opinions of the whites, that the ex.erminatinp
hand of time tfelf may be able to eradicate
riiem. 1t feems, therefore, that without the ingeni-
deprecated this equality Of yigbt5 7pbie ne difference
q color re7saini, this condition arrive with
the conient of the whites And if it hould hap
pen without their content, it will be proceeded by
fuch icenes OF tremendous horrnr--But we will not
remove the dark curtain from thofe fcenes but pats
on to ihort view of the third condition that pro-
pofed and briefly compare it with the fourth, which
is nearly the fame with that which already exits.
Cannot the blacks remain dGina, and politically
unequal {" In this condition we may fuppofe them
TO poiiefs and enjoy every right and immunity equal
ly with the whites, except voice and agency in the
formation and execution Of the laws and the right
to keep and bear 1t is TO this condition that
the friends OF emancipation in Virginia have looked
Tor relefto the blacks from the burdens under which
they at preent groan and in the eourfe that fal be
suriued with refpe9 it, the future definy of the
two parties may be very deeply involved. due
gard therefore, to peace and fafety requires
that, before we adopt the means of accelerating its
approach, we fhould give it the mott cautious and
icrupulous examination. We are warned Of its dan
gers by being told that If we give TO 1aves an inn
perfect freedom, they will demand, and iruggle with
violence to obtain, the mott pafea equality.
There is certainly fufcient truth in this argument
20 give 1t much importance and If preent aua-
tion were void of dangers, is would be unanfwerabe,
and COZ culve agant the fuppofed condition. But
1t cannon be concealed or denied that are already
beiet with evils 70 numerous and 70 alarming, that
though they may appear to be inferior to hoi which,
on speculative examination, might he apprehended
from the Propoed change, yet the dparty is not 70
obvious and 10 great absolutely to forbid all compa-
rifon.
is commended that in this third condition. the liberty
OF the blacks would be too imperfect to fati,fy them
but would add to their motives and ability to rue-
gle, through the mot diiarous fcenes for the acaui-
iition OF liberty; and the example of ST. Domingo
and the great number of the blacks amonelt us, (5)
are relied proofs of the correctness of th. reaon
ing Ii fad that the misfortunes of that Inflated
Hand originated, with the Aaves. but with the
people Of color lparriay free, we infer) who fira
demanded equal liberty, and afterwards called ON the
iiaves to make the fame demand, and anit in aIert-
ing it, But this proceeding may perhaps be more
Juitly conidered as the 6r effect of the caufe, than
as the cauie itie which produced the calamities of
st. domingo The writer thinks he has feen ,hofe
calamtes afcribed, with comfortable appearance of
correctness, to rain and impolitic decree of the ma
tonal convention. for abnliihng, at future day,
from all the French domnion every fpecies of favery
The in,Prudent PRONUNCIATION cf this decree and the
principles it contained, among the people who were
the iubjeds of it, and the extravaganza conduct of
many OF the friends of the revolution efpeciav az
thoie who frequently arrived in the colonies n.ox
Gated by the great events which they had recently
wtnelled IN Europe, haGeued to kindle the fame
which has 10 dreadfully contained them. But to
whatever caufe the nisfortunes of ST. DOMINGO
may be afcribable, its example doe, not ieem
to apply very forciby to the condition tina,
would probably be ours if the blacks, 4v5ie Gaiuef
race and politically unequal fould be inveited with
eoniiderabe portion of civil liberty In ST Domingo
the number of the blacks 70 far exceeded that of the
whites, that even partial combination and mfurreai-
on OF the former NUT have been hyperion to the rei-
lance Of the whole number of the latter, who, en-
eon,Pa,ied by the fea, or by neighbors who were
either IN their own tuation hottie to Them could
not receive timely and efficient aid from abroad
J. he attenioh OF the blacks being awakened to
theie circumstances, they Jaw that change of their
condition was practicable, and they attempted and
e1eeutedt to the deitru9ion of thofe by whole i'm
prudence they had been alnon invited to the enter.
PRIZE. But the fituation Of things here, in the ina
gned condition, would be widely different. The
blacks, lntead of iuhering in ST. Domingo, under
the eruefet navery that has been the lot of any
people would be in poGeion of much liberty a:
is iupPoied or aid by the ruling politicians of nine
tenths OF the world to be proper for the exercile
and neceiiary TO the happiness of the great MATS
nation and whatever may bethe opinions of thof,
to whom thus doctrine is applied, ninety nine hum
dTedths OF mankind are obe to fubmit to its prac
tice And Incompatible il is with our principles
and as it might perhaps be with the ideas of tn,
blacks amongh us, yet If ever there cafe wher,
the neceity Of acquefcence was inevitable and OBJ
vious, 1t would be 10 to them in their propoed con